Cubs vs. Reds Pick
Are the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds going to reach the total when they meet at 7:10PM EST?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Cubs are a -162 favorite on the moneyline to win. The Reds are a +141 underdog, while the over-under is set at 11.
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Chicago will send John Lackey (10-9, 4.67 ERA) to the mound, while Cincinnati will go with Homer Bailey (4-6, 8.44). Lackey comes in with a 1.32 WHIP and has allowed 29 home runs in 131 innings. The Cubs have won his last seven starts and he has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of them. Lackey carries a 4.85 ERA on the road, but strong run support has helped him to a 7-5 record in those games. Bailey has had a horrible go of it since returning from his arm injury. He allowed 10 earned runs in an August 6 start versus the Cardinals and gave up six earned runs over five innings at the Cubs in his last start, with a decent two runs over five innings start at the Brewers in between. Bailey has a gigantic 2.04 WHIP and his home ERA over four starts is 14.33.
The Cubs are 66-57 overall and 32-29 away from home, while the Reds are 53-72 and 29-31 at home. Chicago has won six of the last 10 meetings, while the total has gone over six times.
Chicago is coming off a three-game sweep over the Bluejays at home, including Sunday’s 6-5 win in 10 innings. After Toronto scored twice in the top of the 10th, the Cubs scored three times in the bottom half capped by an Alex Avila game-winning two-run single. Albert Almora paced the Cubs with two hits and three RBIs, while Ben Zobrist had two hits and scored a run. Justin Wilson earned the win in relief. Cincinnati had its three-game win streak snapped Sunday as it lost 8-1 at Atlanta. Luis Castillo gave up two runs in four innings to take the loss, striking out eight while giving up four hits and walking two. Jose Peraza had a hit and scored the lone Reds run.
Not only are the two starting pitchers capable of getting bombed, but the wind is blowing out to left field. This has all the makings of a shootout.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: CUBS/REDS OVER 11