Cubs and Nationals meet in series rubber match

Washington Nationals (1-1) vs. Chicago Cubs (1-1) in the final game of their three-game series.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 8:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals will face off in the rubber match of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Both teams enter the game with 1-1 records after splitting the first two games.

Why it matters

This series finale is an important early-season matchup between two National League teams looking to get off to a strong start and establish themselves as contenders in their respective divisions.

The details

The Cubs will send Shota Imanaga to the mound, while the Nationals will counter with Jake Irvin. Chicago is favored at -251 with the over/under set at 9.5 runs. The Cubs scored 4.9 runs per game last season while the Nationals averaged 8.1 hits per contest.

  • The game is scheduled for Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 2:20 p.m. EDT.

The players

Shota Imanaga

The starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs in the series finale.

Jake Irvin

The starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals in the series finale.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We're looking forward to a hard-fought series finale against a tough opponent. Both teams have a lot to play for early in the season.”

— David Ross, Manager, Chicago Cubs

What’s next

The winner of Sunday's game will claim the three-game series between the Cubs and Nationals.

The takeaway

This rubber match between the Cubs and Nationals is an important early-season test for both teams as they look to establish themselves as contenders in the National League.