Washington NationalsOpen full analysisVSChicago CubsOpen full analysis

The Washington Nationals defeated the Chicago Cubs 10–4 on March 26 at Wrigley Field in a lopsided Spring Training matchup that exposed the home team's pitching vulnerabilities. Washington's offense overwhelmed Chicago's staff, collecting 11 hits including 3 home runs while driving in 9 runs and posting a .918 OPS. The Nationals' pitching was equally dominant, allowing just 8 hits and 3 earned runs with a 3.00 ERA across the game. By contrast, the Cubs mustered only 8 hits with a .644 OPS and committed an error in the field, while their pitchers surrendered 11 hits and 8 earned runs with an inflated 8.00 ERA. The 10–4 scoreline significantly exceeded the Vegas total line of 2, driven largely by Washington's power display and Chicago's inability to locate the strike zone consistently on the mound, evidenced by 6 walks allowed. The Cubs' pitching struggles in the spring will likely draw attention as the rotation enters the regular season.