Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs odds, expert picks and prediction

Jess Root
Sportsbook Wire

The Cincinnati Reds (74-66) continue on their nine-game road trip with the third and final game in their series against the Chicago Cubs (64-76) Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. at Wrigley Field. Let's analyze the lines around the Reds vs. Cubsodds with MLB picks and predictions.

Wednesday marks the rubber match of the three-game set and is also the final meeting of the teams this year. Cincinnati leads 11-7 through the first 18 games of the season series.

Reds RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (9-6, 4.17 ERA) makes his 19th start as a rookie. He has a 1.33 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9 and 6.9 K/9 through 99 1/3 IP.

  • Gutierrez has allowed 2 or fewer earned runs in 12 of his 18 outings. The Reds are 7-3 on the road in his starts.
  • He has not made it out of the fourth inning in either of his last two starts and has an ERA of 11.37 in those 6 1/3 innings.

Cubs RHP Alec Mills (6-6, 4.25 ERA) makes his 16th start and 28th appearance. He has a 1.41 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9 and 6.7 K/9 through 95 1/3 IP.

  • He is 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA in 12 2/3 innings pitched against the Reds across two starts and one relief appearance.
  • The Cubs are 6-9 this season when he starts.

Reds at Cubs odds, lines, picks and prediction

MLB odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 2:45 p.m. ET.

  • Money line: Reds -117 (bet $117 to win $100) | Cubs -103 (bet $103 to win $100)
  • Against the spread/ATS: Reds -1.5 (+133) | Cubs +1.5 (-165)
  • Over/Under: 9.5 (O: +110 | U: -135)

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Prediction

Cubs 6, Reds 5

Money line (ML)

The Reds are 11-7 against the Cubs this season, but their win on Monday was only their third in the last 10 games. They are 36-33 on the road this season but have lost five of their last eight road contests.

The Cubs' loss on Monday snapped a seven-game win streak. They won Mills' last two starts as he allowed only 2 earned runs over his last 14 innings.

Take the CUBS (-103).

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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

The Reds have only covered the spread in 47.1% of their games this season. They are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games and 8-10 ATS against the Cubs.

The Cubs have covered the spread in three straight matches and in six of their last 10 games. However, they have covered the spread in just 43.7% of their home games.

Betting the Cubs on the money line is the best value as you get even money on your wager, but if you want to you give yourself some leeway and bet the spread take the CUBS +1.5 (-160).

Over/Under (O/U)

Neither game in this series has had 10 or more runs, and only 8 of 18 games between the two teams have had totals of 10 or more.

53.0% of the games at Wrigley Field this season have hit the Over.

Nine of the Cubs' last 15 games have had 10 or more combined runs.

Take OVER 9.5 (+110).

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