Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, Preview and Odds - 08/06/2025

Game Time: 2:20 pm ET, Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Venue:  Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL 

Where to Watch:  FDSOH, MARQ

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Reds +118, Cubs -144; Over/Under:  NL runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Reds +120, Cubs -140; Over/Under:  NL runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Reds +120, Cubs -140; Over/Under:  NL runs

Cincinnati Reds:  59-54 (3rd place, NL Central)

Chicago Cubs:  65-47 (2nd place, NL Central)

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Cincinnati Reds:  6-4 last 10

Chicago Cubs:  5-5 last 10

The Reds are entering this series off a loss and lost their 3-game series against the Atlanta Braves 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 59-54 record overall and have a road record of 26-28. This is the series finale of a 3-game series with the Cubs on Wednesday with the 2nd game still to be played on Tuesday. The Reds won the series opener on Monday. Their offense ranks 16th in the MLB with a .712 OPS. Zack Littell is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while Andrew Abbott is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 8-1 with a 2.15 ERA this season. His team lost 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 2 ER, 0 HR, and 5 BB with 1 SO on 5 hits through 5.2 IP against the Atlanta Braves.

The Cubs are entering this series off a win and won their 3-game series against the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 65-47 record overall and have a home record of 35-21. This is the 3rd game of a 3-game series with the Reds on Wednesday with the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Tuesday. The Cubs lost the 1st game of this series on Monday. Their offense ranks 3rd in the MLB with a .762 OPS. Shota Imanaga is their starting pitcher on Tuesday while rookie pitcher Cade Horton is making his start in this game on Wednesday. He is 5-3 with a 3.42 ERA this season. His team won their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 0 earned runs, 0 homers, and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts on 2 hits through 5 innings pitched against the Baltimore Orioles.

The current betting odds have the Reds listed as an underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Cubs have looked really good in their games this season with their 65-47 record overall which has them right near the top of the NL Central with one of the best records in the MLB. They have also looked great in their own ballpark this year with their 35-21 home record. Meanwhile, the Reds have looked good in their games this season with their 59-54 record overall which has them right in the middle of the NL Central. They haven't been a great road team though with their 26-28 road record this season. The Reds already took the 1st game of this series though and they are the hotter team coming into this one, going 6-4 in their last 10 games. They also have the better pitching matchup and take advantage of that with the way this Cubs offense has been lately. The Reds are going with Abbott in this one and he has been their ace this season. He is 8-1 with a 2.15 ERA and hasn't had many bad starts this year. His team has struggled more lately as they have lost 2 of the last 3 games he started in, but he looked a lot better in his last start as he only gave up 2 earned runs and that has been more of a common theme for him. The Cubs are going with their rookie Horton and he hasn't been bad this season. He is 5-3 with a 3.42 ERA and he hasn't been giving up many runs lately. He is coming off a great start in which he gave up no runs and the team has won 2 games in a row now with him starting too, but he is still an inexperienced starter. The Reds will find ways to get to him for some runs here and as good as the Cubs offense has been this season, they haven't been great lately and will struggle with Abbott likely pitching deep into this game. The best way to place a bet here is on the Reds to win this game. 

Reds Cubs Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Wednesday, August 6, 2025 (2:20 pm ET start time) is Reds 3 Cubs 1.

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Cincinnati Reds: 56-74 (-17.2 units) on the moneyline against division opponents. 76-96 (-16.8 units) on the moneyline in day games. 105-116 (-7.9 units) on the moneyline vs. an NL team with a team batting average of .255 or worse. 53-28 UNDER when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 54% to 62%).

Chicago Cubs: 232-204 (+12.8 units) on the moneyline in all games. 125-93 (+13.3 units) on the moneyline in home games. 148-97 (+15.5 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -110 or higher. 6-3 UNDER at home vs. an NL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.20 or better.

Cincinnati Reds:  N. Lodolo (SP) Day To Day - Finger. W. Miley (SP) Sixty Day IL - Flexor. I. Gibaut (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Shoulder. H. Greene (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Groin. R. Lowder (SP) Sixty Day IL - Forearm. C. Spiers (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. T. Callihan (LF) Sixty Day IL - Forearm. B. Williamson (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Aguiar (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

Chicago Cubs:  M. Soroka (SP) Day To Day - Shoulder. M. Amaya (C) Sixty Day IL - Oblique. J. Taillon (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Calf. E. Morgan (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. J. Assad (RP) Sixty Day IL - Oblique. J. Steele (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

“Where we’re standing, it looked like he beat it. And the call came right away. Then they put it up on the board, and it’s like, ‘Man, that’s not a very good look.’” - Terry Francona after his team’s win against the Cubs in their game on Monday.

“Look, you feel bad for Michael first and just hope that there’s just some discomfort there and a couple weeks can take care of it. That’s where we’re at. We’re going to have to wait to get more information before we know what we’re dealing with.” - Craig Counsell after his team’s loss against the Reds in their game on Monday.

TJ Friedl (L) CF

Matt McLain (R) 2B

Elly De La Cruz (S) SS

Austin Hays (R) LF

Gavin Lux (L) DH

Spencer Steer (R) 1B

Tyler Stephenson (R) C

Jake Fraley (L) RF

Ke'Bryan Hayes (R) 3B

Nico Hoerner (R) 2B

Kyle Tucker (L) RF

Seiya Suzuki (R) DH

Carson Kelly (R) C

Willi Castro (S) CF

Justin Turner (R) 1B

Ian Happ (S) LF

Dansby Swanson (R) SS

Matt Shaw (R) 3B

Batting Average:  Austin Wynns (.400)

Hits:  Elly De La Cruz (122)

Home Runs:  Elly De La Cruz (19)

RBI:  Elly De La Cruz (73)

Stolen Bases:  Elly De La Cruz (30)

Wins:  Nick Martinez (9)

Saves:  Emilio Pagán (24)

ERA:  Andrew Abbott (2.15)

Batting Average:  Willi Castro (.333)

Hits:  Nico Hoerner (120)

Home Runs:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (27)

RBI:  Seiya Suzuki (82)

Stolen Bases:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (29)

Wins:  Matthew Boyd (11)

Saves:  Daniel Palencia (15)

ERA:  Michael Fulmer (0.00)

Managers:

Cincinnati Reds: Terry Francona (1st season)

Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell (2nd season)