Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 5/28/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Sunday, May 28, 2023

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Odds/Point Spread: Cincinnati (+150) Chicago (-175)

The Chicago Cubs (22-28) are hosting the Cincinnati Reds (22-29) at Wrigley Field on Sunday. The odds on this game have Cincinnati at +150 while Chicago is coming in at -175. The betting total is set at 8.5. The pitchers taking the mound are Graham Ashcraft and Drew Smyly.

The Reds have tallied 93 two-baggers as a team and have knocked 38 baseballs out of the park. Cincinnati has a slugging rate of .383 and have been called out on strikes 466 times, while taking a walk on 176 occasions. As a unit, the Cincinnati Reds are earning 4.4 runs per game, which is 17th in the league. They have accrued 218 RBI's and 431 hits over the course of the season, and their team batting average is .252. They have accounted for 226 runs and have an on-base percentage of .328.

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They have a K/BB ratio of 2.52 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.46. Reds pitchers have given up 63 home runs and also 256 total runs (25th in MLB). Cincinnati has surrendered 468 hits (9.4 per 9 innings) as well as 244 earned runs. The Reds have compiled a team ERA of 4.90 so far this year (27th in baseball), and the staff has struck out 464 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 184 opposing players and their FIP sits at 4.44 as a unit for the season.

The Reds have sent 178 relievers to the hill for the season. The relievers have inherited 104 base runners over the course of the season with 31.7% of them earned a run for their team. They have accumulated 13 saves for the season and have missed out on 8 out of their 21 save opportunities. The Reds relief pitchers have a save rate of 61.9% and stepped onto the hill in 46 save situations. The relief pitchers have racked up 23 holds so far this year (24th in baseball). Reds pitchers have gone to the mound with opponents on base 72 times in addition to having 67 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Reds have turned 66.3% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 4,035 innings on the field, which has them ranked 30th in baseball. The Cincinnati Reds have a total of 1,345 putouts thus far, in addition to 403 assists and 22 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .988 which ranks 10th in baseball, and they have turned 38 double plays.

Ashcraft has taken the ball for 158 innings and has accumulated 112 K's thus far in his career. Ashcraft (7-9 win-loss mark in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 4.30 while he has faced 700 opposing batters in the majors. His ERA is 5.12 (90 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.440. He has surrendered 177 base knocks (10.1 hits per nine innings) with 51 walks.

The Chicago Cubs have compiled an OBP of .335 and a batting average of .257 on the campaign. They have been called out on strikes on 460 occasions (9th in the league) and have earned 440 hits. Chicago has tallied 63 home runs over the course of the season to go along with 224 runs batted in. The Cubs hold a slugging percentage of .420 and they tally 4.64 runs per game (11th in the league). They have 79 doubles, while taking a walk 191 times as well as scoring 232 runs.

The Chicago pitching staff have relinquished 222 runs on the year while having a team ERA of 4.24 (208 earned runs yielded). They have surrendered 48 long balls and they relinquish 4.52 runs per 9 innings (13th in MLB). The Cubs are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.265 with a FIP of 3.92 as a squad so far this season. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 8.60 (422 strikeouts against 149 free passes). They come in at 9th in baseball as a staff in total hits conceded with 410.

Chicago has called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the hill in 11 save chances and they have tallied 6 saves. They rank 25th in baseball with a save percentage of 54.5%, and they have sent 160 bullpen pitchers to the hill this season. Their relief pitchers have come in 35 times in high leverage situations in addition to 39 occasions with runners on base. Chicago relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 22.6% out of their 62 inherited base runners. Sitting with 34 save situations, the Cubs have compiled 22 holds in addition to 5 blown saves.

The Chicago Cubs have turned 50 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .987 (13th in pro baseball). The Cubs have racked up 462 assists, 24 errors and have a total of 1,326 putouts this season. In their 3,978 innings played, the Cubs have a defensive efficiency of 69.0% (16th in pro baseball).

Smyly (58-48 win-loss record in his career) is the owner of a 4.04 ERA while giving up 8.5 hits per 9 innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.20 and he has faced 4,187 opposing hitters so far in his pro baseball career. He has given up a total of 448 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.250 and having a FIP of 4.3. In his pro baseball career, Smyly has surrendered 945 hits while tallying 973 punch outs in 999 frames.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Cincinnati (+150)

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