The Reds (70-67, 32-35 home) will host the Cubs (72-63, 35-32 away) in game three of this NL Central series. Starting for the Reds is Andrew Abbott, while the Cubs are giving the ball to Javier Assad. Read on to see my pick for this showdown between Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs.

CHICAGO CUBS VS CINCINNATI REDS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Chicago Cubs -115

This game will be played at Great American Ball Park at 6:40 ET on Saturday, September 2nd.

WHY BET THE CHICAGO CUBS:

  • Coming into the game, the Reds have gone just 2-3 in their last five home games.
  • Over their last ten games on the road, Chicago has a straight-up record of 6-4.
  • Andrew Abbott has struggled of late, coming in with an ERA of 7.42 over his last two starts.

CHICAGO CUBS TRYING TO CLOSE GAP IN NL CENTRAL

For the season, the Cubs have put together a record of 72-63 and are 2nd in the NL Central, putting them 3.5 games out of first place. Chicago’s overall series record sits at 24-14-4. On the road, they have gone 35-32 and 37-31 at home.

Javier Assad takes the mound for the Chicago White Sox with a 3-2 record. He has made 24 appearances this season, boasting an ERA of 2.96 and a K/9 rate of 6.84. His FIP stands at 4.44, and his OBP is .287.

Javier Assad earned a quality start and the win in his most recent outing, as the team defeated the Pirates 10-1. Across seven innings, he allowed one run and three hits.

So far this season, the Cubs’ has gone deep 162 times, placing them 11th in the league. Over Chicago’s previous five games, they are 16th in runs scored, with their season average of 5 runs per game putting them 6th in the league. The Cubs’ overall team batting average stands at .252 along with an OBP of .328.

Nico Hoerner has been the Cubs’ top hitter in 2023, boasting a .279 batting average. His slugging percentage is .392 and his on-base percentage is .340 heading into today’s game.

WILL THE CINCINNATI REDS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?

Through 137 games, the Reds have a record of 70-67. This mark includes going 19-19-4 across their 42 series. Currently, Cincinnati is 3rd in the NL Central and have a 32-35 record at home while going 38-32 on the road. So far, the Reds have gone 39-42 against teams with above .500 records.

The Reds will turn to starter Andrew Abbott, who has an 8-4 record this season. In 16 appearances, he has posted an ERA of 3.35 and a K/9 rate of 10.05. His FIP is 3.94 and his opponents’ OBP is .290.

Andrew Abbott suffered a defeat in his last outing for the Reds, yielding three runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings against the Giants.

Over their last ten games, the Reds are ranked 18th in the league in scoring at 3.8 runs per game. Their season-long scoring average of 4.7 per contest puts them 10th in baseball. In terms of on-base percentage, Cincinnati is 11th, with an OBP currently sitting at .323. The team’s collective batting average is .246 (15th).

Nick Martini has been a key contributor to the Reds’ offense in their last ten games, leading the team with three home runs. His season-long total of long balls also stands at three, while his overall batting average is .276.