Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds: Free MLB Pick, 6–22–2018
Free MLB Pick by Joel Rockman of Sports Investor Central
Chicago Cubs (42–30) vs Cincinnati Reds (29–45)
Time: Friday, June 22nd, 7:10 PM EST
Current Odds: Reds +115, O/U 9
The Cincinnati Reds host the Chicago Cubs for a four-game weekend series at the Great American Ballpark. Cincinnati took Game 1 on Thursday night behind a strong pitching performance of Matt Harvey. Tonight the Cubs look to get back in the win column with left-hander Jose Quintana (6–5 4.06 ERA) and the Reds will counter with Luis Castillo (4–8 5.77 ERA).
Jose Quintana enters Friday’s start having surrendered two runs or fewer in four straight outings and five of his last six starts overall. This will be Quintana’s second start against Cincinnati this season. He tossed arguably his best outing of the season at Great American Ballpark on May 19, limiting the Reds to just one hit in seven scoreless innings in a 10–0 Cubs win.
As of Friday, the Cubs remain 1.0 game behind the Brewers in the NL Central. Chicago ranks 3rd in MLB with a team .259 batting average, 2nd in MLB with a team 3.17 ERA and 3rd in MLB with a bullpen ERA of 2.76.
Cincinnati hopes to build off a game 1 win Thursday night and extend their winning streak to 5 games. The Reds have been swinging the bats well and they have scored 28 runs over their last four games. Luis Castillo has struggled with command this season but the sky is the limit for the 25-year old right-hander. Castillo entersFriday start having allowed three earned runs or more in four straight starts and he’s allowed at least one home run in 10 of his last 11 trips to the mound.
The Reds have been playing decent baseball and they have to be playing with confidence after taking Game 1 of this series. However, I expect the Cubs to get back in the win column behind a strong outing from Jose Quintana. The Cubs had a tough stretch of games before their series in Cincinnati and tonight’s matchup is a good opportunity to pull out a win.
Cubs are 10–2 in Quintana’s last 12 starts vs. National League Central and 16–7 in Quintana’s last 23 starts. I’ll take the Cubs tonight as small road chalk (-125).
Cubs vs Reds Pick: Cubs -125
