Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 5/26/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Friday, May 26, 2023

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

The Cincinnati Reds (21-28) are headed to Wrigley Field on Friday where they will try to beat the Chicago Cubs (22-26). The expected starting pitchers will be Hunter Greene and Justin Steele.

Cincinnati has a slugging % of .379 and have struck out 447 times, while drawing a walk on 171 occasions. They have recorded 208 RBI's and 405 hits so far this year, and their average at the plate is .248. The Reds have recorded 85 doubles as a team and have smacked 38 balls out of the park. They have accumulated 216 runs scored while having a team OBP of .326. As a team, the Cincinnati Reds are putting up 4.4 runs per game, which ranks them 15th in the league.

Get all of our Free MLB Picks

Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.47 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.49. Reds pitchers have given up 63 home runs and 254 total runs (25th in the league). Cincinnati has given up 460 hits (9.6 per 9 innings) and also 242 earned runs. The Reds have compiled a team earned run average of 5.06 this year (28th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 443 hitters. They have walked 179 players from the other team and their FIP is 4.53 as a squad on the season.

Reds bullpen pitchers have come into the game with runners on 71 times as well as having 66 appearances in high leverage situations. The relievers have tallied 23 holds for the year (23rd in the league). The Reds bullpen have compiled a save rate of 61.9% and has come into the game in 46 save situations. They have accumulated 13 saves for the year and have blown 8 out of their 21 save opportunities. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 102 runners over the course of the season and 32.4% of those players earned a run for their team. The Reds have dispatched 174 relievers to the mound so far this season.

The Cincinnati Reds have accounted for 1,291 putouts at this point in the season, as well as 389 assists and 22 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .987 which has them sitting 12th in pro baseball, and have earned 38 double plays. The Reds have converted 65.9% of balls hit into play into outs in their 3,873 innings on the field, which ranks them 30th in MLB.

Greene has taken the ball for 175 innings and is sitting with 233 punch outs during his MLB career. His earned run average is 4.51 (88 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.292. He has allowed 159 hits (8.1 hits per nine innings) and has had 68 walks. Greene (5-17 win-loss mark in his career) has earned a FIP of 4.26 while he has faced 755 opposing batters in the majors.

The Cubs hold a team slugging percentage of .429 and they are scoring 4.81 runs per game (11th in the league). They have put up 79 doubles, while taking a walk 185 times as well as putting up 231 runs. Chicago has a total of 62 home runs this season to go along with 223 runs batted in. They have been rung up on 442 occasions (9th in the league) and are sitting with 432 hits. The Chicago Cubs have earned an OBP of .339 as well as a team batting average of .262 on the season.

The Cubs have a WHIP of 1.222 with a FIP of 3.95 as a pitching staff so far this year. They currently have a K/BB ratio of 8.50 (401 strikeouts vs 142 walks). They rank 1st in baseball as a staff in total hits conceded with 376. They have conceded 47 long balls and they allow 4.31 runs per 9 innings (12th in baseball). The Chicago pitching staff have conceded 203 runs on the year while having a team ERA of 4.08 (192 earned runs given up).

Chicago relievers have an inherited score rate of 24.5% out of their 53 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 35 times in high leverage situations and also on 35 occasions with runners on. With 34 save situations, the Cubs have tallied 22 holds and 5 blown saves. They are ranked 26th in baseball holding a save percentage of 54.5%, and they have dispatched 153 bullpen pitchers to the mound so far this year. Chicago has called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the mound in 11 save chances and they have come away with 6 saves.

The Chicago Cubs have gotten 47 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .989 (10th in baseball). The Cubs have accrued 449 assists, 20 errors and have earned 1,272 putouts for the year. Out of their 3,816 innings played, the Cubs are sitting with a efficiency on defense of 70.4% (9th in professional baseball).

In his pro baseball career, Steele has surrendered 207 hits while he has totaled 238 K's in 237 innings. Steele (14-12 career mark) has a 3.19 earned run average and has allowed 7.8 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered 84 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.264 and a FIP of 3.7. His K/BB ratio is 2.56 and he has faced 1,000 batters so far in his career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Cincinnati

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here