The National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs (69-50) begin a key divisional series against the Pittsburgh Pirates (61-60) on Thursday in what is listed as a pick'em matchup at sportsbooks. The Pirates will be trying to break a three-game losing streak to stay in the playoff race at home Sean Manaea Jersey , where they have a 33-29 record this season. MLB betting line: The Cubs opened as -114 favorites (wager $114 to win $100); the total is at 8.5 runs, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. Line updates and matchup report.MLB betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 6.8-4.0, Pirates.MLB picks on every game.Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week's top sports betting news.Why the Cubs Can Pay on the MLB LinesThe Cubs avoided seeing the Milwaukee Brewers pull to within one game of the division lead Wednesday, when they beat them 8-4 at Wrigley Field to earn a split of their two-game set. Now they have to guard against a letdown after facing the Brewers and Washington Nationals in their past five games.This will be a good test for Chicago ace Jon Lester (12-5, 3.89 ERA), who has struggled since the MLB All-Star break. Lester is winless over his previous five starts, with his ERA rising more than a run from 2.58. Fortunately, he is 2-1 versus Pittsburgh in four outings this season and owns a better record on the road at 7-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 11 starts. That bodes well here. Why the Pirates Can pay on the MLB linesThe Pirates have won two of their past three meetings with the Cubs http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-boog-powell-jersey , and they are 5-6 in the season series overall through the first 11, according to the OddsShark MLB Database. These teams still play four more times at Wrigley in late September, but now is the time for Pittsburgh to go on a positive run in an effort to snag one of the two NL wild-card spots.Ivan Nova (7-6, 4.42 ERA) will toe the rubber opposite Lester, and he has gone 3-0 in his past six outings, with the Pirates winning five times during that stretch. Nova is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in two starts against Chicago this year, and he has performed better at home in 2018, with a 2-3 mark and 3.55 ERA in 10 games.Smart Betting PickThis is a huge game for Lester and the Cubs, who are attempting to win the NL Central for the third season in a row. Milwaukee and the St. Louis Cardinals are squaring off in a three-game series, starting Friday Pat Neshek Jersey , and both teams have a chance to catch Chicago down the stretch. The Cubs cannot afford to lose in this spot, so look for them to win.MLB Betting TrendsChicago is 4-2 in its past six games on the road.The total has gone under in six of Chicago's past eight games.Pittsburgh is 1-4 in its past five games. All MLB odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app. WASHINGTON (AP) — Max Scherzer is using all his tools to help keep the Nationals‘ playoff hopes alive.Scherzer pitched six scoreless innings, doubled and scored twice as the Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 8-2 on Friday night for his major league-leading 16th win.After throwing seven shutout innings against the Cubs on Sunday only to watch Chicago win on a walk-off grand slam, Scherzer (16-5) left with a 5-0 lead and watched the Nationals thwart a Marlins rally.Scherzer allowed at least one baserunner in four of six innings but worked out of trouble as Washington opened a six-game homestand with little margin for error as it seeks to get back into playoff contention.“They grinded me,” Scherzer said. “There were some spots in the game that could have swung the game the other way, and (Matt) Wieters did a great job behind the plate finding the right pitch to throw at the right time.”Scherzer struck out seven with one walk and is 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA over his last six starts.Ryan Zimmerman and Wieters homered, and Bryce Harper and Adam Eaton had three hits each for Washington, which has won two straight after losing seven of its previous nine.Scherzer, who also reached on a fielders’ choice http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-lenny-dykstra-jersey , has hit safely in seven of his last eight starts and is batting .296.“I think biggest thing with Max is in big pressure situations … he has the ability to put the ball in play to where you don’t have that kind of strikeout sitting in the nine hole,” Wieters said.Austin Dean homered for his first career hit for the Marlins, who have lost six straight. Miami made two errors and Harper took advantage of center fielder Magneuris Sierra’s tentative play to turn a single into a double.“We should have some pride in what we’re doing out there and I think we’ve showed that through the course of the season for the most part, but here in the recent days it’s just unacceptable in what we’re watching,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.Miami’s Dan Straily (4-6) allowed five runs on nine hits in six innings.Mattingly was ejected in the fourth inning for arguing balls and strikes after Derek Dietrich was called out on a 3-2 pitch that appeared to be outside.The Nationals went ahead 1-0 in the second on Zimmerman’s 10th home run. After Wieters’ solo shot made it 3-0 in the fourth, Scherzer doubled and scored on Eaton’s double.“That’s why I put in the work, run in between days so I can run the bases and pitch,” Scherzer said. “For me, that’s part of the game.”Harper picked up his 500th career RBI with a single in the seventh, and Daniel Murphy extended his hitting streak to 10 games.The Marlins got two runs in the seventh off Trevor Gott Rhys Hoskins Jersey , but three relievers held them scoreless for the final 2 1/3 innings.ON APPEALMiami’s Jose Urena is appealing his six-game suspension for intentionally hitting the Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. with a pitch. Mattingly didn’t rule out using Urena this weekend against the Nationals.RIDE SHAREThe Nationals introduced their new bullpen cart, which will transport relief pitchers to the front of their respective dugouts before they take the mound. The Nationals are the third team in 2018 to use a bullpen vehicle, joining the Diamondbacks and the Tigers. None of Friday’s relievers rode in the cart.TRAINER’S ROOMMarlins: RHP Kyle Barraclough (lower back stiffness) is scheduled to throw off a mound again on Saturday. … INF Martin Prado (left quad strain) started baseball activity Friday with hitting and throwing.Nationals: Manager Dave Martinez said an MRI on RHP Jeremy Hellickson’s right wrist revealed a “bad sprain” and he’ll go on the disabled list when the team determines the corresponding move. … RHP Stephen Strasburg (cervical nerve impingement) will throw a bullpen session on Saturday.UP NEXTMarlins: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (4-9, 5.32) makes his third start of the season against the Nationals. He’s 0-1 with 6.17 ERA versus Washington in 2018.Nationals: LHP Tommy Milone (1-1, 5.24) opposes the Marlins for the second time this season. He allowed three runs on eight hits in five innings of a no-decision on July 26.