The Cubs get their three-game set with the Nationals started tonight in Washington, and they arrive with a chance to finish off a productive six-game road swing on a strong note. Chicago has already taken two of three from the Royals, and now it gets a shot at another series win against a Nationals club sitting below .500.
Shota Imanaga takes the ball for the Cubs, while Washington turns to Jake Irvin, who is still building back after a shoulder injury. The Nationals are also down James Wood, their slugger on the 10-day injured list with an oblique strain.
Chicago’s lineup has a familiar look again, with Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong back in the field. There’s still no Ramirez in the mix.
One of the biggest reasons the Cubs’ offense has stayed sharp lately has been Nico Hoerner. He’s been scorching in the second half, carrying a .900 OPS and a 151 wRC+ in 23 games. The underlying change is just as notable: his line drive rate has jumped from 22% in the first half to 34% since the break, and that extra hard contact has fueled plenty of production.
Washington has its own star in C.J. Abrams, who has put together a huge season. The Nationals shortstop has 28 home runs, a .903 OPS, and 22 stolen bases, putting him firmly on pace for a 30-30 year.
Imanaga comes in off one of his better outings of the season. Against the Dodgers in his last start, he worked five solid innings, gave up one run on eight hits, and struck out six. His overall 3.60 ERA looks good enough on its own, but he’s been even sharper over his last seven starts, posting a 1.77 ERA while allowing only five homers in that stretch.
There’s also a new wrinkle in his arsenal. Imanaga unveiled a new slider on July 4, and its usage climbed to 9% on August 5. It sits close to a cutter in shape, but plays more like a traditional slider, especially against left-handers and on the outer half of the plate.
The lefty has already seen the Nationals once this season. Back in March, he faced Jake Irvin and Washington and took the loss after Joey Wiemer, now with the White Sox, hit a three-run first-inning homer in a 6-3 defeat. Chicago will be hoping for a different result tonight, especially with James Wood out of the lineup.
Irvin enters with a 5.37 ERA and makes just his third start since missing two months with a right shoulder strain. It’s also his first outing against a non-NL East opponent since May 13. His fastball-sinker combination is his calling card, and he leans on the curveball once he gets ahead in the count.
In Other News...
Ian Happs Cubs Future May Hinge On One Frustrating Reality
Ian Happs place in the Cubs long-term picture is becoming one of those roster questions that only gets louder the closer a team gets to an offseason. Happ and Seiya Suzuki are both scheduled to reach free agency after the 2026 season, and Chicago has already started thinking ahead to how those decisions could shape the rest of the roster. Happ still brings the kind of dependable power the Cubs value, which gives him a real case to stay in the conversation.
At the same time, the front office has other priorities pulling at the same cap space and attention. The Cubs have been focused on adding pitching and on developing other outfielders, which means the path back for Happ may depend on how the rest of the roster evolves around him. For now, his future remains tied to a familiar mix of production, fit and timing, with plenty still to be sorted out before the club has to make its call. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Catching Future Could Be Closer Than Fans Expected
The Cubs have at least opened the door on a late-season look at the catching position, and the timing makes sense. With the minor league calendar winding down, the organization is weighing whether a young backstop who has climbed from High-A to Triple-A could get his first taste of the majors before the regular season ends. His rise has been one of the more encouraging developmental stories in the system, thanks to a season that has drawn attention on both sides of the ball.
For Chicago, the appeal goes beyond just rewarding a strong year in the minors. A September arrival would give the club a chance to see how he handles big league pitching and the day-to-day demands behind the plate, while also offering some flexibility as the games get heavier in the postseason stretch. The remaining question is whether the Cubs decide the time is right to make that move now, or keep him waiting a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Face A Tough Pitching Decision As Two Arms Near Return
With injured arms starting to edge back toward the majors, the Cubs are getting closer to a roster squeeze that could shape the next stretch of their season. Edward Cabrera has looked sharper in his recent minor-league rehab work, turning in two scoreless innings and showing the kind of velocity and strikeout stuff that can make a quick return feel realistic. Daniel Palencia, meanwhile, has been working back too, giving Chicago another potential bullpen option once the club sorts through who is ready now and who still needs a little more runway.
The timing matters because the Cubs have multiple pitchers nearing activation and recent additions adding to the crowd on the roster. Cabrera appears to be the cleaner case at the moment, while Palencias path is less straightforward after mixed rehab outings. However the club lines it up, these are the kinds of decisions that can ripple through the staff quickly, especially when one return could force another pitcher to wait a little longer for his shot. [Read more 🡒]