Chicago Cubs Poised to Defeat Cincinnati Reds in Tuesday Night Matchup at Wrigley Field

The Cincinnati Reds (58-54) will be facing the Chicago Cubs (65-46) at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night in the second game of their series. The Reds will be looking to avoid their third consecutive series loss. Pitcher Zack Littell, with an 8-8 record and 3.58 ERA, will be making his first start for the Reds since being acquired at the trade deadline. Chicago will have Shota Imanaga, with an 8-5 record and 3.25 ERA, on the mound. The Cubs have a 7-3 record in their last 10 games against the Reds. The outcome of this Reds vs. Cubs matchup will determine which team picks up the win. Please note that this preview was written before Monday's game was played.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Reds +150 | Cubs -179
Spread: Reds +1.5 (-151) | Cubs -1.5 (+123)
Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Chicago will win straight-up is 64%.

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds have struggled in their recent games, losing four of their last six matches and currently sitting in third place in the NL Central standings, 7.5 games behind the second-placed Cubs and four games out of the final NL Wildcard spot. They will look to improve their performance and remain in contention for the playoffs with an upcoming game on Tuesday.

The team averages 4.57 runs per game, ranking 10th in the league, with a .247 batting average (16th), .321 on-base percentage (10th), and .393 slugging percentage (20th). Elly De La Cruz has been a standout performer for the Reds, leading the team with a .282 batting average, 19 home runs, and 72 RBI.

Defensively, the Reds are giving up 4.20 runs per game (14th), holding opponents to a .235 batting average (6th). Their 3.89 ERA ranks 15th, with a 1.24 WHIP ranking 11th. In his last start, Littel pitched well with two hits and no runs allowed in five innings, but the team suffered a 5-4 loss to the Yankees. Littel is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one game against Chicago.

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs recently rebounded from a series loss to Milwaukee by securing a series win against Baltimore over the weekend. Currently ranking second in the NL Central standings, they sit two games behind the Brewers and aim to narrow the gap with a victory on Tuesday. The team boasts impressive offensive stats, averaging 5.22 runs per game, leading the league in this category. Additionally, they hold a .255 batting average (fourth in the league), a .324 on-base percentage (seventh), and a .441 slugging percentage (second). Nico Hoerner leads the team with a .295 batting average, Pete Crow-Armstrong has hit 27 home runs, and Seiya Suzuki leads with 82 RBI. Defensively, the Cubs concede an average of 4.18 runs per game (12th in the league), with opponents hitting .246 against them (20th). Their 3.92 ERA ranks 16th, and their 1.23 WHIP is sixth. Imanaga recently performed well in his last start, conceding three runs in five innings to lead the team to a 10-3 victory over Milwaukee. He holds a 0-0 record with a 2.70 ERA in one game against Cincinnati.

Chicago Cubs Have Advantage Over Cincinnati Reds in upcoming matchup based on recent performances and pitching matchups

The Chicago Cubs have demonstrated a strong performance recently, winning three out of their last four games, while the Cincinnati Reds have faced challenges, losing four out of their last six games. Chicago holds an advantage in this matchup due to their proficiency in batting against right-handers, especially against Littel who has allowed seven runs in his past three starts and eight runs in his last three road starts. Additionally, the Reds bullpen has struggled in recent games, which will likely make it difficult for them to contain the Cubs' offense.

On the offensive side, Cincinnati has faced difficulties against left-handers, which doesn't bode well for them facing Imanaga, who only allowed three runs in his past two starts and two runs in his sole start against the Reds. Based on these factors, it is recommended to consider betting on Chicago to win.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]

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