The Cincinnati Reds are ready to face their divisional rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. WGN is in line to broadcast the matchup and the game will get underway at 2:20 p.m. ET.
Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs Odds
The Reds are only 39-50 SU and have gone 52-36 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 3.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline, despite having gained 6.0 units ATS. Cincinnati has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Cubs, on the other hand, are 50-36 SU and 44-41 ATS. The team has lost 1.5 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 4.3 units ATS. Chicago has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Cubs games have had an over/under record of 37-47-1 so far in 2018. The Reds have an over/under record of 43-41-4.
Luis Castillo will get the nod for the visiting Reds. The right-handed Castillo (5-8, 5.53 ERA) has racked up 91 strikeouts in 94.1 innings so far. He’s 1-0 with nine strikeouts and a 3.38 ERA against Chicago this year (two starts).
The Cubs are putting the ball in the left hand of Jon Lester (11-2, 2.25 ERA), who has 79 strikeouts and 35 walks this season as well as a 1.15 WHIP. Lester is 1-0 with eight strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA in one start against Cincinnati this year.
Cincinnati’s pitching staff allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starters own a 5.11 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 7.53 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.01, along with a WHIP of 1.44 and a K-per-9 of 8.18.
Reds hitters have slashed .257/.339/.401 on their way to 4.7 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.1 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Second baseman Scooter Gennett and first baseman Joey Votto have led Cincinnati’s offense. Gennett is hitting .329/.369/.520 with 14 home runs, 58 RBIs and 54 runs scored, while Votto (.296/.428/.443) has produced eight homers, 44 RBIs and 49 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Chicago’s pitching staff has given up 3.9 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starters have a 3.92 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 3.12, a WHIP of 1.28 and a K/9 of 9.0. In 39 divisional games, Cubs starters have an ERA of 3.13 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.62.
The Chicago hitters have put up 5.1 runs per outing, including 4.3 per game against divisional foes and 6.2 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .310/.392/.509 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Cubs’ offense has been led by second baseman Javier Baez and left fielder Albert Almora Jr.. Baez is slashing .294/.327/.565 with 17 home runs, 63 RBIs, 56 runs and 16 stolen bases, while Almora Jr.’s line sits at .324/.365/.453 with four homers, 28 RBIs and 46 runs scored.
The Reds have gained 5.2 units and are 15-9 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 15 of those games, compared to eight that’ve hit the under against lefties. On the other hand, the Cubs have lost 7.8 units and are 33-33 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 28 of those games, as opposed to 37 that’ve cashed the under.
Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Reds, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The over has hit in four of Chicago’s last seven games.
The Cubs have won seven of their last eight games SU.
Cincinnati has posted 25.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 24.0 over its last five.
The Reds have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games. The Cubs have hit 15 over their last 10.
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