Nationals vs. Cubs March 26 Postponed? What Happens to Your Bet

Elvis Blane

Crypto Casino

March 27, 2026

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Early MLB games in late March carry real postponement risk, and the Nationals vs. Cubs matchup on March 26 is no exception. Washington D.C. averages a high temperature of just 54°F in late March, and Nationals Park has no roof, making rain or cold a genuine threat to the schedule. If you have money riding on this game, knowing exactly what your sportsbook will do with your bet is the most important thing you can read before first pitch.

March 26 Nationals vs. Cubs: Real Postponement Risk at Nationals Park

Why Late March Baseball Is Vulnerable to Weather Delays

Washington D.C. sits in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a, and late March brings highly variable weather. The National Weather Service records an average of 3.6 inches of precipitation in March across the D.C. metro area, with temperatures regularly dipping below 50°F at night and during afternoon games.[1] MLB rules require a game to be called off if conditions make play unsafe or impossible, and umpires hold that authority from the moment they arrive at the ballpark.

Nationals Park, which opened on March 30, 2008, is an open-air stadium seating 41,339 fans on South Capitol Street SE. Unlike domed venues such as Minute Maid Park in Houston or T-Mobile Park in Seattle, there is zero weather protection for the playing surface or the crowd. A sustained rain of even 30 minutes before or during a game is enough for umpires to issue a rain delay, and if conditions do not improve within two hours, the game is typically postponed.

The Cubs travel from Chicago, where late March temperatures average 46°F, so neither team is unaccustomed to cold weather. The real threat on March 26 is precipitation, not temperature alone. Bettors should monitor the National Weather Service forecast for Washington D.C. in the 48 hours before first pitch.[1]

How MLB Officially Handles a Postponed Game

Under Official Baseball Rule 4.04, a game postponed before it becomes official (typically after 5 innings, or 4.5 if the home team leads) is rescheduled as a makeup game. The two teams will coordinate with MLB scheduling to find an open date, often a mutual off-day or a future series visit. For the Nationals and Cubs, that makeup date could fall weeks or even months later in the 2025 season.

If a game is suspended mid-play after becoming official, it resumes from the exact point of suspension. This distinction matters enormously for bettors, because sportsbooks treat a suspended official game differently from a postponed one that never reached official status. Most books settle a completed official game even if it ends in fewer than 9 innings, while a pre-official postponement triggers a full void or “no action” ruling.

What Happens to Your Bet If the Nationals vs. Cubs Game Is Postponed

Sportsbook Policies on Voided and Postponed MLB Games

The vast majority of licensed sportsbooks operating in the United States follow a standard policy: if an MLB game is postponed and not completed within a set window (usually 24 hours of the original start time), all bets on that game are graded “no action” and stakes are refunded.[2] This applies to moneyline, run line (spread), and totals (over/under) wagers placed on the specific game. Parlay legs that include the postponed game are also typically removed, with the parlay recalculated at reduced odds using the remaining legs.

DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and Caesars Sportsbook all publish this policy in their house rules sections. The refund timeline varies: DraftKings and FanDuel typically process refunds within 24 hours of the postponement announcement, while some smaller books take up to 72 hours. Always check your specific sportsbook’s MLB postponement rules before placing a bet on an early-season game.[2]

One important exception exists for futures and season-long bets. If you have a futures wager on the Cubs to win the NL Central or the Nationals to finish above .500, a single postponed game has no effect on that bet. The game will eventually be made up, and the result will count toward standings.

Live Bets and In-Game Wagering on a Postponed Game

Live betting on the Nationals vs. Cubs game adds another layer of complexity. If you place an in-game bet and the game is then suspended before becoming official, most sportsbooks void that wager and return your stake. If the game has already passed the official threshold (5 innings completed) and is then suspended, the book may settle based on the score at the time of suspension, depending on house rules.[2]

Gambling911, which tracks sportsbook policies across major U.S. operators, notes that bettors should screenshot their bet slip and the sportsbook’s postponement policy at the time of wagering, as policies can be updated between seasons.[2] Keeping a record protects you if a dispute arises during the refund process.

MLB Postponement History: How Often Do March Games Get Called Off?

Early-season MLB games are postponed at a significantly higher rate than midsummer contests. According to historical scheduling data compiled by Baseball Reference, approximately 4 to 6 percent of MLB games played in March and April are postponed due to weather, compared to under 1 percent in July and August.[3] In the 2023 season alone, MLB postponed 47 games through the end of April, with the Northeast and Midwest accounting for the majority of those cancellations.

Washington D.C. has seen its share of early-season postponements at Nationals Park. The Nationals’ 2018 home opener on April 5 was postponed due to snow, and the team has had multiple March and April games rescheduled since the park opened in 2008. The Cubs, who play at Wrigley Field in Chicago, are no strangers to cold-weather postponements either: Wrigley Field recorded a postponement as recently as April 2023 due to freezing temperatures.[3]

The 2025 MLB season opens on March 18, meaning the March 26 Nationals vs. Cubs game falls in just the second week of the regular season. Opening week and the first two weeks of the season historically account for roughly 35 percent of all full-season weather postponements, according to data aggregated by sports analytics outlets tracking MLB scheduling.[3] Bettors treating early-season games like midsummer matchups are underestimating the weather variable significantly.

From a betting market perspective, sportsbooks do factor weather risk into their lines for early-season games, but they do not remove games from the board unless a postponement is officially announced. Odds may shift in the hours before first pitch if a storm system moves in, which can create value opportunities or signal that sharp money is hedging against a weather-impacted game environment.

Staying Sharp and Comfortable for Game Day, Whatever the Weather

Whether you are heading to Nationals Park on March 26 or watching from home, late March weather in D.C. means cold air, possible wind, and the kind of dry indoor heating that can leave your lips chapped and your mouth uncomfortable for hours. Staying hydrated and protecting your oral health during long outdoor or indoor sports events is a small but genuine part of enjoying the day. SmileDirectClub’s range of at-home teeth-straightening and oral care solutions means you can keep your smile on track without letting a cold-weather game day disrupt your routine.

Key Takeaways

• The Nationals vs. Cubs game on March 26, 2025 is scheduled at Nationals Park, an open-air stadium in Washington D.C. with no weather protection.
• Washington D.C. averages 3.6 inches of precipitation in March, making early-season postponements a real possibility.[1]
• If the game is postponed before reaching official status (5 innings), most major sportsbooks including DraftKings and FanDuel will void all bets and refund stakes within 24 to 72 hours.[2]
• Parlay legs tied to a postponed game are removed and the parlay is recalculated at reduced odds using the remaining legs.
• Approximately 4 to 6 percent of MLB games in March and April are postponed due to weather, compared to under 1 percent in July.[3]
• Live bets placed before an official postponement are typically voided; bets placed after a game becomes official may be settled on the score at suspension.
• Always check your specific sportsbook’s MLB postponement policy and screenshot it before wagering on early-season games.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

The Washington Nationals vs. Chicago Cubs game on March 26, 2025 carries a genuine, if not certain, postponement risk. Nationals Park is an open-air venue in a city that sees nearly 4 inches of rain in March, and the first two weeks of the MLB season are historically the most weather-vulnerable stretch of the calendar. Bettors who understand this going in are better positioned to make informed decisions about whether to place a wager, wait for closer to game time, or monitor the weather forecast before committing.

If a postponement does happen, the good news is clear: the major licensed sportsbooks have consistent, consumer-friendly policies that refund your stake in full for pre-official postponements. The key action items are to know your specific book’s rules, keep a record of your bet slip, and check for any postponement announcement before the scheduled 1:05 PM ET first pitch on March 26.

Early-season baseball is unpredictable in every sense, from the weather to the rosters still finding their footing. That unpredictability is part of what makes March baseball compelling, but it also means doing your homework before every wager is not optional, it is the baseline.

Sources

1. National Weather Service – Washington D.C. March climate averages and precipitation data used to assess postponement risk at Nationals Park.
2. Gambling911 – Sportsbook postponement policies, bet voiding procedures, and parlay recalculation rules for MLB games.
3. Baseball Reference – Historical MLB postponement frequency data by month and season, including early-season weather cancellation rates.