Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds Picks and Predictions for Sunday, September 21, 2025
The Chicago Cubs visit the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday at Great American Ball Park. 1:40 PM ET on MLBN. Chicago has dropped the first two games of this series after sweeping Pittsburgh and holds second place in the NL Central. Cincinnati has won four of its last five, including back-to-back victories over the Cubs, and sits third in the division. Chicago has clinched a postseason berth while Cincinnati trails the third and final NL wild card by two games with 8 games remaining. Hit a grand slam with our MLB picks.
Chicago Cubs Preview
The Cubs are 88–66 overall and 42–37 on the road. Their offense has used a balance of contact hitting and power, with Nico Hoerner batting .300 and Seiya Suzuki hitting 27 home runs and driving in 91. Michael Busch has hit a team-high 29 long balls, giving Chicago steady production throughout the order. As a group, the Cubs have 207 home runs and a .427 slugging percentage, enough to keep pressure on opposing pitching.
On the mound, Jameson Taillon starts with a 10–6 record and 3.93 ERA over 116.2 innings. He has limited walks to just 25 while striking out 86, resulting in a strong 1.09 WHIP. Chicago’s staff carries a 3.82 ERA. Recent results show a sharp contrast: three wins in Pittsburgh followed by two losses in Cincinnati, where the offense managed just four runs across the two games.
Cincinnati Reds Preview
The Reds enter at 78–76 with a 42–34 mark at home. Elly De La Cruz has been the offensive force with 157 hits, 20 home runs, and 83 RBI. Spencer Steer has chipped in 20 home runs and 72 RBI, while Gavin Lux has provided steady contact at .267. Cincinnati has produced 690 runs, relying more on stringing together base hits than pure power.
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Andrew Abbott gets the ball with a 9–7 record and 2.88 ERA across 156.1 innings. Abbott has 143 strikeouts and a strong 1.15 WHIP, which has limited baserunners. Cincinnati’s overall ERA sits at 3.94, slightly above Chicago’s but still competitive. The Reds have momentum with four wins in their last five games, including back-to-back wins against the Cubs, where pitching limited Chicago to just five runs total.
Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction
This matchup features contrasting strengths: Chicago’s power and Taillon’s control against Cincinnati’s timely hitting and Abbott’s strong ERA and WHIP. The Cubs’ lineup is deeper on paper, but the Reds’ recent head-to-head results and Abbott’s form favor Cincinnati. A tight game is likely, with pitching leading the way and scoring chances limited. Final Score Prediction: Cincinnati Reds win 4-3
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Best Picks
- Cincinnati Reds +110
- Under 8.0
- First Five Innings Under 4.5
