Chicago Cubs (4-1) at Cincinnati (1-4)
When: Wednesday, July 29th 2020
Where: Great American Ballpark,
Cincinnati, OH
Time: 6:40 ET | TV: Extra Innings
Opening Odds: Cincinnati -125/9
The trendy pick coming into this 2020 season in the National League were the Cincinnati Reds, but the team has yet to win a game since Opening Day. The Reds look to break their four-game skid when they host the Chicago Cubs in the third game of a four-game set on Wednesday night. Sonny Gray, who helped Cincinnati beat the Tigers on Opening Day, will get the ball opposite Kyle Hendricks. The Cubs are off to a terrific start offensively and saw Javier Baez break out of a 3-for-17 slump with two homers and a double as Chicago rolled to an 8-5 win on Tuesday. The bottom of the lineup also produced for the Cubs, who have totaled 25 runs with seven home runs in the past three games. The back end of the Reds’ bullpen has struggled thus far including Mike Lorenzen, who has surrendered 5 runs in 2.2 innings.
Pitchers: Cubs – Kyle Hendricks (1-0, 0.00 ERA) | Reds – Sonny Gray (1-0, 1.50)
Hendricks struck out nine without a walk to pitch the first shutout in a Cubs’ opener since 1974, and will try and snap his road woes this season. He won 11 games a year ago, but had a 5.02 ERA away from home. Hendricks had trouble with Cincinnati last season, going 1-1 with a 5.16 ERA in four starts.
Gray has been a different pitcher since moving back to the National League, striking out 205 batters in 2019, while boasting a 2.87 ERA. He’s off to a great start in 2020 with the Reds only win after yielding a run, three hits and a pair of walks with nine strikeouts over six innings versus the Tigers on Opening Day. Gray was 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA against Chicago last year with 37 strikeouts in 30 innings.
These two teams are going in opposite directions and momentum is clearly on Chicago’s side. Hendricks will want to prove this season that he can be more consistent on the road. The Reds are only hitting .202 as a team and I think those struggles continue for at least one more night.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for today.
Pick: Cubs -110
BETTING TRENDS:
Cubs are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 games on grass.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. National League Central.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 road games.
Cubs are 6-2 in their last 8 games with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
Cubs are 8-3 in their last 11 games following a win.
Cubs are 5-2 in their last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cubs are 15-7 in their last 22 Wednesday games.
Cubs are 9-19 in their last 28 games as a road underdog.
Cubs are 10-22 in their last 32 games as an underdog.
Cubs are 2-5 in their last 7 road games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Cubs are 3-8 in their last 11 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Cubs are 8-23 in their last 31 road games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Cubs are 1-4 in their last 5 during game 3 of a series.
Cubs are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Cubs are 2-8 in their last 10 road games with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
Reds are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Reds are 4-1 in their last 5 home games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Reds are 11-3 in their last 14 home games with the total set at 11.0 or higher.
Reds are 2-6 in their last 8 vs. National League Central.
Reds are 2-7 in their last 9 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Reds are 1-4 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Reds are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Reds are 1-4 in their last 5 games with the total set at 6.5 or lower.
Reds are 1-4 in their last 5 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Reds are 1-5 in their last 6 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Reds are 1-5 in their last 6 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Reds are 1-5 in their last 6 games as a home favorite.
Reds are 1-7 in their last 8 games following a loss.
Reds are 0-4 in their last 4 overall.
Reds are 0-4 in their last 4 games on grass.
Reds are 0-7 in their last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Reds are 0-4 in their last 4 home games.
Reds are 0-4 in their last 4 home games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Reds are 0-4 in their last 4 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Reds are 0-4 in their last 4 home games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Over is 32-14-5 in the last 51 meetings in Cincinnati.
