Things are getting interesting in the National League Central. As the Milwaukee Brewers continue to fly through orbit, the Chicago Cubs are losing out on their chance to win the division. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds are creeping up on Chicago in the Wild Card race. With two straight victories in this series, the Reds are just a few games back of the third seed in the Wild Card.
Now it’s on the Cubs to try to turn things around and rebuild momentum. Chicago is a -144 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 7.5 runs. Let’s dig into a preview, prediction and best bet for this Reds-Cubs game.
Reds at Cubs prediction, preview
It’s going to be a fun pitching matchup for this afternoon affair. And Cincinnati carries a big edge.
Left-hander Andrew Abbott takes the mound for the Reds. He carries a 2.15 ERA through 19 starts, boasting an excellent fastball-changeup combo that’s kept hitters weak at the knees all season. The 26-year-old deservedly made his first All-Star game this season and is an integral part of this excellent young Reds pitching rotation. Abbott’s 32.4% hard-hit rate is one of the best in the sport. That works well against a Cubs lineup that is accustomed to pummeling home runs.
Though he doesn’t have the stuff Abbott possesses, Cade Horton is an exciting young pitcher as well. The 23-year-old was the seventh overall pick in the 2022 Draft and has acclimated well in his rookie year. Horton’s fastball has a lot of life, and he throws a fun arsenal of breaking and off-speed pitches. A ground ball pitcher at heart, he’s great at pitching through traffic and getting whiffs when he needs them. Horton isn’t the most dependable arm on this Chicago staff, but he’s looked great for a rookie.
What this one comes down to is confidence in the bats. Chicago is in a bit of a slump since the trade deadline, putting up 12 runs in five games. That’s less than half the team’s seasonal average. Cincinnati isn’t lighting it up either in that time period, but with Abbott toeing the rubber, the onus is on the Cubs’ bats to carry this affair. The Reds’ batters have a knack for the timely hits as of late, and that carries a significant edge against a pitcher that is no stranger to traffic on the base paths.
