Chicago Cubs vs
Cincinnati RedsPredictions & Preview

Frankie Montas to start for struggling Reds in second game of series against Cubs

On Tuesday night, the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds will face off in the second game of a three-game series at Great American Ballpark. The Cubs will start lefty Justin Steele, while the Reds are likely to use a bullpen game following the trade that sent Frankie Montas to the Brewers. The first pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET, with Chicago opening as the home favorite. Steele has an ERA of 3.27, while Montas, who was originally scheduled to start for the Reds, has an ERA of 5.01. Chicago is currently favored to win with a line of -130.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Cubs -130 | Reds +118
• Spread: Cubs -1.5 (+123) | Reds +1.5 (-141)
• Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Chicago will win straight-up is 57%.

Chicago vs Cincinnati Stats

Chicago Cubs

Left-handed pitcher Justin Steele will be starting the second game of the series. In his last outing, he allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Brewers. Despite giving up six hits and issuing three walks, Steele managed to strike out four batters. This performance followed a rough outing two weeks prior. Prior to the All-Star break, Steele had an impressive 1.48 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 58:12 K: BB ratio in nine starts. He currently holds a 3.08 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 91/23 K/BB ratio in 96 1/3 innings this season. In other news, Isaac Paredes was traded to the Cubs from the Rays in exchange for third baseman Christopher Morel and right-handers Hunter Bigge and Ty Johnson. Chicago currently has a power ranking of 10 and is ranked 24th in offense, 10th in defense, and holds a 51-57 record for the season.

Cincinnati Reds Analysis

The Cincinnati Reds have faced some recent pitching struggles, which led to the trading of Montas during Monday night's game against the Cubs. Despite this move, the team has not named a starter for Tuesday night's game yet. The Reds did acquire outfielder Joey Wiemer and right-handed pitcher Jakob Junis from the Brewers. Montas has had a rough stretch, giving up multiple runs in consecutive starts and seeing his ERA rise. The team is currently five games under .500, with a power ranking of 9 and ranking 15th in offense and 8th in defense. Chicago has had recent success against Cincinnati, winning two out of their last three matchups.

Frankie Montas to start for struggling Reds in second game of series against Cubs

Frankie Montas is scheduled to start on the mound for the Reds in the upcoming second game of the series. In his last outing, Montas received a no-decision during a 9-4 victory over Atlanta, allowing four runs on 10 hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. Due to a lack of a designated starter, the Reds will rely on multiple pitchers during the game. The team has struggled since the break, losing six out of their last nine games and currently occupying last place in the National League Central, next to the Cubs. I anticipate a strong performance from Steele for the Cubs, leading to a dominant victory by a two-run margin. My prediction is for Chicago to come out on top in this matchup.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]