Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 5/31/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Friday, May 31, 2024

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Bally Sports Ohio

The Chicago Cubs (28-28) are hosting the Cincinnati Reds (24-32) at Wrigley Field on Friday. The pitchers who are expected to start will be Graham Ashcraft and Javier Assad.

Cincinnati has a slugging percentage of .358 and have struck out 515 times, while taking a walk on 191 occasions. They have tallied 214 runs batted in in addition to 390 base knocks over the course of the season, while their average at the plate comes in at .216. The Reds have accumulated 81 doubles as a squad and have hit 52 baseballs out of the stadium. They have earned 227 runs while having a team OBP of .299. As a team, the Cincinnati Reds are scoring 4.1 runs per outing, which has them sitting at 22nd in MLB.

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The Reds are sitting with a team ERA of 3.91 so far this year (15th in baseball), and their staff has struck out 467 batters. Reds pitchers have yielded 59 home runs in addition to 236 total runs (13th in the league). They have walked 169 opposing batters and their FIP is 4.01 as a team this season. Cincinnati has given up 448 base hits (8.2 per 9 innings) and also 215 earned runs. They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.76 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.25.

The Reds have sent 177 relievers to the hill this year. The relievers have inherited 76 runners on the year with 25.0% of them ended up crossing the plate. They have recorded 11 saves over the course of the season and have blown 3 out of their 14 chances to get a save. The Reds bullpen have a save percentage of 78.6% and has stepped onto the mound in 43 save situations. The relievers have accumulated 28 holds this year (15th in baseball). Reds pitchers have come into the game with runners on base 48 times as well as having 58 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Cincinnati Reds have 1,484 putouts on the campaign, in addition to 412 assists and 28 errors. Their fielding rate sits at .985 which puts them in 10th in professional baseball, and they have turned 33 double plays. The Reds have turned 70.3% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 4,452 innings, which has them sitting 9th in pro baseball.

Ashcraft has taken the ball for 304 innings and has earned 225 punch outs so far in his pro baseball career. His ERA is 4.79 (162 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.402. He has surrendered 326 hits (9.6 hits per nine innings) and has had 101 free passes. Ashcraft (16-18 career win-loss mark) sits with a FIP of 4.70 and he has gone up against 1,329 batters in the major leagues.

The Cubs have a team SLG% of .364 and they score 4.29 runs per contest (16th in the league). They have notched 77 doubles, while taking a walk 199 times and putting up 240 runs. Chicago has tallied 52 long balls so far this year and 224 RBIs. They have struck out on 497 instances (8th in baseball) and are sitting with 421 base knocks. The Chicago Cubs have tallied an on-base percentage of .308 in addition to a batting average of .227 for the year.

The Chicago pitching staff have given up 248 runs on the season while holding an ERA of 3.88 (214 earned runs surrendered). They have yielded 58 homers and they surrender 4.50 runs per 9 innings (16th in MLB). The Cubs hold a team WHIP of 1.278 and are the owners of a FIP of 3.89 as a staff over the course of the season. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 8.90 (492 strikeouts vs 180 bases on balls). They rank 16th in baseball as a staff in total hits surrendered with 454.

Chicago has called on relievers to enter the game in 23 save opportunities and they have earned 12 saves. They sit at 26th in baseball with a save rate of 52.2%, and they have dispatched 175 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond over the course of the season. Their relief pitchers have come in 71 times in high leverage situations and on 61 occasions with base runners. Chicago bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 36.9% out of 84 inherited runners. Sitting with 50 save situations, the Cubs have amassed 26 holds and also 11 blown saves.

The Chicago Cubs have turned 29 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .983 (24th in the majors). The Cubs have accrued 457 assists, 34 errors and have earned 1,490 putouts on the season. Out of their 4,470 innings on the field, the Cubs hold a efficiency on defense of 69.5% (21st in pro baseball).

So far in his MLB career, Assad has conceded 172 base knocks while he has earned 178 punch outs in 205 frames. Assad (11-6 career win-loss mark) has earned a 2.81 ERA and has allowed 7.6 hits per 9 innings. He has conceded 64 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.249 and having a FIP of 4.2. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.12 and he has gone up against 856 hitters during his pro baseball career.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Cincinnati

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