Vegas Play of the Day: Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 | 10:55 a.m.

We’ve entered the fourth season of the annual South Point-lined Play of the Day competition, effective July 1.

Starting bankrolls have reset to $10,000, with the maximum bet being to win $1,000 and the minimum wager $300. Ray Brewer won back-to-back titles in the 2015-2016 and 2016-17 seasons, after Taylor Bern prevailed in 2014-2015.

Chicago Cubs plus-142 at Washington Nationals: $300 to win $426

South Point happens to be dealing the highest number in town on the Cubs, which makes them a take in the series-opening game this evening. This was the one divisional league matchup that I’m convinced will be extremely close.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see every game tight going into the final innings, hence why ideal strategy would be to first look towards the underdog. Chicago is offered at price plenty lucrative enough tonight.

The Cubs may have started relatively slow this season, but they’ve played just as well as the Nationals lately. They probably have the better offense, and their pitching disadvantage isn’t insurmountable — not here at least.

The Cubs may have caught a break in getting to face Stephen Strasburg in game 1 instead of Max Scherzer, who’s dealing with a hamstring injury. Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks is still more combustible than Strasburg, but it’s hard to handicap him being at anything other than his best tonight against a team he’s pitched well against.

The high potential payout makes the risk on the Cubs well worth it.

Current Standings: Granger (6-6, $11,595), Keefer (10-6-1, $10,955), Grimala (5-4, $10,145), Brewer (8-10, $8,280)

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.