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The MLB is set for another full Saturday slate of action as we bring you a betting prediction for this continuing rivalry in the National League Central Division. The Chicago Cubs (31-32) will take on the Cincinnati Reds (30-33) as the two squads conclude their three-game series. It's time to continue our MLB odds series with a Cubs-Reds prediction and pick.
Cubs-Reds Projected Starters
Ben Brown vs. Andrew Abbott
Ben Brown (1-2) with a 3.33 ERA …
Last Start: 6/2 vs. CIN – 5.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 K
2024 Road Splits: 1-1, 3.51 ERA
Andrew Abbott (4-5) with a 3.39 ERA …
Last Start: 6/3 vs. COL – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 K
2024 Home Splits: 3-2, 3.24 ERA
Here are the MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB Odds: Cubs-Reds Odds
Chicago Cubs: -1.5 (+160)
Moneyline: -102
Cincinnati Reds: +1.5 (-194)
Moneyline: -116
Over: 9 (-110)
Under: 9 (-110)
How to Watch Cubs vs. Reds
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET/ 1:10 p.m. PT
Article Continues Below
TV: Bally Sports Ohio, Marquee Sports Network
Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)
Why The Cubs Will Cover The Spread/Win
The Chicago Cubs have gone 4-6 over their last 10 games and they're currently down in this series against the Reds. They're coming in off a spirited series against the White Sox that included a walk-off winner from Mike Tauchman. He's been their most consistent hitter this season with a .265 AVG through this point of the year. The Cubs have had issues with their pitching staff all season and they'll be trotting RHP Ben Brown for his eighth start of the season. Brown hasn't been too great over his last four starts, notching just one win in the only game he pitched past the fifth inning. Brown is solid if he can get into the deeper innings, but it'll be about limiting the damage done at the beginning of the game for him to be successful.
The Cubs have been more successful this year at home and while playing at night, so they'll be overcoming some trends if they can win this day game on the road against their rivals. They've been solid against LHP this season, notching 12 HR and 69 RBI against lefties. They're also hitting a slightly better .244 AVG against LHP this year and given their recent struggles against other NL clubs, they would love to get a leg-up on this series and gain some distance between them and the Reds in the standings moving forward.
Why The Reds Will Cover The Spread/Win
The Cincinnati Reds own this current season series against the Cubs 3-1 by a six-run total differential. Their games all season have been close and Elly De La Cruz was the hero in the last meeting as he lifted the Reds with a three-run homer to take the lead and the eventual win. The Cubs have been shaky during late-game situations all year, so expect the Cincinnati Reds to be playing with some confidence on their home field. Their LHP Andrew Abbott has 12 starts on the season and the Reds have gone 3-2 in his last five appearances. He's not a prominent strikeout threat, but he notched six in his last start as the Reds got the win. He has only seven total earned runs through his last three starts and he'll be looking to replicate that success here.
The Reds' bats have woken up during this series against the Cubs and playing in their home ballpark may be a big factor in their winnings. They're hitting .285 and .400 SLG against the Cubs this year. They also rank 11th league-wide in runs scored, so expect this Reds team to be all about their offense through the rest of this series. If they can get to Brown early, the Cubs should be in for a long day dipping into their bullpen multiple times.
Final Cubs-Reds Prediction & Pick
The Reds have owned this series against the Cubs this year and if they can continue this success, they should have their number in chasing them down in the NL Central standings. The Cubs have had a solid season by their standards this year, but their major shortcoming has been with the inconsistencies of their pitching staff. They're still waiting for players to return from injury, but they're making due with what they have at the moment.
The Reds, on the other hand, have had similar issues with their pitching, but their offense has been on fire over the last month. With the way they're hitting the ball at home, the Reds are the rightful favorites in this matchup and will have the more consistent pitcher on the mound. Look for players like Elly De La Cruz to continue their success from the plate during this series.
For our final prediction, we'll have to roll with the Cincinnati Reds to get the win. They've been much better at home than the Cubs have been on the road and with the first win of this series already under their belt, I expect them to continue having the Cubs' number during this one. Let's take the Reds to grab the win here.
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Final Cubs-Reds Prediction & Pick: Cincinnati Reds +1.5 (-194)
