Cody Bellinger has been on a tear, but that hasn’t prevented the Chicago Cubs from dropping eight of their last 10.
The Cubbies center fielder boasts a six-game hitting streak with four consecutive multi-hit games, and my MLB picks and Reds vs. Cubs predictions expect the good offensive vibes to continue for Bellinger on Friday, May 31.
Reds vs Cubs prediction
My best bet
Cody Bellinger Over 1.5 total bases (+120 at DraftKings)
Best odds available in your region
My analysis
Chicago Cubs OF Cody Bellinger went 0-for-12 in the Cubs' last home series with the Atlanta Braves but turned things around during a recent seven-game road trip.
Bellinger has been ripping the baseball since his series collar against the Bravos. He boasts a six-game hitting streak with a pair of hits in four of his last six games.
The Cubs slugger boasts some big hits at the Friendly Confines this season against righties like Cincinnati Reds righty Graham Ashcraft, which should help the red-hot centerfielder continue those good hitting vibes today.
Ashcraft likes slinging his cutter and slider to lefties but hasn’t had great success with either pitch. Lefty bats have blasted his cutter (.486 SLG) and ripped the 26-year-old hurlers slider (.409 SLG) for five bombs and three extra-base hits across 99 plate appearances.
Ashcraft benefits from seven whiffs per nine, but that likely won’t bother the Chicago slugger today. Bellinger boasts a low overall strikeout rate against righties (18%), which dips to 14.8% against Ashcraft’s favorite pitch to lefties (cutter).
The Cubs star has cracked cutters and sliders for five of his eight bombs and three of his eight doubles at home. Righties have served up four of those five bombs to Bellinger, which doesn’t bode well for Ashcraft.
Ashcraft has struggled with his command and has walked a dozen hitters across his past five starts. He doesn’t have enough movement on the cutter or his slider to hurt the Cubs slugger.
Bellinger is rolling and meets a pitcher he’s had success against in a small sample size (one home run in two at-bats). He enters this series hot and should clear his total bases prop today.
Reds vs Cubs same-game parlay (SGP)
Cody Bellinger Over 1.5 total bases
Cody Bellinger Over 0.5 RBI
Cubs moneyline
Bellinger has been hot, and I expect that to continue today.
We’ve already mentioned Bellinger’s hitting streak, but he’s also recorded at least one RBI across four of his last six and could clear today’s total bases prop and RBI prop with one swing.
The Cubs have dropped eight of their last 10 but they win at Wrigley (15-11) and are 4-1 across starting pitcher Javier Asaad’s last five home starts. The Reds have struggled to win on the road (10-15) and have dropped four of their last five away clashes.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Reds vs Cubs odds
Reds vs Cubs live odds
Reds vs Cubs opening odds
- Run line: Cincinnati +1.5 (-170) | Chicago -1.5 (+140)
- Moneyline: Cincinnati +130 | Chicago -154
- Over/Under: Over 8 (-114) | Under 8 (-106)
Reds vs Cubs spread and Over/Under analysis
- Money came in on Cincy’s opening price (+130) likely because the Reds have won four of their last six, but is now trading as low as +124.
- Cubs’ markets opened as high as -154 but losing eight of their last 10 likely caused their market to dip to as low as -140.
- Total markets are where they opened (8) with odds on Over markets priced from -105 to -114 while Under markets are trading at odds of -106 to -115.
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Reds vs Cubs trend
Bellinger has cleared his total bases prop in five of his previous six games. Find more MLB betting trends for Reds vs. Cubs
Reds vs Cubs game info
| Location: | Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL |
| Date: | Friday, 5-31-2024 |
| First pitch: | 2:20 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Bally Sports Ohio, Marquee Network |
| Reds starting pitcher: | Graham Ashcraft (4-3, 4.67 ERA) |
| Cubs starting pitcher: | Javier Assad (4-1, 2.17 ERA) |
Reds vs Cubs latest injuries
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