Cubs vs Reds Odds, Picks and Predictions (May 26)

• The Cubs are -120 road favorites over the Reds on Thursday
• Lefty Justin Steele (1-4, 3.82) will pitch for Chicago against rookie Hunter Greene (1-6, 5.49)
• A look at the Cubs vs Reds odds and matchup can be found below with a prediction

The Cincinnati Reds will try to gain a four-game split of their series with the visiting Chicago Cubs when the teams meet at 12:35 p.m. ET Thursday at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds (13-30/6-11 home) won for just the second time in six games Wednesday night when they edged the Cubs 4-3. The Cubs (18-25/11-10 road) had their three-game winning streak snapped.

Cubs vs Reds Odds

Odds as of May 25th at Barstool Sportsbook.

The Cubs are -120 choices on the moneyline in a game that will be televised by MLB Network, giving them an implied win probability of 54.55%. Chicago’s World Series odds are +3500 and the Reds are a real longshot at +10000.

There is a possibility of a rain delay late in the game as the weather forecast calls for a 60% chance of thunderstorms after 3 p.m. It is expected to be mostly cloudy with a high of 79 degrees and wind from the south at 9-11 mph with gusts up to 22 mph.

CHC vs CIN Probable Pitchers

Left-hander Justin Steele (1-4, 3.82) is scheduled to pitch for the Cubs against rookie Hunter Greene (1-6, 5.49). Both will be working on four days of rest

Steele vs Greene

Steele has gone seven starts without a win since beating the Milwaukee Brewers on April 9 in his season debut.

Last Saturday, Steele had a no-decision despite having an excellent outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Chicago. He pitched five shutout innings of one-hit ball with nine strikeouts and two walks.

justin steele has absolutely dealt this past week. legitimately shoving it down ppls throats. just throwing good ol country fastballs that hitters arent touching. pride of lucedale, Mississippi pic.twitter.com/GUNjwwK1yW

— DOM (@DOM_Frederic) May 21, 2022

Steele became just the 11^th left-hander in Cubs’ history with at least nine strikeouts in consecutive starts.

Steele is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA against the Reds in four career games (two starts). He has an 0-1 record and a 6.43 ERA in three games (one start) at Great American Ball Park.

In three road starts this season, Steele is 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA. He has been outstanding in day games, going 1-1 with a 1.89 ERA in four starts.

The Reds’ Kyle Farmer is 1 for 6 against Steele.

Greene got the win in his major league debut April 10 against the Braves in Atlanta. Like Steele, Greene has now gone seven straight starts without a victory.

Greene pitched well last Saturday in a no-decision against the Blue Jays in Toronto. He gave up one run and four hits in six innings while striking out six and walking two.

Hunter Greene is so damn nasty pic.twitter.com/FPeNq0FxIi

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 21, 2022

That came after Greene pitched 7 1/3 hitless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates but wound up with a hard-luck loss.

Greene, who has +3500 NL Rookie of the Year odds, has lost both starts at GABP this season with a 5.19 ERA. He is 1-2 with a 5.57 in four daytime starts.

Cubs vs Reds Betting Outlook

Joey Votto homered and tripled to help the Reds to a one-run victory on Wednesday night in a game that got testy when the veteran first baseman yelled at Cubs relief pitcher Rowan Wick.

Votto hit a solo home run in the second inning and a two-run triple in the third to help the Reds take a 4-2 lead. Wick then brushed back Votto with a pitch in the eighth inning and that led to the shouting match.

You may think this video is sped up, but that's just Joey Votto for ya. pic.twitter.com/50tNjZb8cm

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 25, 2022

Reds reliever Hunter Strickland plunked Patrick Wisdom with a pitch in the ninth. Cubs manager David Ross argued that Strickland should have been ejected and wound up getting thrown out.

The Cubs’ Ian Happ hit a two-run double in the first inning, but Chicago did not score again until pushing across a run in the ninth.

The Cubs activated infielder Nico Hoerner (sprained right ankle) from the injured list prior to Wednesday night’s game but he was not in the starting lineup. Hoerner did strike out in the ninth inning as a pinch-hitter.

Infielder Jonathan Villar was on the bench for a second straight day as rookie Christopher Morel started at second base.

Catcher Yan Gomes (left oblique strain) was placed on the injured list and fellow backstop Willson Contreras (strained right hamstring) missed his fourth straight game. Rookie P.J. Higgins was the starter behind the plate.

Contreras also was used as a pinch-hitter in the ninth was robbed of extra bases when center fielder Nick Senzel made a leaping catch.

Gold Glover Nick Senzel sure would have a nice ring to it.@LilSenzii pic.twitter.com/cuQ3nCeFOA

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 26, 2022

Farmer (general soreness) missed his third straight game and Matt Reynolds played shortstop in his place.

Cubs vs Reds Last 10 Games

Cubs vs Reds Prediction

Both starting pitchers are overdue for a win, but Greene has been exceptional his last two times out. Look for him to finally get career victory No. 2 in this one as a slight underdog.

Pick: Reds ML (+104)