Cincinnati Reds vs
Chicago CubsPredictions & Preview

Chicago Cubs Outmatch Cincinnati Reds in Recent Games with Advantageous Pitching Matchups and Strong Offense, Leading to Anticipated Victory in Final Showdown

The Cincinnati Reds (59-54) will face the Chicago Cubs (65-47) in the final game of their three-game series at Wrigley Field on Wednesday afternoon at 2:20 PM ET. Andrew Abbott (8-1, 2.15 ERA) will start for the Reds, while Cade Horton (5-3, 3.42 ERA) will take the mound for the Cubs. Chicago holds a 6-4 record in their last 10 games against Cincinnati. Stay tuned to see which team will come out on top in this Reds vs. Cubs matchup. Please note that this preview was written before Tuesday's game was played.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Reds +118 | Cubs -132
• Spread: Reds +1.5 (-185) | Cubs -1.5 (+160)
• Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Chicago will win straight-up is 57%.

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds are currently performing well, having won two of their last three games. They are positioned fourth in the NL Wildcard standings, trailing the San Diego Padres by three games. The team aims to maintain their momentum and close the gap with a victory on Wednesday.

Offensively, the Reds average 4.56 runs per game, ranking 10th in the league. Their batting average stands at .247, placing them 16th, with a .321 on-base percentage (10th) and a .393 slugging percentage (20th). Elly De La Cruz has been a standout performer with a .282 batting average, 19 home runs, and 73 RBI.

Defensively, Cincinnati gives up an average of 4.20 runs per game, ranking 14th in the league. Opponents have a .235 batting average against them, the sixth lowest in the league. Their 3.89 ERA ranks 15th, while their 1.24 WHIP is 11th.

In his recent start, Abbott surrendered three runs on five hits in 5.1 innings, resulting in a 12-11 loss to Atlanta. He holds a 3-0 record with a 2.30 ERA in five games against Chicago.

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs recently lost to the Reds, putting their record at three wins in their last five games. They currently sit in second place in the NL Central, trailing the Brewers by three games. However, they lead the NL Wildcard race, holding a 3.5-game lead over the Mets. The Cubs will look to close the gap with Milwaukee and extend their lead in the Wildcard standings with a win in their upcoming game. Chicago leads the league with an average of 5.19 runs per game and boasts a .255 batting average, ranking fourth in the league. Nico Hoerner leads the team with a .292 batting average, while Pete Crow-Armstrong leads in home runs with 27 and Seiya Suzuki leads in RBI with 82. On the defensive side, the Cubs are giving up 4.18 runs per game, ranking 12th in the league. Opponents have a .246 batting average against them, and their 3.92 ERA is 16th in the league. In his last start, Horton pitched five scoreless innings, leading to a 1-0 win over Baltimore.

Chicago Cubs Outmatch Cincinnati Reds in Recent Games with Advantageous Pitching Matchups and Strong Offense

The Chicago Cubs have emerged victorious in three of their previous five games, contrasting with the Cincinnati Reds' two wins in their last three games. Chicago holds an advantage due to their proficiency in facing left-handed pitchers and the questionable performance of Abbott in recent starts, especially on the road where he conceded seven runs in his last three appearances. With Cincinnati's bullpen facing challenges, they will struggle to contain the Cubs' offense. The Reds will encounter scoring difficulties against the Cubs as Horton has excelled on the mound, not allowing a single run in his last three starts, both at home and away. Expect Horton to stifle Cincinnati's offense. For a solid bet, consider Chicago on the money line.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]