Eugenio Suarez and the Cincinnati Reds will be taking on their divisional rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in a Wednesday showdown. WGN will broadcast the matchup and the game gets underway at 8:05 p.m. ET.
Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs Odds
The Cubs are 82-69 straight up (SU) and 73-77 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t strayed too far from expectations, losing 0.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 3.6 units ATS. Chicago has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total went over in five of those seven. The Reds have gone 71-81 SU this year and are 80-71 against the spread. In total, the team’s lost 10.6 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 1.1 units ATS. Cincinnati is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Chicago games have had an over/under record of 69-70-11 in 2019. The Reds have been a solid under bet with a total record of 57-86-8.
Right-hander Tyler Mahle will get the nod for the visiting Reds. Mahle is 2-11 with a 5.11 ERA and 120 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with five strikeouts and a 10.80 ERA against Chicago this year.
The Cubs are turning to lefty Jon Lester (13-10, 4.59 ERA), who has 156 punchouts and 50 walks as well as a 1.50 WHIP. Lester is 0-1 with 15 strikeouts and a 5.06 ERA over two starts against Cincinnati this year.
Cincinnati’s pitching staff allowed 4.4 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.04 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 9.73 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.45, along with a K-per-9 of 9.86.
Reds hitters have slashed .244/.316/.425 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game this season, including 4.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 2.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Cincinnati’s offense has been powered by third baseman Eugenio Suarez and shortstop Jose Iglesias. Suarez is slashing .271/.353/.577 with 47 home runs, 101 RBIs and 85 runs scored, while Iglesias has a .285 average with 11 homers, 53 RBIs and 58 runs scored.
In the home-team dugout, Chicago’s pitchers have given up 4.3 runs per game overall in 2019. Its starters have a 4.10 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.89 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 9.0 K/9. In 65 divisional games, Cubs starters have an ERA of 3.95 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.04.
The Chicago offense is putting up 5.1 runs per contest, including 5.2 per game against divisional foes and 11.4 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .352/.443/.687 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Third baseman Kris Bryant and shortstop Javier Baez have led the way for the Cubs’ batters this year. Bryant is slashing .287/.385/.533 with 31 home runs, 77 RBIs and 106 runs scored, and Baez’s line sits at .281/.316/.532 with 29 homers, 85 RBIs and 88 runs.
The Reds have lost 8.3 units and are 19-19 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 14 of those games, as opposed to 21 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Cubs have netted 6.6 units and are 60-58 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 56 of those games, compared to 53 that’ve gone under.
Reds at Cubs MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Reds, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has hit in only two of Cincinnati’s last seven outings.
- Chicago has recorded 29.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 37.0 over its last five.
- The Reds have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games. The Cubs have hit 22 over their last 10.
- The Reds have a total OPS of .741 this season and an OPS of .738 when facing left-handed pitchers. The Cubs’ OPS stands at .791 overall and .749 against southpaws.
