Everything that could go right went that way in the Cubs’ sweep of the Giants. Things were very different when the red-hot Nationals came to Wrigley, however. Washington steamrolled Chicago in a three-game whitewash that dropped the home team 2.5 games out of first in the NL Central.
The relentless Nats lineup, led by Anthony Rendón and Juan Soto, wore the Cubs’ pitching down with a barrage of singles hit with all manner of velocity. They scored a total of 16 runs in two lopsided victories to open the series and Chicago hitters could do nothing against starters Anibal Sánchez and Joe Ross, who allowed just five runs.