Free MLB Picks Today: Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds 9/6/22

The Cincinnati Reds (53-79) are on the road to face the Chicago Cubs (56-78) at Wrigley Field on Tuesday for the opener of a three-game series. The Reds are playing their first of six games on the road after closing out a six-game homestand (3-3). They won two out of three in their last series against the Rockies, ending the series by splitting both games of a doubleheader on Sunday at Great American Ball Park. They bounced back from an 8-4 loss in the opener with a 10-0 win in the second leg. Aristides Aquino was 1 for 1 with a home run and four RBIs in the finale. Nick Senzel added a double, two runs, and one RBI. The Cubs are back home for a six-game homestand after finishing up a difficult nine-game road trip (2-7). They were just swept in three games against the Cardinals, dropping the finale 2-0 on Sunday at Busch Stadium. Franmil Reyes went 1 for 2 with a double.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Cubs have won six of 10 in the season series between the NL Central rivals, although they suffered an 8-5 defeat in their last meeting on August 14 at Great American Ball Park. Reliever Joel Kuhnel threw two scoreless innings to get the win, and Alexis Diaz threw 1.2 scoreless innings to earn his fifth save.

ON THE MOUND

Justin Dunn (1-2, 4.63 ERA) is slated for the start for Cincinnati. The righty allowed one run over four innings in his last start, a 5-1 road win over the Cardinals on August 30. He yielded three hits while striking out four in the no-decision. Dunn has made one previous start against the Cubs this season, an 8-5 home victory on August 14. He surrendered five runs on seven hits over 3.2 innings, striking out four and walking two. Left-hander Wade Miley (1-0, 3.38 ERA) will toe the rubber for Chicago. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Reds. In his last start on June 10, Miley took a no-decision on the road against the Yankees. He threw three scoreless innings and gave up three hits, striking out two and walking one in the 2-1 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

The Cincinnati offense is averaging 4.3 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .242/.310/.381. Kyle Farmer leads the team in OPS at .695. The third baseman is slashing .260/.325/.370 with eight home runs, 59 RBIs, and 49 runs over 115 games. Against southpaws like Miley this season, the Reds have a .712 OPS. Farmer also is the team’s most potent producer against left-handers with a .901 OPS in 123 at-bats. Chicago is slashing .240/.311/.388 for the season and averaging 4.1 runs per game. Willson Contreras leads the team with a .822 OPS. The catcher has 21 home runs, 54 RBIs, and 63 runs scored with a slash line of .246/.351/.471. Chicago is averaging only 2.8 runs per game in the last five with their slash line dropping across the board (.225/.275/.344). The Cubs have a .702 OPS against righties in 2022. With a .804 OPS over 296 at-bats, Contreras also has been their best hitter against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Cincinnati is 24-40 in away games in 2022, scoring 3.6 runs per game while allowing 5.0 runs. Chicago has gone 28-38 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 4.1 runs per game while surrendering 4.6. In the last 10 meetings at Wrigley Field, each club has won five, though Chicago has the scoring advantage with an average final margin of 5.3-5.0.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Reds are fourth in the NL Central, 25 games behind the division-leading Cardinals. The Cubs are third in the NL Central, 23 games behind the Cardinals.