On Thursday, an MLB matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds will take place at Wrigley Field. The first two games of this series were divided between the two teams.
The Cubs currently have an overall record of 29-46, and despite the fact that this season has largely been disappointing, the offense looked incredibly strong on Wednesday and is expected to do so once more in this contest. The Cubs are 19th in all of baseball in terms of runs scored per game, averaging 4.23. Even worse, the pitching has been allowing 5.3 runs per game. Patrick Wisdom has 37 RBIs and 14 home runs to his credit.
The Reds, who are on the losing end of this game with a record of 26-48, struggled with their pitching once more on Wednesday. All season long, the pitching has been a major problem, allowing 5.4 runs per game, which ranks 29th in MLB. Although much improved, the offense still falls short given how terrible their pitching has been. Brandon Drury, who has 15 home runs and 39 RBIs, has been the leading offensive performer.
Kyle Hendricks, who is currently pitching for the Cubs and has a 3-6 record and a 4.90 ERA, is in the circle. He pitched 7.1 innings in his most recent start against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing five hits but no runs.
Graham Ashcraft, who is pitching for the Reds, has a 4-1 record and a 3.27 ERA. He pitched eight innings against the San Francisco Giants in his previous start, surrendering six hits and two runs.
In Ashcraft’s previous seven starts on grass, the Reds have a 6-1 record. In their last seven games on Thursday, the Cubs have a 1-7 record. In the Cubs’ last seven home games against right-handed starters, the under is 6-1.
Hendricks has a history of being inconsistent, but I thought his previous start against the awful Reds offence he looked extremely good, so I expect him to succeed again today. This season, Ashcraft has also performed well, sporting an ERA of 3.27.
Free Pick: Chicago Cubs
