Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction 5-31-24 Picks

The Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs meet Friday in MLB action from Wrigley Field. Here’s a Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds prediction. This will be the first installment in a three-Game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the Game.

Cincinnati Reds Betting Preview

The Reds took on the St. Louis Cardinals in their last series. Cincinnati managed a 3-1 win in the Monday opener of that set, but then fell 7-1 in Game two. In the Wednesday finale the Reds ended up losing 5-3. Starter Frankie Montas put up 6.0 innings with three earned on six hits and two walks.

In the starting pitcher role for the Reds on Friday it’ll be Graham Ashcraft. So far this year over his 10 starts Ashcraft is 4-3 with a 4.67 ERA and 43 Ks in 54.0 innings. Ashcraft is 16-18 with a 4.79 ERA in 55 career Games.

Chicago Cubs Betting Preview

Over on the Cubs’ side, they just finished up against the Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago split the first two Games of that set 5-1 (loss) and 6-3 (win), then on Wednesday took another loss 10-6. In the finale the Cubs took a 6-4 loss. Starter Jameson Taillon finished with 6.0 innings, three earned, six hits and a walk.

As starter for Friday’s game Chicago will send out Javier Assad. This year Assad is 4-1 with a 2.17 ERA and 54 Ks in 58.0 innings over 11 starts. Assad is 11-6 with a 2.81 career ERA in 52 games (29 starts).

Reds vs Cubs Injury Notes

Cubs SP Jordan Wicks (forearm) made a start for Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.

Total Runs Facts

• Ten of the Reds’ last 11 day games against NL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Seven of the last eight games between the Reds and Cubs at Wrigley Field have gone OVER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last six home games.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Reds’ last four road games against NL Central opponents.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

• Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 11 appearances against the Reds.
• Cody Bellinger has hit a home run in three of the Cubs’ last four games against the Reds.
• Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances with his team as a favorite against the Reds.
• Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one RBI in six of the Cubs’ last seven games as favorites against the Reds.
• Nico Hoerner has scored at least one run in eight of his last nine appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
• Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one Double in each of his last five appearances with the Cubs as home favorites against NL Central opponents.
• Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one Single in each of the Cubs’ last seven games against the Reds.

Cincinnati Reds Player Prop Facts

• Spencer Steer has hit a home run in each of the Reds’ last two road games against the Cubs.
• Jeimer Candelario has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
• Jeimer Candelario has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Reds’ last eight games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Graham Ashcraft has recorded five or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances in day games.
• Elly De La Cruz has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Reds’ last eight road games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
• Spencer Steer has recorded at least one Double in five of his last six road appearances against NL Central opponents.
• Jonathan India has recorded a Single in six of his last seven appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
• Spencer Steer has scored at least one run in each of his last eight appearances at Wrigley Field.

Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction

I’ll probably try the Reds here. Also probably staying away. Ashcraft could use a bounce-back start after a spotty win versus the Dodgers in his last outing. Ashcraft put up 5.1 innings with five earned on eight hits and a walk in that one. In his two starts prior to that, Ashcraft was 0-1 with six earned over 9.0 innings total.

In their Wednesday matchup the Reds gave up 12 hits to the Cardinals and didn’t really get the offense going until the later innings. The pen wasn’t great either (two earned in 3.0 innings). Cincinnati will need a better all-around effort Friday.