Reds vs. Cubs Prediction, Odds & Best Bets: Chicago Comes To Life Against Littell

The Cubs' offense has slowed down lately, but a matchup with Zack Littell and the Reds could see Chicago's luck turn around.
Reds vs. Cubs Prediction, Odds & Best Bets: Tuesday, Aug. 5
Pictured: Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4), a key factor in my Reds vs. Cubs prediction. Photo by Patrick Gorski via Imagn Images.

Cincinnati stunned Chicago in the series opener, but my Reds vs. Cubs prediction expects the hosts to bounce back in a big way this evening.

First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET (TBS) from Wrigley Field in Chicago. The best sports betting sites list the Cubs as -175 betting favorites, with a total set at O/U 7.5.

My Reds vs. Cubs best bets anticipate a high-scoring affair in Wrigleyville with one of the league's most volatile arms on display tonight. Our best home run predictions today expect some success from Chicago's offense, as well.

  • Reds vs. Cubs prediction: Cubs to win (-175 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Best Reds vs. Cubs player props: Pete Crow-Armstrong to hit a home run (+520 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

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✅ Reds vs. Cubs prediction: Cubs to win (-175 via BetMGM)

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My Reds vs. Cubs prediction views this as a great bounce-back spot for the hosts, who slipped up yesterday and lost ground in the NL Central pennant race. Chicago turns to its ace, Shota Imanaga, to get the job done tonight against Cincinnati.

Opposing Imanaga will be the Reds' shiny new toy, Zack Littell, who makes his first start in his new stripes. While July was Littell's best full month of work, he still leads the league in home runs allowed with 26 on the season. That should be music to the Cubs' ears.

Chicago's offense has the third-most round-trippers in the majors behind only the Dodgers and Yankees. However, the Cubs have struggled lately. They've only clubbed eight home runs over their last 10 games as a team. A matchup with Littell could get Chicago's power bats back on track.

My Reds vs. Cubs best bet banks on the hosts' sluggers getting back into a groove against the opposing starter. BetMGM offers the best value among the best sports betting apps on the Chicago moneyline (-175).

💰 Best Reds vs. Cubs player props

✅ Best Reds vs. Cubs player prop: Pete Crow-Armstrong to hit a home run (+520 via FanDuel)

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Go big or go home, right? If I'm going to predict a breakout from Chicago's bats, I've got to call my shot, Babe Ruth style. My best Reds vs. Cubs player prop expects Pete Crow-Armstrong to club his first homer since July 23 tonight.

While 14 of the outfielder's 27 home runs this season have come on the road, he's got more pop at home. The 23-year-old's stats confirm this, as his slugging percentage (.573) is significantly higher at Wrigley Field than in the other 29 ballparks (.523). Littell's susceptibility to long balls gives me hope PCA can break his dinger drought against the Reds.

FanDuel is the only one of the best sportsbooks offering better than 5/1 odds on Crow-Armstrong to hit a home run. He's trading as low as +380 with Caesars, so we'll play this prop at the former, where a $10 winning wager profits $52.

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