The Chicago Cubs (35-21) host the Cincinnati Reds (28-29) on Friday, May 31, 2025. First pitch from Wrigley Field is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET; the game will be broadcast on MLB Network.
The Reds have seemingly been stuck in middling purgatory for the last five years, and this season appears to be the same, even with the manager change. Cincinnati is below .500 and 7 1/2 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central entering Friday. Chicago has the biggest division lead in the National League and is 8-2 in its last 10 games.
Find my Reds vs Cubs predictions, picks and parlay for Friday below.
[quickslipbasic bookname=”FanDuel” booklogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/53766_FanDuel@1x.png” image=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2025/05/RedsCubsQS.jpg” buttontext=”Click Here to Bet This Parlay!” buttonlink=”https://switchboard.actionnetwork.com/v2/deeplink?deeplinkId[0]=ML1600489572&deeplinkId[1]=ML1601577351&deeplinkId[2]=ML1601577421&context=qs-articles”][/quickslipbasic]
[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Reds vs Cubs Predictions, Picks, Parlay” center=”true” logo1url=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/cin.png” link1=”https://www.actionnetwork.com/mlb/odds/cincinnati-reds” link1follow=”true” logo2url=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/chc.png” link2=”https://www.actionnetwork.com/mlb/odds/chicago-cubs” link2follow=”true”][/subheader]
- Over 8.5
- Kyle Tucker Hit
- Elly De La Cruz Hit
- Parlay Odds: +194
My Reds vs Cubs best bet is on the over. If you’re interested in a parlay, I’d include Kyle Tucker and Elly De La Cruz to each record a hit.
[expertpickswidget league=”mlb” gameid=”255873″ date=”20250530″ week=”” seasontype=””][/expertpickswidget]
Reds vs Cubs Odds, Lines
[gamematchup league=”mlb” awaylogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/cin.png” awayname=”Reds” awayslug=”cincinnati-reds” homelogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/chc.png” homename=”Cubs” homeslug=”chicago-cubs” date=”Friday, May 30″ time=”2:20 p.m. ET” network=”MLB Network” col1text=”Spread” col2text=”Total” col3text=”Moneyline” col1awaytext=”+1.5″ col1awayline=”-145″ col1hometext=”-1.5″ col1homeline=”+122″ col2awaytext=”9″ col2hometext=”9″ col2awayline=”-110o / -110u” col2homeline=”-110o / -110u” col3awaytext=”+135″ col3hometext=”-160″ col3awayline=”” col3homeline=”” bookname=”Caesars” bookthumbnaillogo=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/463646_Caesars.png” bookreviewslug=”caesars”][/gamematchup]
_InlineAdBlock
Reds vs Cubs Projected Starting Pitchers
| LHP Andrew Abbott (CIN) | Stat | RHP Colin Rea (CHC) |
|---|---|---|
| 4-0 | W-L | 3-1 |
| 0.9 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.7 |
| 1.77 / 3.61 | ERA /xERA | 3.28 / 4.17 |
| 3.46 / 4.08 | FIP / xFIP | 3.65 / 3.96 |
| 1.16 | WHIP | 1.29 |
| 17.0% | K-BB% | 13.5% |
| 25.5% | GB% | 38.7% |
| 96 | Stuff+ | 96 |
| 95 | Location+ | 99 |
Reds vs Cubs Preview, Prediction
[subheader sizedown=”true” center=”false” text=”Reds Betting Preview: Abbott’s Rising, Bats Hiding” logo1url=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/cin.png” link1=”https://www.actionnetwork.com/mlb/odds/cincinnati-reds” link1follow=”false”][/subheader]
In his third season, Andrew Abbott appears to be having a breakout campaign. He is 4-0 with a 1.77 ERA through eight starts. He has 45 strikeouts in 40 innings and has allowed more than one run in a start just once all season. He is throwing his changeup more frequently and it has been his most effective pitch, allowing just a .214 wOBA.
While Abbott has clearly had more success and is having his best season, his actual metrics aren’t all that different from his previous two years. His xERA remains at 3.61, which is closer to what he has done in the past. His strikeout rate has increased, but so has his walk rate and barrel rate. The biggest difference has been his fastball being more effective and limiting contact, and his changeup being used more.
A lineup filled with young talent should be better than what we have seen from the Reds. Thanks to an extremely hitter-friendly ballpark, the Reds are ninth in the league in scoring. However, they rank 19th in wRC+ and can be very inconsistent.
Elly De La Cruz is one of baseball’s must-watch players, but he is very streaky. He has an OPS of just .773 this season and is batting .256. Matt McLain started the year well but has gone ice cold, hitting just .192 over the last 30 days. Noelvi Marte started to get hot and immediately landed on the IL. Austin Hays is the only regular.
[subheader sizedown=”true” center=”false” text=”Cubs Betting Preview: Looking to Rea-Light the Fire” logo1url=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/mlb/100/chc.png” link1=”https://www.actionnetwork.com/mlb/odds/chicago-cubs” link1follow=“false”][/subheader]
Colin Rea suffered his first loss since signing with the Cubs in his last outing against the Reds. It was his worst start of the season, allowing six runs in five innings. Before that outing, he had a steady presence in the Chicago rotation. Rea has allowed more than two runs in just one other start this year.
On the season, Rea sports a 3.28 ERA, although he had been due for some negative regression with an xERA over 4.00. Rea doesn’t do anything particularly well, ranking below average in nearly average metric. The one thing he has done really well is alter his pitch mix to what is working best. After his fastball and slider were his best two pitches last season, throwing them 19.5% and 16.6% of the time, respectively, he has made them his most frequently thrown pitches this year.
The Cubbies have been swinging the bats better than any team in the league this year. Their 330 runs scored are 16 more than the next team and they rank top three in team average, team OPS, stolen bases and home runs.
It’s hard to find a weak point in this lineup. Every starter has an OPS of at least .700. Kyle Tucker is the best overall player in this lineup, but Pete Crow-Armstrong has become the heart and soul and is exceeding most expectations at the plate. Add in a Carson Kelly breakout campaign, Dansby Swanson return to form, and Seiya Suzuki doing his thing, and this team can beat you in a ton of ways.
Reds vs Cubs Prediction, Betting Analysis
Betting totals at Wrigley Field is one of the trickiest things to do in baseball gambling, especially these Friday afternoon games. The Friendly Confines is the most receptive park to wind in the league; however, it does not look like a major factor in this game. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 70s with the wind only blowing about eight miles per hour, out towards right field. Nothing too crazy from what we see at times.
On the surface, both Abbott and Rea are having strong seasons. They both currently have the best ERA of their careers. However, both are likely to regress back to what we have seen from them in previous years. Abbott’s 1.77 ERA is nearly two full runs lower than his 3.61 xERA and Rea has a 4.17 xERA compared to his current 3.28 ERA.
Chicago’s offense has been crushing the ball all season long, but recently, the Reds have been right up there with them. Over the past two weeks, these teams rank first and second in team OPS and rank first and third in wRC+.
Everybody on the Cubs is hitting the ball well, and De La Cruz, TJ Friedl, Spencer Steer, and Tyler Stephenson are all locked in for Cincinnati.
Pick: Over 8.5
[procard imageurl=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/736824_ActionPRO_promo_1500x844.jpg” cta=”Premium picks, tools & analysis” firstupsell=”Track & follow smart money” secondupsell=”Biggest player prop edges” thirdupsell=”Real-time expert pick alerts” buttontext=”SAVE 66% NOW!” buttonurl=”/pricing”][/procard]
Moneyline
I have no pick on the moneyline.
Run Line (Spread)
I have no bet on the game spread.
Over/Under
I like the offenses to find success on Friday afternoon, making the over my best bet.
Reds vs Cubs Betting Trends
[bettingtrends title=”” gameid=”255873″ date=”20250531″][/bettingtrends]
[subheader sizedown=”true” text=”Reds vs Cubs Weather” center=”false”][/subheader]
[gameforecast league=”mlb” gameid=”255873″ date=”20250531″][/gameforecast]
_InlineAdBlock