Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds Predictions, MLB Picks, Betting Tips 7/29/2020

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds

Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Location: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH

TV: MARQ/FSOH

Odds/Point Spread: Cubs (+105) Reds (-125)

The Chicago Cubs visit Great American Ball Park on Wednesday to play the Cincinnati Reds. The probable starters are Kyle Hendricks for the Cubs and Sonny Gray for the Reds.

The opening line for this matchup has Chicago at +105 and Cincinnati at -125. 

Key Chicago Cubs Injuries

7/26/2020 Brad Wieck RP Hamstring Expected to be out until at least Aug 5
7/23/2020 Daniel Descalso 2B Ankle Expected to be out until at least Sep 5
7/23/2020 Jose Quintana SP Thumb Expected to be out until at least Aug 10

Key Cincinnati Reds Injuries

7/28/2020 Robert Stephenson RP Back Expected to be out until at least Aug 7
7/27/2020 Anthony DeSclafani SP Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Aug 2
7/27/2020 Nick Senzel CF Illness Probable for Jul 28
7/26/2020 Mike Moustakas 3B Illness Expected to be out until at least Aug 5
7/25/2020 Matt Davidson 1B Illness Expected to be out until at least Aug 11

Useful Pitching Statistics

Starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks had a 11-10 record with an earned run average of 3.46 and a WHIP of 1.13. He had 150 strikeouts over his 177 innings pitched and he gave up 168 hits. He allowed 8.5 hits per 9 innings and he had a FIP of 3.61. The bullpen had an earned run average of 3.98 and they gave up 481 base hits on the year. Teams hit .231 against the bullpen while striking out 559 hitters and walking 268 batters. As a team, Chicago allowed 8.6 hits per nine innings while striking out 9 batters per nine innings. They were 7th in the league in team earned run average at 4.1. The Cubs pitchers collectively gave up 1,376 base hits and 657 earned runs last year. They allowed 195 home runs last season, ranking them 27th in the league. Chicago as a pitching staff walked 534 batters and struck out 1,444. They walked 3.3 men per 9 innings while striking out 9 per 9. They had a team WHIP of 1.33 and their FIP as a unit was 4.25.

Hitting Statistics

As a team Chicago hit .252, good for 13th in the league. The Cubs held a .452 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .331, which was good for 8th in baseball. They ranked 16th in MLB with 8.5 hits per game. Willson Contreras hit .272 with an on-base percentage of .355 last year. He had 98 hits last season in 360 at bats with 64 runs batted in. He had a slugging percentage of .533 and an OPS+ of 125. Anthony Rizzo hit .293 last year and he had an on-base percentage of .405. He totaled 150 hits and he drove in 94 men in 512 at bats. His OPS+ was 137 while his slugging percentage was at .520. The Cubs had 1,378 hits last season, including 270 doubles and 256 home runs. Chicago walked 581 times last year and they struck out 1,460 times as a unit. They left 1,071 men on base and had a team OPS of .783. They scored 5.02 runs per contest and scored a total of 814 runs last year.

Useful Pitching Statistics

With an earned run average of 2.87, Sonny Gray had a 11-8 record and a 1.08 WHIP. He had 205 strikeouts over the 175.1 innings he pitched. He also gave up 122 hits. He allowed 6.3 hits per nine innings and his FIP stood at 3.42. The bullpen had an earned run average of 4.28 and they gave up 488 base hits on the year. Teams hit .232 against the Reds bullpen. Their relievers struck out 600 batters and walked 236 opposing hitters. As a team, Cincinnati allowed 7.9 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.7 batters per nine innings. They were 9th in the league in team earned run average at 4.18. The Reds pitchers as a team surrendered 1,270 base knocks and 668 earned runs last season. They gave up 214 home runs last year, which ranked 20th in Major League Baseball. Cincinnati as a staff walked 536 hitters and struck out 1,552 batters. They gave up a walk 3.4 times per 9 innings while they struck out 9.7 per 9. Their team WHIP was 1.26 while their FIP as a staff was 4.23.

Hitting Statistics

As a team, they batted .244, good for 24th in the league. The Reds held a .422 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .315, which was good for 22nd in baseball. They ranked 26th in MLB with 8.2 hits per contest. Joey Votto comes into this matchup after batting .261 with an OBP of .357 last season. He had 137 hits last year along with 47 RBI in 525 AB's. He maintained a slugging percentage of .411 with an OPS+ of 98. Nicholas Castellanos hit .289 last season and he had an OBP of .337. He collected 178 hits in 615 at bats while driving in 73 runs. He had an OPS+ of 121 and a slugging percentage of .525. The Reds as a unit had 1,328 base hits last season, including 235 doubles and 227 homers. Cincinnati walked 492 times last year and they struck out on 1,436 occasions. They left 1,073 men on base and had an OPS of .736. They scored 4.33 runs per game and totaled 701 runs last year.

Who will win tonight's Cubs/Reds MLB game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Reds (-125)

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