Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 5/26/2022

Time: 12:35 p.m. ET

Venue: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH

Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, Bally Sports Ohio, MLB Network

DraftKings: Reds -135, Cubs +115

BetMGM: Reds -125, Cubs +105

Caesars: Reds -141, Cubs +120

Cubs: 18-25

Reds: 13-30

A quick question to the Chicago Cubs: Why? Why are you like this? Why do you look so promising against the worst team in baseball, and you go out and lose in that fashion? How does that make any sense? Why does it make sense? How can it even make sense when you scored two runs in the top of the first and didn't score again until the ninth? Why is your supposed ace Kyle Hendricks forgetting how to pitch? Remember how he was actually the best pitcher once upon a time on this team? Now he's going just four innings and giving up four runs in that span while only striking out four? This is literally the dumbest team. 

We're talking about a group that already overachieved in the sense that the Cubs were relying on a Japanese rookie who has suddenly also forgotten how to hit on most times despite going 1-for-3 on Wednesday. The Cubs had just five hits and no one had more than one. Typical Cubs fashion, they just completely fell apart at the earliest of times.

Part of it is just the fact that they had a player hit two homers last night, and I know baseball isn't a perfect game (they wish they had a perfect game) and they can't expect to win them all. But we do expect you to win all against the Cincinnati Reds. That's not too much to ask.

The Reds did the thing. I feel like every time they win it calls for a parade. When Tommy Pham and Joey Votto combine for four of your seven hits and all four of your runs, you deserve a championship parade through downtown Cincy. Votto, who is batting below .200 because he has likely just given up on life with this Reds team, hit a home run in the second inning to send Kyle Hendricks into a serious frenzy of mass hysteria. Luis Castillo had the most winnable 5-inning stretch for a pitcher you could ask for.

"I'll be honest, it was a nice bat flip," Rowan Wick said. "I understand he's been in the league a long time and he can do whatever he wants when he walks. I wasn't happy with the pitches that I threw. I got a little frustrated. Feel like he kind of blew it out of the water more than it needed to be."

I refuse to give the Reds the benefit of the doubt trying to win another game, and for that purpose, I am taking the Reds because you can't absolutely tell me there's no way the Cubs can win this one. Nothing makes sense, baseball is a myth, and we are all experiencing the Twilight Zone with this matchup. Reds win 6-2

Cubs are 24-15 as a road favorite the past three years.

Cubs are 66-67 against division opponents the past three years.

Reds are 2-10 against left-handed starters this season.

Cubs:
Rafael Ortega (L) CF
Jonathan Villar (S) 2B
Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
Ian Happ (S) LF
Yan Gomes (R) C
Frank Schwindel (R) DH
Alfonso Rivas (L) 1B
Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B
Christopher Morel (R) SS
SP - Justin Steele

Reds:
Nick Senzel (R) CF
Brandon Drury (R) 2B
Tommy Pham (R) DH
Joey Votto (L) 1B
Tyler Stephenson (R) C
Aristides Aquino (R) RF
Mike Moustakas (L) 3B
Albert Almora Jr. (R) LF
Matt Reynolds (R) SS
SP - Hunter Greene

Batting average: Ian Happ -- .275

Hits: Ian Happ -- 36

Home runs: Patrick Wisdom -- 10

RBI: Patrick Wisdom -- 23

Wins: Keegan Thompson -- 4

Saves: David Robertson -- 6

ERA: Keegan Thompson -- 1.54

Batting average: Tyler Naquin -- .270

Hits: Tyler Naquin -- 34

Home runs: Brandon Drury -- 7

RBI: Brandon Drury -- 22

Wins: Four tied -- 2

Saves: Two tied -- 2

ERA: Tyler Mahle -- 6.32