The Reds (58-49, 30-23 away) travel to take on the Cubs (53-52, 27-26 home) in game one of this NL Central matchup. Andrew Abbott is getting the start for the Reds while Marcus Stroman is starting for the Cubs. See who I like to pick up the win in today’s Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs showdown at Wrigley Field.

CINCINNATI REDS VS CHICAGO CUBS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Cincinnati Reds +100

This game will be played at Wrigley Field at 8:05 ET on Monday, July 31st.

WHY BET THE CINCINNATI REDS:

  • In their last five games, the Reds have a record of 3-2.
  • As the favorite on the road, the Reds’ win streak currently stands at five games.
  • Opponents are hitting a healthy .303 against Marcus Stroman in his last three starts.

CINCINNATI REDS HAVE STRUGGLED AGAINST THE NL CENTRAL

The Reds enter today’s game with an overall record of 58-49 which includes going 33-32 against teams with above .500 records. As of today, they are 1st in the NL Central. Across their 32 series, Cincinnati is 15-13-4 and have records of 30-23 and 28-26 on the road and at home, respectively.

Andrew Abbott has been a dominant force in 2023, boasting an ERA of 1.90 across 10 appearances. His record stands at 6-2 heading into the game against the Cubs, and he is looking to extend his streak of not allowing a home-run to three games. Opponents have had difficulty against him, with a SLG% of .327 and a batting average of .182.

Andrew Abbott’s most recent outing saw him record a quality start and a win for his squad, who emerged victorious with a 4-3 final score against the Brewers. The right-hander surrendered no runs and seven hits over six frames.

Having gone deep 14 times in their last ten games, the Reds are 7th in that span. At 4.9 runs per game, Cincinnati is 7th in the league. This figure has come on a team batting average of .253 while hitting a total of 120 home runs (15th).

The Reds’ offensive leader, Spencer Steer, has been a consistent presence at the plate this season. His batting average of .272 is the highest on the team, and he boasts an impressive .455 SLG% and .356 OBP.

WILL THE CHICAGO CUBS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?

Through 105 games, the Cubs have a record of 53-52. This mark includes going 16-12-4 across their 32 series. Currently, Chicago is 3rd in the NL Central and have a 27-26 record at home while going 26-26 on the road. So far, the Cubs have gone 24-37 against teams with above .500 records.

Marcus Stroman has made 22 appearances this season, with a 10-7 record and 3.51 ERA. His WHIP is 1.20 and opponents have a .287 on-base percentage against him. The right-hander has 109 strikeouts to 48 walks, though he has surrendered a home run in each of his last two outings.

Marcus Stroman’s last outing was a rough one, as he gave up nine hits in 3 1/3 innings of work, resulting in seven earned runs. Unfortunately for the right-hander, his team fell to the Cubs 10-7 despite his not factoring into the decision.

For the season, the Cubs’ offense is averaging 4.9 runs per game. Over their last five games they have swung the bats well, sitting 4th in the league in scoring, with a total of 28 runs. Overall, Chicago’s team batting average is .254, putting them 10th in the MLB.

Nico Hoerner has been the Cubs’ offensive leader this season, boasting a .273 batting average. His slugging percentage stands at .388 and on-base percentage at .327 entering the game.