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Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds August 6th 2025
The Cincinnati Reds will visit the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. The Reds have a record of 60-54 and are ranked third in the NL Central. They are on a two-game winning streak, with a 6-4 record in their last ten games.
The Cubs have a 65-48 record and are second in the division. They have lost their last two games and are 5-5 in their last ten. The game will feature starting pitchers Andrew Abbott for the Reds and Cade Horton for the Cubs. Abbott has an ERA of 2.15, while Horton has an ERA of 3.42. The weather forecast is clear skies with a light breeze.
Reds vs Cubs Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs
- Venue: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL
- Date: Wednesday, August 6, 2025
- Betting Odds: Reds Moneyline +118, Cubs Moneyline -139, Reds Runline +1.5 (-176), Cubs Runline -1.5 (+146), Total Over 7.5 (-111), Total Under 7.5 (-109)
The Reds Can Win If…
The Cincinnati Reds come off a strong win against the Chicago Cubs, ending with a 5-1 score. Zack Littell was impressive on the mound, pitching seven innings and allowing just one run. Spencer Steer led the offense with a home run and four RBIs, helping the team secure the victory.
The Reds’ batting lineup shows potential, with a team batting average ranked 11th in the league. Their on-base percentage is 8th, showing they can get runners on base. Elly De La Cruz stands out with 19 home runs and 73 RBIs, making him a key player to watch.
On the mound, Andrew Abbott is set to start, boasting an ERA of 2.15 and a WHIP of 1.11. The Reds’ pitching staff holds a .233 batting average against, ranked 5th in the league. With 47 quality starts this season, their pitchers have consistently kept them in games.
The Cubs Can Win If…
The Chicago Cubs are looking to bounce back after a 5-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. In that game, Shota Imanaga pitched well, going 6 1/3 innings with only one earned run and seven strikeouts. Matt Shaw provided the Cubs’ sole run with a home run, showing his power potential.
The Cubs have strong stats that suggest they can win. They rank second in slugging percentage at .438 and have hit 161 home runs, placing third in the league. With players like Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong, both ranked in the top ten for home runs, they have the power to change the game.
Cade Horton will start for the Cubs, bringing a solid 3.42 ERA and a 5-3 record. The Cubs also have a strong lineup with Nico Hoerner leading in batting average at .290. With their hitting and pitching capabilities, the Cubs have the tools needed to secure a win.
The Lean
The Cubs are favored with a moneyline of -139, while the Reds are at +118. The Cubs have a strong hitting lineup, ranking 2nd in slugging percentage and 3rd in home runs. My model projects the Cubs to win with a score of 5-3, making them the recommended pick for this game.
The total for the game is set at 7.5 runs, with the over at -111 and the under at -109. The Cubs’ powerful offense and the Reds’ average pitching suggest a higher scoring game. My model projects a total of 8 runs, so the recommendation is to take the over.
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A Rookie Sensation: Cade Horton, Cubs Look to Avoid Sweep Against Reds
The Chicago Cubs are in the middle of a frustrating slump, a stretch of poor play that has seen them fall four games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central. As they face the prospect of a three-game series sweep at the hands of their division rival, the Cincinnati Reds, on Wednesday afternoon, they will turn to a rookie sensation to be their stopper. Right-hander Cade Horton, who has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball over the past three weeks, will take the mound in a marquee matchup against the Reds’ own All-Star ace, Andrew Abbott. For the Chicago Cubs, it is a desperate attempt to salvage a game and stop the bleeding. For the visiting Cincinnati Reds, it is a chance to complete a massive road sweep and continue their own climb up the standings.
The Horton Hype Train
In a season that has seen some inconsistency from their veteran starters, the emergence of rookie Cade Horton has been a massive boost for the Cubs. The 23-year-old right-hander has been nothing short of spectacular in his recent outings. He enters Wednesday’s start in the middle of a 17-inning scoreless streak, a run that spans three full starts. During this dominant stretch, he has allowed just eight total hits while striking out ten. His performance has been a revelation, and his manager, Craig Counsell, believes his success is a product of an advanced mental approach that is rare for such a young player.
“He’s very clear-headed out there, very focused, and he doesn’t let anything distract him from the next pitch,” Counsell said of his young ace. “That’s a very simple approach, but it’s an advanced approach. For a young player, when you put him into a new environment, you’ve got a lot of extra stuff going around. Cade seems to be able to avoid all that, block it out and just concentrate on the task at hand. That leads to continued success.” That ability to block out the noise will be crucial as he takes the mound with the pressure of a losing streak on his shoulders.
The table below provides a snapshot of two teams that are currently trending in opposite directions in the NL Central. To review the full box score from their last matchup, you can check the official MLB game results.
| Team | Record | Division Standing | Recent Form (Last 10) |
| Cincinnati Reds | 63-63 | 4th in NL Central | 7-3 |
| Chicago Cubs | 68-59 | 2nd in NL Central | 4-6 |
A Punchless Offense in Chicago
While Horton has been dominant, his offense has provided him with very little support. The Cubs are in the middle of a team-wide slump at the plate, a key reason why they have lost nine of their last fifteen games. In the first two contests of this series against the Reds, their potent lineup has been completely neutralized, managing just seven total hits while striking out 18 times. This inability to make contact and put pressure on the opposing defense has been a major source of frustration and has put even more pressure on their own pitching staff to be perfect. On Wednesday, they will need to find a way to break out of this funk and provide some run support for their young starter.
The Consistent Ace: Andrew Abbott
The task for the Cubs’ offense will be a difficult one, as they will be facing the Reds’ own ace, All-Star left-hander Andrew Abbott (8-1, 2.15 ERA). Abbott has been a model of consistency all season, and while he has three straight no-decisions, he continues to give his team a chance to win every time he takes the ball. He has been particularly dominant against the Cubs in his young career, with a 3-0 record and a 2.30 ERA. He has already beaten them twice this season.
“He gave up one (run),” Reds manager David Bell said after a recent strong outing from Abbott. “That’s pretty impressive. It’s a good lineup. He threw a lot of pitches… but he doesn’t give in (and) holds his stuff.” The challenge of facing an elite, in-form pitcher is a key topic in our expert betting guide.
The Pitching Matchup: A Deeper Look
Wednesday’s game features a fantastic duel between two of the best young pitchers in the National League. Horton is on an incredible scoreless streak, while Abbott has been an established ace all season.
| Pitcher | W-L (2025) | ERA (2025) | Career vs. Opponent |
| Cade Horton (CHC) | 5-3 | 3.42 | First Appearance |
| Andrew Abbott (CIN) | 8-1 | 2.15 | 3-0, 2.30 ERA (5 starts) |
The scores and odds for this matchup will be tight. For more in-depth analysis of this and other games, you can view all of our MLB previews. To see who our experts are backing in this fantastic pitching duel, check out our daily MLB picks. To get access to even more premium content and betting tools, you can register for an account today.
