Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction, 5/23/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds

Date: Friday, May 23, 2025

Location: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-144) Cincinnati (+120)

The Chicago Cubs (30-20) are hitting the road to Great American Ball Park on Friday where they will compete against the Cincinnati Reds (25-26). The moneyline on this game has Chicago at -144 while Cincinnati is opening at +120. The total has been set at 8. The pitchers taking the mound are Matthew Boyd and Hunter Greene.

The Cubs have earned 93 doubles as a team and have hit 69 baseballs out of the park. Chicago has a slugging percentage of .447 and have struck out 398 times, while drawing a walk on 190 occasions. As a squad, the Chicago Cubs are knocking in 5.9 runs per game, which ranks them 1st in the league. They have earned 286 runs batted in as well as 455 base knocks over the course of the season, while their batting average is at .261. They have racked up 293 runs scored and hold an on-base percentage of .335.

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Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.61 and the pitching staff sits with a WHIP of 1.28. Cubs pitchers have surrendered 60 long balls and also 210 runs in total (18th in the league). Chicago has conceded 421 hits (8.5 per 9 innings) and also 194 earned runs. The Cubs have compiled a team ERA of 3.90 over the course of the season (16th in the league), and the staff has struck out 394 batters. They have walked 151 hitters and their FIP sits at 4.18 as a unit this season.

The Cubs bullpen have recorded a save rate of 57.9% and have entered the game in 52 save situations. The relievers have inherited 53 runners so far this season with 35.8% of those runners crossed home plate. Cubs pitchers have entered the contest with players on base 38 times in addition to having 53 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have sent 171 relievers to the hill for the season. The relievers have a total of 32 holds over the course of the season (9th in baseball). They have 11 saves so far this season and have blown 8 of their 19 save chances.

The Cubs have converted 70.3% of balls in play into outs in their 4,029 innings, which has them sitting 15th in pro baseball. The Boston Red Sox are sitting with 1,343 putouts at this point in the season, in addition to 419 assists and 24 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .987 which puts them in 12th in professional baseball, and have accumulated 44 double plays.

Boyd has pitched in 959 frames and has 944 K's during his MLB career. Boyd (50-71 career record) sits with a FIP of 4.68 while he has gone up against 4,110 hitters during his time in the majors. His earned run average is 4.75 (506 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.309. He has given up 949 hits (8.9 hits per nine innings) with 307 free passes.

The Reds have a team SLG% of .391 and they score 4.47 runs per game (11th in baseball). They have hit 89 two-baggers, while walking 175 times and recording 228 runs. Cincinnati has 53 HRs so far this year to go along with 220 RBIs. They have struck out on 457 occasions (4th in baseball) and have accounted for 412 hits. The Cincinnati Reds have a team on-base percentage of .317 as well as a team batting average of .241 so far this season.

The Reds have a team WHIP of 1.168 and have a FIP of 3.96 as a pitching staff this year. Their K/BB ratio is 8.30 (418 strikeouts vs 154 free passes). They are sitting at 7th in baseball as a staff in total hits given up with 374. They have conceded 55 long balls and they concede 3.88 runs per 9 innings (10th in MLB). The Cincinnati pitching staff have surrendered 195 runs for the season while having an ERA of 3.48 (175 earned runs given up).

Cincinnati has had bullpen pitchers step onto the hill in 20 save opportunities and they have converted 14 saves. They are currently ranked 6th in MLB holding a save percentage of 70.0%, and they have sent 171 relief pitchers to the mound on the year. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 47 times in high leverage situations and on 35 occasions with runners on base. Cincinnati relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 29.6% of 54 inherited runners. Sitting with 62 save situations, the Reds have 40 holds in addition to 6 blown saves.

In 4,068 innings played, the Reds hold a defensive efficiency of 72.7% (1st in professional baseball). The Cincinnati Reds have gotten 27 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .985 (18th in MLB). The Reds have recorded 397 assists, 26 errors and have amassed 1,356 putouts this season.

During his MLB career, Greene has allowed 340 base hits while he has totaled 546 strikeouts in 433 frames. Greene (22-27 win-loss record in his career) is the owner of a 3.74 earned run average and has conceded 7.1 hits per nine innings. He has surrendered 180 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.157 and having a FIP of 3.7. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.39 and he has gone up against 1,816 hitters during his MLB career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Chicago (-144)

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