2020-09-08 20:15:00 EDT
The Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs meet Tuesday in MLB action from Wrigley Field.
This will be the first installment of a three-game set between these teams this week. The Reds are coming out of a series versus the Pirates, bagging two of four wins to split the series. As for the Cubs, they just played the Cardinals over the weekend. Chicago won Friday but lost the next three games. In the Monday finale, the Cubs managed to bag another win 5-1. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place.
The Reds have had some trouble getting their offense going this year, but a few guys are producing well. Nick Castellanos is hitting a rather tepid .246 but has 10 homers with 24 RBI and 25 runs. Jesse Winker has a .314 batting average with 10 homers, 17 RBI and 19 runs. Eugenio Suarez (.192 BA) and Shogo Akiyama (.196 BA) have some work to do on their averages this season.
For the Tuesday starting pitcher role, the Reds will go with Tyler Mahle. Over six games (five starts) this season, Mahle is 1-1 with a 3.90 ERA and 35 Ks in 30.0 innings. On his career, Mahle is 12-24 with a 4.78 ERA and 288 Ks in 291.2 innings of work.
Over on the Cubs’ side, they collected 10 hits as a team in the Monday win. Javier Baez had a great outing with three hits and a run, and starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks earned the win on 8.0 innings, seven hits, one earned and four strikeouts.
For the Tuesday starting pitcher role, the Cubs will go with Alec Mills. This season, Mills is 3-3 over seven starts, with a 5.50 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 37.2 innings of work. On his MLB career in 26 games (13 starts), Mills is 4-4 with a 4.45 ERA and 95 Ks in 95.0 frames total.
The Reds are 4-1 in their last five games following an off day and 4-1 in the last five road games. Cincinnati is 2-5 in their last seven during game one of a series and 4-11 in their last 15 games as an underdog.
Meanwhile, the Cubs are 3-9 in their last 12 home games and 9-4 in their last 13 games as a home favorite. Chicago is 21-8 in their last 29 during game one of a series and 5-1 in the last six Tuesday games.
Pick: I’m leaning Reds here. This is mostly because of what Mahle has done lately. Over his past two starts, he’s gone 13.2 innings and has looked pretty darn good. On Wednesday in a no-decision versus the Cardinals, Mahle went seven innings and retired his final seven hitters consecutively. If Mahle can maintain his command and get a nice outing like that in this one, Cincinnati should be in a nice position to take a win in game one.
