Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Wrigley Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Alfredo Simon vs. John Lackey

The Cincinnati Reds visit Wrigley Field on Wednesday to play the Chicago Cubs. The probable starters are Alfredo Simon for the Reds and John Lackey for the Cubs. The opening line for this matchup has Cincinnati at +203 and Chicago at -220. The over/under was set at 0. The Reds have a 4-3-0 over/under record and a 5-2-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 71% of the time. The Cubs are 6-1-0 against the run line and have a 4-3-0 over/under record. They cover the spread 86% of the time.

The Reds head into this matchup with a 5-2 record, including 0-1 on the road. Starting pitcher Alfredo Simon held a 13-12 record with an earned run average of 5.05 and a WHIP of 1.44 last season. He had 117 strikeouts over his 187 innings pitched and he also gave up 201 hits over that time period. He allowed 9.7 hits per 9 innings and he had a FIP of 4.77. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.42 and they have given up 16 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .195 against the bullpen while being struck out 17 times and walking 13 times this season. As a team, Cincinnati has allowed 7.26 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.13 batters per nine. They are 7th in the league in team earned run average at 3.05. The Reds pitchers have collectively given up 50 base hits and 21 earned runs. They have allowed 8 home runs this season and they allow 1.2 homers per nine innings as a staff. Cincinnati as a pitching staff has walked 29 batters and struck out 56. They walk 4.2 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.1 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.27 and their FIP as a unit is 4.95.

As a team, Cincinnati is batting .261, good for 13th in the league while putting together a .212 average away from home. The Reds hold a .422 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .332 which is good for 12th in baseball. They rank 17th in baseball with 8.14 hits per game. Joey Votto comes into this game hitting .222 and his on-base percentage is at .300. He has 6 hits this season along with 3 runs scored and 3 runs batted in. He's struck out 7 times and has walked 3 times. Jay Bruce is hitting .333 and he has an on-base percentage of .357. He has totaled 9 hits so far while scoring 3 runs and he's driven in 9. He has struck out 7 times. The Reds have 57 hits, including 9 doubles, 1 triple, and 8 home runs. They've stolen 5 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 1 time. Cincinnati has walked 22 times this season and they've struck out 47 times as a unit. They've left 37 men on base and have a team OPS of .754. They score 4.86 runs per contest and have scored a total of 34 runs so far this year.

Chicago comes into this matchup with a 1-0 home record and a 6-1 overall mark. With an earned run average last season of 2.77, John Lackey had a 13-10 record and a 1.21 WHIP. He had 175 strikeouts over the 218 innings he pitched during which he gave up 211 hits. He allowed 8.7 hits per nine innings and his FIP stood at 3.57. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 1.06 and they have given up 7 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .121 against the Cubs bullpen while being struck out 20 times and walking 1 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 6.03 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.04 batters per nine. They are 1st in the league in team earned run average at 2.59. The Cubs pitchers as a team have surrendered 42 base knocks and 18 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 5 home runs this year and they give up 0.7 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a staff has walked 9 hitters and struck out 56. They give up a walk 1.3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8 per 9. Their team WHIP is 0.81 while their FIP as a staff is 3.02.

As a team, they are batting .263, good for 11th in the league while putting together a .111 average at home. The Cubs hold a .440 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .372 which is good for 2nd in baseball. They rank 11th in baseball with 9.14 hits per contest. Anthony Rizzo comes into this matchup batting .240 and he has an OBP of .424. He has 6 hits this year along with 6 runs scored and 10 RBI. He's struck out 6 times and has walked on 7 occasions. Kris Bryant is hitting .200 and he has an OBP of .273. He has collected 6 hits so far while he's scored 4 runs and drove in 2. He has earned a walk 3 times and has punched out 7 times. The Cubs as a unit have 64 base hits, including 15 doubles, 2 triples, and 8 homers. They have 2 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 0 times. Chicago as a team has walked 38 times this year and they have struck out 58 times. They've had 56 men left on base and have an OPS of .812. They score 6.71 runs per game and have totaled 47 runs so far this season.

Cincinnati Reds Betting Trends

The Cincinnati Reds are 4-3-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Cincinnati Reds are 5-2-0 against the run line so far this season

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 4-3-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 6-1-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Cincinnati Reds

04/12/16 SS Zack Cozart Quad "?" Wednesday vs. Chicago Cubs
04/10/16 CF Yorman Rodriguez Hamstring Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/27)
04/04/16 P Anthony DeSclafa Oblique Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
04/04/16 P Homer Bailey Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
04/04/16 C Kyle Skipworth Ankle Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/31)
04/03/16 P John Lamb Back Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
04/01/16 P Jon Moscot Back Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
03/31/16 P Michael Lorenzen Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)

Chicago Cubs

04/08/16 C Kyle Schwarber Knee Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/8); out for season
04/04/16 P Aaron Brooks Hip Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
04/04/16 3B Christian Villanueva Fibula Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
04/04/16 P Dallas Beeler Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
03/31/16 P Zac Rosscup Shoulder out indefinitely
03/30/16 SS Javier Baez Thumb Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)

Tony's Pick: Take the Cubs

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