Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction, 8/18/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds

Date: Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Location: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH

TV: Bally Sports Ohio

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (+190) Cincinnati (-256)

Great American Ball Park is the venue where Tyler Mahle and the Cincinnati Reds (65-55, 2nd in NL Central) will take on the Chicago Cubs (52-69, 4th in NL Central) on Wednesday. The Cubs open this contest at +190 while the Reds are priced at -256. The O/U has been set at 9.5. The pitchers who are expected to start are Keegan Thompson and Tyler Mahle.

As a unit, the Chicago Cubs are earning 4.2 runs per game, which has them at 23rd in the league. They have a total of 503 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .305. The Cubs have compiled 165 two-baggers as a squad and have knocked 149 balls out of the park. They have earned 478 runs batted in and 904 base knocks on the season, and their team batting average sits at .229. Chicago owns a slugging percentage of .394 and have struck out 1,183 times, while being walked on 371 occasions.

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The Cubs have compiled a team ERA of 4.64 on the season (22nd in MLB), and their staff has rung up 1,043 batters. They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.33 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.39. Cubs pitchers have surrendered 173 home runs in addition to 598 runs in total (26th in the league). They have walked 447 players from the other team and their FIP sits at 4.81 as a team on the year.

The Cubs have dispatched 446 relievers to the hill for the year. The relief pitchers have inherited 198 base runners this season with 31.8% of them crossed the plate. They have recorded 29 saves so far this season and have blown 10 of their 39 save opportunities. The Cubs relievers have a save percentage of 74.4% and has entered the game in 102 save situations. The bullpen have a total of 62 holds for the year (10th in baseball). Cubs pitchers have gone to the mound with opponents on base 123 times and also have had 119 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Chicago Cubs have earned a total of 3,163 putouts at this point in the season, in addition to 1,163 assists and 67 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .985 which has them sitting 14th in professional baseball, and they have twisted 766 double plays. The Cubs have transformed 69.2% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 9,489 innings on the diamond, which has them ranked 20th in MLB.

Thompson (3-2 career mark) sits with a FIP of 5.00 while facing 174 opposing hitters in the majors. He has surrendered 30 hits (6.6 hits per 9 innings) with 22 walks. His ERA is 2.21 (10 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.279. Thompson has taken the hill for 40 innings and is sitting with 43 punch outs in his MLB career.

The Reds have a team slugging percentage of .435 and they have an average of 5.12 runs per outing (5th in baseball). They have hit 219 two-baggers, while taking a walk 425 times and scoring 614 runs. Cincinnati has a total of 167 home runs on the campaign to go along with 590 runs batted in. They have struck out on 1,086 instances (9th in baseball) and have a total of 1,033 base hits. The Cincinnati Reds have recorded an OBP of .335 in addition to a batting average of .254 over the course of the season.

The Reds have a team WHIP of 1.378 with a FIP of 4.43 as a staff for the season. They come in at 19th in the league as a staff in total hits relinquished with 986. The Cincinnati pitching staff have given up 580 runs so far this season while having an ERA of 4.47 (532 earned runs surrendered). Their K/BB ratio is 2.35 (1,148 strikeouts against 489 walks). They have surrendered 155 homers and they surrender 4.88 runs per 9 innings (19th in the league).

Sitting with 119 save situations, the Reds have amassed 60 holds and also 24 blown saves. Cincinnati has had relief pitchers enter the game in 57 save opportunities and they have tallied 33 saves. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 152 times in high leverage situations in addition to 132 occasions with runners on base. Cincinnati relievers have an inherited score percentage of 39.3% of 196 inherited runners. They are ranked 21st in the league holding a save rate of 57.9%, and they have sent 437 relievers onto the field over the course of the season.

In 9,636 innings played, the Reds have earned a defensive efficiency of 69.0% (22nd in MLB). The Cincinnati Reds have turned 86 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .985 (15th in professional baseball). The Reds have accrued 1,042 assists, 66 errors and have notched a total of 3,212 putouts for the season.

During his MLB career, Mahle has allowed 423 base knocks while earning 468 strikeouts in 440 innings pitched. Mahle (23-28 win-loss mark in his career) holds a 4.36 earned run average while conceding 8.7 hits per 9 innings. He has given up a total of 213 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.334 and having a FIP of 4.4. His K/BB ratio is 2.85 and he has faced 1,902 hitters during his MLB career.

Who will win tonight's baseball game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Cincinnati (-256)

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