The Cincinnati Reds (64-72) and Chicago Cubs (77-59) conclude their 3-game NL Central series Sunday at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. ET (NBC). Let's analyze MLB odds around the Reds vs. Cubs odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
2026 season series: Cubs lead 7-2
CF Pete Crow-Armstrong hit 3 home runs, including his eighth leadoff dinger, as the Cubs (-205) pulverized the Reds 17-5 (Over 9.5) Saturday. Crow-Armstrong added a 2-run shot in the fourth and 3-run drive in the seventh to run his HR total to 36. He finished 4 for 6. 3B Alex Bregman, C Carson Kelly and RF Seiya Suzuki joined in on the homer fun for the Cubs, who snapped a 3-game losing streak.
For the Reds, 1B
Sal Stewart continued his impressive rookie season, hitting a 2-run homer, his 30th of the season, in the third.
The Cubs remain 8 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central, while continuing to lead the NL Wild-Card race, though their lead has shrunk considerably over the past couplem of weeks. The Reds are stuck in the NL Central basement with their slim Wild Card hopes dimming by the day.
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Reds at Cubs projected starters
LHP Chase Burns vs. LHP Shota Imanaga
Burns (14-3, 2.77 ERA) makes his 26th start. He has a 1.15 WHIP, 3.16 BB/9 and 10.57 K/9 in 139 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 3 2/3 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 5 K in a 5-0 Reds loss at the San Francisco Giants Monday
- 2026 road splits (12 starts): 6-2, 3.53 ERA (66 1/3 IP, 26 ER), 1.21 WHIP, 61 H, 8 HR, 19 BB, 86 K
- Career vs. Cubs (1 relief appearance): 0-0, 1 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K (Sept. 20, 2025)
Imanaga (8-9, 3.78 ERA) makes his 27th start. He has a 1.12 WHIP, 2.11 BB/9 and 8.92 K/9 in 145 1/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 2 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K in a 19-2 win at the Seattle Mariners last Sunday
- 2026 home splits (15 starts): 5-5, 3.86 ERA (88 2/3 IP, 38 ER), 1.13 WHIP, 79 H, 17 HR, 21 BB, 86 K
- Career vs. Reds (5 starts): 2-1, 2.48 ERA (29 IP, 8 ER), 1.103 WHIP, 25 H, 6 HR, 7 BB, 33 K, 10.2 K/9
Reds at Cubs odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated 11:12 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Reds +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Cubs -165 (bet $165 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Reds +1.5 (-155) | Cubs -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -118 | U: -102)
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Reds at Cubs picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 7, Reds 3
Moneyline
BET CUBS (-165).
Cubs have won 7 of 9 games vs. the Reds this season and are in need of some momentum heading into a pivotal 4-game series with the Brewers.
Run line/Against the spread
BET CUBS -1.5 (+125).
Of the Cubs' 15 wins in August, only 3 have been decided by a single run. Each of their last 3 wins have come by at least 7 runs. So if you like the Cubs and want a little more bang for your buck, the run line isn't a bad bet.
Over/Under
BET OVER 9 (-118)
I'm not expecting a pitchers' duel in this one.
Imanaga was so bad in his start last Sunday that he couldn't get a win in a game the Cubs won by 17 runs as he was pulled after needing 72 pitches to get through 2 innings of work, giving up 5 hits and walking 2 as the Mariners jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before Chicago took control.
Burns may be wearing down as the season gets set to enter its final month. Two of his 3 losses have come in August and he matched his season-high for hits allowed (9) in his last start. In each of his 3 losses, he's allowed 5 ER.
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs odds, picks and predictions
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