The streaking Cincinnati Reds will go for their fifth straight win as they play host to the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park. WGN will be televising the action and the game will get going at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Cincinnati (+125) as the underdog to Chicago (-135). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at +100 for over nine runs and -120 for under nine. You can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds coming in at Cubs -1.5 runs (+110) and Reds +1.5 runs (-130).
The Cubs have gone 42-30 SU this year and are 37-34 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 0.4 units for moneyline gamblers, despite having gained 4.3 units ATS. Chicago’s covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Reds, on the other hand, are 29-45 SU and 40-33 ATS. The team’s lost 11.6 units for moneyline bettors and 3.1 units ATS. Cincinnati has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Reds games have an over/under record of 34-37-2 so far in 2018. The Cubs have been a decent under bet with a total record of 28-42-1.
Left-hander Jose Quintana will get the start for the visiting Cubs. Quintana is 6-5 with a 4.06 ERA and 73 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with seven strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Cincinnati this year.
The Reds are sending righty Luis Castillo (4-8, 5.77 ERA) to the mound. Castillo has 76 strikeouts and 31 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.44. Castillo is 0-0 with four strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA in one start against Chicago this year.
As a unit, Cincinnati’s pitching staff has given up 5.1 runs per game overall this year. The team’s starters have an ERA of 5.35, a WHIP of 1.48 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.3. The bullpen has a 4.10 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 8.1 K/9. In 32 games against NL Central opponents, Reds starters have an ERA of 5.80 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.23.
Cincinnati’s hitters have put up 4.3 runs per contest, including 3.4 per game against divisional foes and 6.0 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .291/.381/.512 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Reds’ offense has been led by second baseman Scooter Gennett and first baseman Joey Votto. Gennett is slashing .335/.370/.537 with 13 home runs, 50 RBIs and 38 runs scored, and Votto is batting .295 with seven homers, 36 RBIs and 37 runs.
In the other dugout, Chicago’s pitching staff allowed 3.5 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.44 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 7.91 K/9. The bullpen has managed an outstanding ERA of just 2.76, along with a WHIP of 1.28.
Cubs hitters have slashed .259/.343/.416 on their way to 4.8 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 2.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Third baseman Kris Bryant and second baseman Javier Baez continue to lead Chicago’s hitters. Bryant is slashing .285/.388/.488 with nine home runs, 36 RBIs and 40 runs scored, while Baez is slashing .266/.307/.531 with 14 homers, 48 RBIs, 41 runs and 13 stolen bases.
The Cubs have lost 4.0 units and are 29-27 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 22 of those games, as opposed to 33 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Reds have lost 0.1 units and are 11-9 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 12 of those games, compared to seven which went under the total.
Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Cubs, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends,
- Chicago has tallied 12 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Cincinnati has 18 XBH over its last five.
- The Cubs have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games. The Reds have hit 14 over their last 10.
- Cincinnati has recorded 23.2 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 outings and 26.0 over its last five.
