The Cubs sit 21 games over .500 heading into Monday’s series opener with the division rival Reds, yet have only made their betting backers $55 on the year. They’ll look to improve upon that mark in the second of this three game set in Tuesday’s matinee from Wrigley.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
Now 23 games under .500 after dropping three of four to the Nats over the weekend and getting outscored 28-16 in the process, the Redlegs invade Chicago owners of the worst record in the NL Central and second worst in the National League. Bryan Price has done absolutely nothing with this team since taking over, and it’s likely only a matter of time until he’s relieved of his duties. The Reds have won just 12 of their 40 road games played to date costing those that backed them in those games just over $1K.
As bad as it’s been for the Reds all season, the Cubs return home with their tails between their legs playing some of their worst ball of the season. Joe Maddon’s squad has now dropped three of its last four series played after dropping all four games played against the Mets over the weekend. With that series circled before the season even began, Chicago fans are stewing right now. Still, the Cubs own a comfy eight game lead atop the NL Central standings and are still the +150 to represent the NL in the October Classic.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
It’ll be a battle between a young up and comer and an established veteran in the middle game of this series with Cincy’s Brandon Finnegan set to square off against Chicago’s John Lackey.
Finnegan’s 4.48 ERA is the third best on a starting staff that ranks out as the league’s second worst overall with a cumulative 5.23 ERA. Cincy has put forth a grand total of 32 quality starts which ranks them No. 25 in that category. Just over 52 percent of Finnegan’s starts have been of quality, and he’s 0-1 with a 5.91 ERA and .200 batting average against in his two starts against Chicago this MLB season.
John Lackey has been a force lined up behind both Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester this season, but he’ll slot in ahead of this southpaw this week against a Cincy team he’s had a mixed bag against in 2016. In his first start against them at home, he conceded just 2 ER with a 7:3 K/BB ratio over 6.2 innings, but a couple weeks later in the GAB, the righty got roughed up for 6 ER through 5.2 innings in a 13-5 defeat.
LIVE BETTING
The Reds check in a bankroll depleting 2-7 in Finnegan’s nine road starts where his ERA jumps up to 4.71 and WHIP to 1.51. Lackey has been at his absolute best at home where he’s 4-2 with a 2.01 ERA and .201 batting average against.
The Cubs have won four of Lackey’s seven Wrigley Field starts where the offense has given him an average of 5.0 runs per game to work with. Should Cincy somehow manage to take an early lead, get in on Chicago at a reduced price in live betting.
QUICK PICK
The Cubs have had the Reds number in a big way recently taking 12 of the last 13 overall meetings dating back to last season as well as nine of the 10 overall confrontations in 2016. The last time Chicago stared back at Finnegan, it beat the Reds 16-0 and Jake Arrieta tossed a no-no. This Reds team is an absolute joke right now and the perfect tonic the Cubs need to rinse that bad taste the Mets left in their mouth.
MLB Odds: Cubs 10, Reds 4
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