Draftkings MLB Showdown Picks: Reds vs. Cubs 5/30/25
Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs
May 30, 2025 2:20 pm EDT
Major League Baseball presents Draftkings baseball fans with a National League matchup featuring the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs. Let’s take a look at this MLB game from a DFS perspective.
Before we dive into the Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs game let’s review the rules for the Draftkings MLB single game showdown contest.
Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules
You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.
The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.
If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.
*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.
Here are my Draftkings picks for this afternoon’s Reds vs. Cubs matchup.
Draftkings MLB Showdown Picks
Captain-Andrew Abbott, Starting Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds $11,600
On Friday afternoon, Major League Baseball presents the opening game of a three-game National League series featuring the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs.
How are these two teams playing entering today’s MLB game? The Cincinnati Reds arrive at the first game of this three-game series with the Chicago Cubs playing below average baseball. The Reds have lost five of the team’s last eight games played in the 2025 MLB regular season, including a 7-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals three days ago.
In direct contrast to the Cincinnati Reds, the Chicago Cubs are playing good baseball entering today’s National League game. More specifically, the Cubs have won ten of the team’s last 12 games played this season, including a dominant 14-1 win over the Miami Marlins last week.
Now that we have determined how both of these teams are currently playing let’s shift our focus to this afternoon’s game. Starting pitcher Andrew Abbott has been a solid performer for the Cincinnati Reds this season. Having stated that, how has the veteran hurler performed from a data perspective? Let’s review Abbott’s relevant game data from the 2025 MLB regular season to answer that question.
In eight starts made this season, Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Andrew Abbott compiled a 4-0 (won-loss record) and a 1.77 ERA (Earned Run Average) which ranks fifth in MLB. It should also be mentioned that Abbott has amassed a 1.25 WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched), 93 strikeouts and 21 walks in 62.1 innings pitched this season.
More recently, in the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians earlier this month, Reds starting pitcher Andrew Abbott certainly pitched at a high level. Abbott pitched five quality innings while scattering four hits and three walks in the Nationals defeat of the Cincinnati Reds. Additionally, Abbott struck out five Cleveland Guardians batters in the Reds win over Cleveland.
In my view, Andrew Abbott is the most likely player to post the most Draftkings points in today’s National League game. With that said, I am backing Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Andrew Abbott at the captain position for this one game MLB DFS slate.
Flex plays I like to play well in this MLB regular season game (Draftkings price noted): Colin Rea, Starting Pitcher (Chicago Cubs) $10,600: Elly De La Cruz, Shortstop (Cincinnati Reds) $9,400: Nico Hoerner, Second Baseman (Chicago Cubs) $6,000.
