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The Chicago Cubs (72-63) will play the 3rd game of a 4-game series against the Cincinnati Reds (70-67) Saturday at Great American Ball Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Reds odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Reds lead 6-5
On Friday, the Cubs split a doubleheader against the Reds, winning the 1st game 6-2 and losing the 2nd contest 3-2. Chicago has tallied a 7-3 record in its last 10 games, putting it only 3 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for 1st place in the NL Central.
In Friday’s 2nd game against the Cubs, OF Jake Fraley made his 1st start since Aug. 3, and he registered 3 hits in his return to help the Reds secure the win. Cincinnati is 4-6 in its last 10 contests and is 3 games behind Chicago for 2nd place in the NL Central.
Cubs at Reds projected starters
RHP Javier Assad vs. LHP Andrew Abbott
Assad (3-2, 2.96 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.20 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9 and 6.8 K/9 through 79 IP.
- Last start: Win, 7 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K in a 10-1 road victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday
- Road stats: 3-0, 2.16 ERA (33 1/3 IP, 8 ER) in 3 starts and 6 relief appearances.
- Career vs. Reds: 0-1, 3.00 ERA (18 IP, 6 ER) in 2 starts and 2 relief appearances.
Abbott (8-4, 3.35 ERA) makes his 17th start. He has a 1.22 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9 and 10.0 K/9 through 88 2/3 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 3 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 6 K in a 4-1 road defeat to the San Francisco Giants Monday
- Home stats: 3-2, 2.84 ERA (44 1/3 IP, 14 ER) in 7 starts.
- Career vs. Cubs: 0-0, 10.80 ERA (3 1/3 IP, 4 ER) in 1 start.
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Cubs at Reds odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:30 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cubs -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Reds -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs -1.5 (+140) | Reds +1.5 (-165)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Cubs at Reds picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 5, Reds 4
Moneyline
Following the doubleheader Friday, I’ll back the CUBS (-115) on the road in Saturday’s matchup. Assad has been a formidable starter since joining Chicago’s rotation, and Abbott has given up 3 runs or more in 3 of his last 5 starts for Cincinnati.
Run line/Against the spread
While the Reds should stay within striking distance against the Cubs, go ahead and PASS on the run line in this divisional showdown. Taking Cincinnati to keep the game within a run isn’t worth the risk at -165 odds.
Over/Under
UNDER 9.5 (-110) is the lean in this game despite Great American Ball Park being a hitter-friendly venue. The Cubs are 6-4 to the Under in their last 10 games overall, while the Reds are 7-3 to the Under in their last 10.
Also, the Under has been achieved in 3 consecutive meetings, and 2 of those meetings took place in Cincinnati.
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