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Cubs vs Reds

Cubs vs Reds – MLB Odds & Picks

Written by on August 28, 2020

MLB Betting News

This weekend will be the final series the NL Central rival Cubs and Reds play this year in Cincinnati, and it’s a four-game set with a makeup doubleheader on Saturday. Here’s a look at Friday’s opener with the Cubs to be favored on the MLB odds behind Kyle Hendricks.

How to Bet Cubs at Reds MLB Odds & TV Info

  • When: Friday, 7:10 PM ET
  • Where: Great American Ball Park
  • Probable pitchers (away/home): Kyle Hendricks/Tyler Mahle
  • TV: MLB Extra Innings
  • Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
  • Opening MLB Lines: TBA
Why Bet on Chicago Cubs?

The Cubs continue to lead the NL Central but have cooled off considerably since starting 13-3. They enter on a two-game skid after falling 7-6 in Detroit on Wednesday. Nico Hoerner went 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored in that loss. Hoerner raised his average from .211 to .250. He’s been playing regularly with Kris Bryant absent; the former NL MVP is on the injured list.

Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward decided not to play in Wednesday’s game to join the NBA protest of social justice issues but figures to be back in the lineup Friday. In his last four road games since August 11, Heyward is 7-for-13 (.538) with three doubles, a triple, a homer, six RBI and three runs scored. On the season, he owns a .306 average (15-for-49) and a .985 OPS against right-handed pitching.

Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks (3-3) allowed three runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings last Saturday in a loss to the White Sox. Hendricks recorded three strikeouts and issued one walk. All of the damage against him came on a pair of home runs. He surrendered a two-run shot to Luis Robert in the second inning and a solo blast to Jose Abreu in the sixth inning. He was fairly strong in between, allowing only one other extra-base hit.  It was only the second time this season that he failed to go six innings.

Hendricks will carry a 3.55 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 28/4 K/BB ratio across 38 innings (6 starts) into Friday. The righty gave up six runs the last time he faced the Reds on July 29. It was in the fifth inning that things unraveled. The Reds ended up with seven runs off Hendricks and Rex Brothers in the inning, blowing the game open

Why Bet on Cincinnati?

The Reds are 1-2 vs Cubs this season and went 11-8 in 2019 by winning or tying 5 of the 6 series. It was their first winning season series vs. Chicago since 2014 (11-8). In the 4 years between the Reds’ winning seasons (2015-2018), the Cubs’ .671 winning percentage vs the Reds (51-25) was the best by any team against any division opponent.

The Reds are at a huge rest disadvantage with the Cubs off Thursday and Cincinnati playing a doubleheader in Milwaukee. Thursday’s was a makeup for Wednesday’s game, which was postponed in reaction to protests over the police shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Saturday’s against the Cubs is a make up for the July 27 rainout.

Joey Votto was not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of Thursday’s doubleheader. The move looks to be performance-related, although Manager David Bell has said that he believes Votto is part of the Reds’ best lineup. Votto went into Thursday 0-for-his-last-18 with a slash line of .191/.321/.326.

Votto ranks third among all active players with 35 HR and 119 RBI against the Cubs, trailing in both categories only Albert Pujols (57-146) and Ryan Braun (39-137).

It’s Tyler Mahle (0-1) scheduled to start here. Mahle lasted just three innings in last Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals, allowing three runs on five hits and a pair of walks. The right-hander did manage to rack up five strikeouts among the nine outs he recorded. The big blow against him came on a two-run homer by Harrison Bader in the second inning, then Yadier Molina added an RBI single against him in the third. Mahle threw 71 pitches in the game – 42 of them for strikes. He now sports underwhelming 4.41 ERA and 1.35 WHIP through 16 1/3 innings on the season.

Mahle pitched on July 28 at home vs. the Cubs and went four innings and allowed two runs.

Expert Prediction Cubs 6, Reds 4

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