A key series between two National League playoff contenders will start Friday at Wrigley Field when the Chicago Cubs (66-48) host the Washington Nationals (59-56) as solid home favorites at the sportsbooks.
The Cubs lead the NL Central by two games over the Milwaukee Brewers while the Nationals are chasing the Atlanta Braves for the league's second Wild Card spot in the NL East.
MLB betting line: The Cubs opened as -145 favorites (wager $145 to win $100), according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)
MLB betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 4.