The Cincinnati Reds are heading west to take on their divisional rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. NBC Sports Chicago is in line to televise the matchup and the first pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET.
Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs Odds
The Cubs are 81-68 straight up (SU) and 71-77 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t strayed too far from expectations, losing 2.9 units for moneyline bettors and 5.9 units ATS. The Reds have gone 70-80 SU this year and are 79-70 ATS. In total, the club has lost 11.1 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 0.7 units ATS.
Chicago games have a 67-70-11 over/under record in 2019. The Reds have been a solid under bet with a total record of 56-85-8.
Kevin Gausman will get the nod for the visiting Reds. The right-handed Gausman (3-8, 5.83 ERA) has recorded 107 strikeouts in 95.2 innings so far. He’s 0-1 with two strikeouts and a 9.00 ERA against Chicago this year.
The Cubs are turning to Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.89 ERA). Hamels has 131 strikeouts and 51 walks, along with a WHIP of 1.39. Hamels is 0-1 with three strikeouts and an 11.25 ERA over two starts against Cincinnati this year.
Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 4.4 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The team’s starters have a 4.09 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.95 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 9.0 K/9. In 63 games against NL Central foes, Cubs starters have an ERA of 3.92 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.18.
The Chicago hitters are putting up 5.1 runs per contest, including 5.2 per game against divisional foes and 10.2 per game over their last five. The team has hit .333/.412/.644 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Third baseman Kris Bryant and shortstop Javier Baez have led the Cubs’ offense this year. Bryant is hitting .288/.386/.538 with 31 home runs, 77 RBIs and 105 runs scored, while Baez’s line sits at .281/.316/.532 with 29 homers, 85 RBIs and 88 runs.
For the visiting squad, Cincinnati’s pitching staff allowed 4.4 runs per game and its starters own a 4.03 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 9.72 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.44, along with a K-per-9 of 9.88.
The Reds offense has slashed .245/.316/.427 on its way to 4.4 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.8 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Third baseman Eugenio Suarez and shortstop Jose Iglesias continue to lead Cincinnati’s hitters. Suarez is slashing .271/.350/.580 with 47 home runs, 100 RBIs and 85 runs scored, while Iglesias is slashing .286/.312/.407 with 11 homers, 53 RBIs and 58 runs scored.
Reds vs. Cubs MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Reds, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Cincinnati has logged 14 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Chicago has 26 XBH over its last five.
- The Reds have a total OPS of .743 this season, including an OPS of .736 against left-handed pitchers. The Cubs’ OPS sits at .793 overall and .745 against lefties.
- The Reds have won three of their last four games SU.
- Cincinnati has posted 17.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 16.2 over its last five.
- The Reds have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games, including nine over their last five.
