Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 7/29/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Thursday, July 29, 2021

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee Sports Network

Odds/Point Spread: Cincinnati (-105) Chicago (-116)

Wrigley Field is the venue where Alec Mills and the Chicago Cubs (50-52, 4th in NL Central) will play the Cincinnati Reds (52-49, 2nd in NL Central) on Thursday. The moneyline on this game has the Reds priced at -105 and the Cubs are at -116. The total has been set at 9. The starting pitchers will be Luis Castillo and Alec Mills.

As a team, the Cincinnati Reds are scoring 4.8 runs per game, which is 8th in MLB. They have accumulated 489 runs scored and have an OBP of .330. The Reds have compiled 172 doubles as a squad and have hit 128 balls out of the park. They have 466 RBI's in addition to 852 hits on the season, and their team batting average is sitting at .250. Cincinnati owns a slugging percentage of .417 and have been rung up 904 times, while being walked on 349 occasions.

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Reds pitchers have given up 136 home runs and also 506 runs in total (26th in MLB). They have walked 424 opposing batters and their FIP sits at 4.51 as a squad this year. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 2.30 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.41. The Reds have a team earned run average of 4.61 on the year (22nd in the league), and they have struck out 977 batters.

The Reds have sent 373 relief pitchers to the mound over the course of the season. The relief pitchers have inherited 175 base runners so far this year with 40.6% of them crossed home plate. They have compiled 29 saves so far this year and have blown 21 of their 50 save opportunities. The Reds bullpen have a save rate of 58.0% and stepped onto the hill in 95 save situations. The relief pitchers have earned 43 holds on the season (24th in the league). Reds bullpen pitchers have come into the game with runners on 118 times as well as having 130 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Cincinnati Reds have accounted for 2,703 putouts so far this season, in addition to 877 assists and 62 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .983 which has them sitting 23rd in the majors, and have accumulated 651 double plays. The Reds have converted 68.5% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 8,109 innings, ranking them 24th in professional baseball.

Castillo has taken the mound for 635 innings and has earned 691 punch outs so far in his pro baseball career. Castillo (36-43 career record) has a FIP of 3.77 while he has gone up against 2,643 batters in the major leagues. His ERA is 3.73 (263 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.209. He has given up 533 hits (7.6 hits per 9 innings) and has 235 walks.

The Chicago Cubs have an OBP of .308 and a batting average of .227 so far this season. They have struck out on 977 occasions (5th in baseball) and have accounted for 749 hits. Chicago has accumulated 131 long balls on the season and 410 RBIs. The Cubs have a SLG% of .398 and they are recording 4.23 runs per contest (20th in the league). They have recorded 135 two-baggers, while getting a free base 329 times and putting up 431 runs.

The Cubs have a team WHIP of 1.328 in addition to having a FIP of 4.58 as a staff for the year. They are sitting at 15th in baseball as a staff in total hits allowed with 801. The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 454 runs on the year while holding a team ERA of 4.12 (409 earned runs conceded). Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 2.32 (897 strikeouts vs 386 walks). They have allowed 134 homers and they concede 4.57 runs per 9 innings (16th in MLB).

Chicago relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 28.7% of 171 inherited base runners. Their relievers have stepped onto the hill 108 times in high leverage situations and on 106 occasions with runners on base. With 96 save situations, the Cubs have earned 59 holds in addition to 9 blown saves. They are ranked 1st in baseball with a save percentage of 75.0%, and they have sent 372 bullpen pitchers to the hill so far this season. Chicago has called on bullpen pitchers to take the mound in 36 save opportunities and they have walked away with 27 saves.

The Chicago Cubs have turned 81 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .985 (9th in professional baseball). The Cubs have racked up 963 assists, 55 errors and have accounted for 2,683 putouts on the season. Out of their 8,049 innings played, the Cubs are sitting with a efficiency on defense of 70.6% (8th in the majors).

So far in his MLB career, Mills has conceded 159 base knocks while he has accumulated 162 punch outs in 177 innings. He has conceded 84 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.249 and having a FIP of 4.5. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.61 and he has gone up against 746 hitters during his pro baseball career. Mills (10-9 career record) has a 4.27 earned run average and has given up 8.1 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game ATS?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Cincinnati (-105)

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