Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction, 9/20/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds

Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026

Location: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH

TV: Reds.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-122) Cincinnati (+102)

Great American Ball Park is the location where the Cincinnati Reds (71-82) will attempt to defeat the Chicago Cubs (85-68) on Sunday. The odds on this game have Chicago at -122 and Cincinnati is priced at +102. The betting total comes in at 8. The starting pitchers are David Peterson and Rhett Lowder.

As a team, the Chicago Cubs are putting up 5.3 runs per game, which is 1st in the league. They have tallied 817 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .340. The Cubs have earned 261 two-baggers as a squad and have knocked 211 balls out of the stadium. They have accrued 772 RBI's in addition to 1,320 hits this year, while their batting average is at .252. Chicago has a slugging percentage of .431 and have been called out on strikes 1,271 times, while drawing a walk on 643 occasions.

Get all of our MLB Betting Picks

They have a K/BB ratio of 2.52 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.27. Cubs pitchers have allowed 227 long balls and also 674 total runs (13th in baseball). Chicago has given up 1,263 hits (8.3 per 9 innings) in addition to 636 earned runs. The Cubs are sitting with a team ERA of 4.19 on the year (17th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 1,188 hitters. They have walked 471 players from the other team and their FIP is 4.68 as a unit so far this year.

Cubs relief pitchers have entered the contest with opponents on base 155 times in addition to having 146 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers have tallied 52 holds for the year (30th in the league). The Cubs relievers have earned a save rate of 55.0% and stepped onto the hill in 119 save situations. They have 33 saves on the campaign and have blown 27 of their 60 save opportunities. The relief pitchers have inherited 217 base runners for the season with 33.2% of those players crossing the plate. The Cubs have dispatched 489 relievers to the mound over the course of the season.

The Cubs have converted 71.8% of balls in play into outs in their 12,294 innings, which has them ranked 3rd in the majors. The Chicago Cubs have 4,098 putouts this season, as well as 1,448 assists and 56 errors. Their fielding rate is holding steady at .990 which is 1st in professional baseball, and have a total of 116 double plays.

Peterson has taken the hill for 691 innings and has totaled 675 strikeouts during his MLB career. Peterson (42-32 career record) is the owner of a FIP of 4.07 while he has faced 2,974 batters during his time in the majors. His earned run average is 4.13 (317 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.383. He has allowed 662 base knocks (8.6 hits per nine innings) and has had 294 walks.

The Cincinnati Reds have earned a team on-base percentage of .307 as well as a team batting average of .230 on the season. They have been rung up on 1,458 occasions (1st in MLB) and are sitting with 1,168 hits. Cincinnati is sitting with 203 home runs so far this year and 605 runs batted in. The Reds hold a slugging % of .396 and they are earning 4.14 runs per outing (26th in baseball). They have recorded 212 doubles, while getting a free base 534 times as well as earning 633 runs.

The Cincinnati pitching staff have given up 787 runs on the season and come in with a team ERA of 4.87 (733 earned runs allowed). They have allowed 203 homers and they allow 5.23 runs per 9 innings (28th in the league). The Reds hold a team WHIP of 1.450 and have a FIP of 4.81 as a unit this season. Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 8.20 (1,233 strikeouts against 638 walks). They come in at 26th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits surrendered with 1,325.

Cincinnati relievers have an inherited score percentage of 27.1% out of 240 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have come in 180 times in high leverage situations and also on 160 occasions with runners on base. With 149 save situations, the Reds have amassed 83 holds and 22 blown saves. They sit at 14th in MLB holding a save percentage of 64.5%, and they have dispatched 545 relievers to the mound so far this season.

In 12,186 innings played, the Reds have earned a defensive efficiency of 69.4% (20th in professional baseball). The Cincinnati Reds have turned 108 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .984 (20th in pro baseball). The Reds have racked up 1,227 assists, 87 errors and are sitting with 4,062 putouts for the year.

So far in his pro baseball career, Lowder has given up 163 hits while accumulating 120 strikeouts in 154 frames. Lowder (8-13 record in his career) has earned a 4.90 ERA while surrendering 9.5 hits per nine innings. He has allowed a total of 84 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.478 and a FIP of 4.8. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 1.85 and he has faced 691 hitters thus far in his career.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Cincinnati (+102)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get MLB picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.