MLB

Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds, 6/21/2018 Prediction & Preview

Cardinals vs Cubs

National League Central rivals will square off in Cincinnati this weekend when the Reds host the Chicago Cubs. Will the Cubs take Game 1 of the series Thursday night at 7:10 p.m. ET?

Game Snapshot & Odds

905 Chicago Cubs at 906 Cincinnati Reds; 9.5 runs

Thursday, June 21, 2018

7:10 p.m. ET, Great American Ball Park

TV: CHC (CSNC); CIN (FSO)

Public Betting Trends

Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Cubs as a -162 favorite. As of this writing, 79% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Cubs to beat the Reds on the moneyline.

Cubs’ Hendricks posts quality start in victory over Cardinals

Kyle Hendricks allowed three earned runs, seven hits and four walks with three strikeouts over six innings in a victory in St. Louis on Saturday. The quality start and victory moved him to 5-6, as he threw first-pitch strikes to 21 of the 27 batters he faced. The Ivy Leaguer snapped a personal three-game losing streak, picking up his first win since May 25. He’ll look for just his second two-game winning streak of the season when the Cubs visit Matt Harvey and the Reds in Cincinnati next Thursday.

Cubs’ Harvey allows three runs in loss to Pirates

Matt Harvey pitched decently in Friday’s loss to the Pirates, surrendering three runs on four hits over his five-plus innings of work. Harvey walked two and struck out two on the evening. The Pirates scratched out a run against him in the second inning, then Harvey kept the Bucs at bay until the sixth where the right-hander allowed the first two hitters to reach then turned the game over to his bullpen who would surrender both of the runs entrusted to them. While he has been better in his time with the Reds, Harvey still owns a disappointing 5.92 ERA and 1.38 WHIP on the season.

MLB Betting Trends

Chicago

The Cubs are just 2-5 in Hendricks’ last seven starts and are 0-5 in his last five starts coming off four days of rest.

Cincinnati

The Reds are winless in all four of Harvey’s last four outings and are just 13-29 in their last 42 home games.

Prediction:

It’s not a huge sample size but Harvey has faced this Cubs roster in 78 plate appearances of his career and his FIP against those hitters are 6.24, which is awful. Forget Hendricks, this Cubs lineup, especially the lefties, should crush Harvey. The right-hander is one of the worst pitchers on Thursday’s MLB slate and while Chicago is expensive on the moneyline, the Cubs should be a safe bet.

The Pick: Chicago Cubs -162

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