The Cincinnati Reds are going for their fourth straight victory when they play host to the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park. NBC Sports Chicago will be televising the matchup and the game is slated to get going at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds Odds
Cincinnati (receiving +110 odds) is the home-team underdog to Chicago and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at 9.5 runs (+105 for the over and -125 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent odds standing at +125 for the Cubs -1.5 runs and -145 for the Reds +1.5.
The Reds are 65-47 against the spread (ATS), but only 54-58 straight up (SU). They’ve lost 0.6 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 10.1 units ATS. Cincinnati has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total went over in four of those seven. On the other hand, the Cubs have gone 62-52 SU this year and are 54-59 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 2.9 units for moneyline bettors and 3.4 units ATS. Chicago has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven.
Reds games have an over/under record of 43-65-4 in 2019. The Cubs have an over/under record of 53-53-7.
Cole Hamels will get the nod for Chicago. The southpaw Hamels (6-3, 2.84 ERA) has racked up 103 strikeouts in 104.2 innings so far. He’s 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA against Cincinnati this year.
The Reds will put the ball in the left hand of Alex Wood (1-0, 3.18 ERA, 1.15 WHIP), who has nine punchouts and two walks this season. Wood hasn’t faced the Cubs yet this year and only made one start against them in 2018 (1-0, 2.57 ERA and six strikeouts across seven innings).
As a unit, Cincinnati’s pitching staff has given up 4.2 runs per game overall in 2019. The team’s starters have a 3.83 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.31 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 9.8 K/9. In 52 games against divisional opponents, Reds starters have an ERA of 3.89 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.02.
The Cincinnati hitters are putting up 4.5 runs per outing, including 4.9 per game against divisional foes and 6.0 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .275/.361/.439 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Reds’ batters have been led by third baseman Eugenio Suarez and first baseman Joey Votto. Suarez is slashing .257/.339/.523 with 30 home runs, 72 RBIs and 59 runs scored, and Votto is batting .259 with 11 homers, 36 RBIs and 57 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 4.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.92 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 8.68 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.10, along with a K/9 of 8.75.
Cubs hitters have slashed .254/.335/.453 on their way to 5.0 runs scored per game this year, including 4.9 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Shortstop Javier Baez and third baseman Kris Bryant continue to lead Chicago’s offense. Baez is slashing .293/.325/.562 with 28 home runs, 78 RBIs and 81 runs scored, while Bryant is hitting .287/.386/.528 with 22 homers, 53 RBIs and 83 runs scored.
The Cubs have lost 6.3 units and are 9-15 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 10 of those games, compared to 12 that’ve hit the under against lefty starters. On the other hand, the Reds have netted 0.2 units and are 17-9 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 10 of those games, as opposed to 15 that’ve cashed the under.
Cubs vs. Reds MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Reds, ATS Winner – Reds, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in three of Chicago’s last seven games.
- The Cubs have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games, including 11 over their last five.
- The Cubs have an OPS of .788 this season, including an OPS of .723 against left-handed pitchers. The Reds’ OPS stands at .742 overall and .746 against southpaws.
- Cincinnati has recorded 23.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 24.8 over its last five.
- The Cubs have won five of their last six games SU.
