MLB Best Bets for Saturday, March 28: The Cubs are Coming
Written by: Danny Burke
Published: Sat Mar 28, 2026, 12:25 pm ET
Read Time: 4 minutes
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We've got a jam-packed Saturday slate on the diamond, and I've got a pair of plays I'll be sweating out.
Below, you can find my MLB best bets for Saturday, March 28.
MLB Best Bets for Saturday, March 28
Cubs -1.5 (-110) vs Nationals
Nothing beats a Saturday game at Wrigley Field, right? The only way to make it better is if the Cubbies find a way to win – and even better if they cover the run line.
I'm banking on them doing just that against the Washington Nationals this afternoon.
The Cubs' Opening Day effort was disappointing, though not completely surprising. Matthew Boyd, their 35-year-old "ace," is due for regression, and that showed on Thursday.
In general, I think it could be a relatively slow start for the North Siders, so I'll likely be selective when backing them early on. That said, this is a spot where I'm willing to invest.
The main reason is who they're facing. A very familiar name in Miles Mikolas will take the mound for the Nationals.
Mikolas spent the past seven seasons with the Cubs' archrival, the St. Louis Cardinals. He's logged plenty of innings at Wrigley Field and understands how dangerous this park can be for pitchers. The wind is blowing out at 9 mph to left field today, which is far from ideal for someone with his profile.
He's coming off a 2025 campaign where he posted a 4.84 ERA, a 5.27 expected ERA and a 5.03 FIP. His strikeout rate was below average (9.4%), and he allowed a 42% hard-hit rate.
This sets up well for a Cubs lineup looking to bounce back.
On the other side, Chicago will turn to Cade Horton. In his rookie season last year, he went 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA and a 3.58 FIP. He did a great job limiting home run damage (7% HR/FB rate) while generating plenty of ground balls (42.3%).
I'd be surprised if the Nationals replicate the level of offensive production they showed on Thursday.
Let's go Cubs.
Astros vs Angels Over 8.5 (-120)
Best Bets:
Danny Burke is a betting analyst with a decade of sports media experience. He got his start at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, sharing picks on the local ESPN affiliate. After college, he hosted shows for VSiN in Las Vegas before returning to Chicago to launch 'Rush Hour', the first daily sports betting show from an Illinois casino. He also co-hosted 'Props and Locks' on Fox32’s Bears pregame show and ran 'Bet On, Chicago' on WLS-AM 890.
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