Cubs vs. Reds odds, prediction: MLB picks and best bets

No team in baseball had a higher OPS in July than the Cubs (.837), who won 10 of 11 between July 20 and July 28 to reestablish themselves as contenders in the NL Central race.

Behind Cody Bellinger and Dansby Swanson, the lineup is hitting a beach ball right now. 

The timely hot streak flipped the Cubs from sellers into buyers at the trade deadline, so they upgraded their lineup by grabbing Jeimer Candelario from the Nationals.

Plus, I’m still waiting on expected positive regression for Seiya Suzuki.

Cubs vs. Reds prediction

These Cubbies are obliterating the baseball and should only get better. 

Cincinnati starting pitcher Luke Weaver should be shaking in his boots when he faces the Cubs on Thursday.

Weaver has allowed 42 earned runs over his past 48 innings pitched (7.88 ERA).

I doubt he’ll fare much better against baseball’s reddest, hottest lineup. 

The Cubs are putting their own replacement-level pitcher on the mound for this game.

Jameson Taillon has a 5.46 ERA this season behind one of the league’s worst batted-ball profiles. 

The Reds should smack Taillon around.

Taillon relies primarily on a four-seam and cutter fastball mix, and Cincinnati’s lineup boasts a .825 team OPS against that mix over the past month. 

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So, you’ve got two lousy starting pitchers, one disgustingly hot lineup and another with a good matchup.

There should be plenty of runs scored in this one.

Entering Wednesday, five straight matchups between these two teams have flown over the listed total — including the game Tuesday, which had combined 29 runs.

Expect more of the same and wager accordingly. 

The pick: Over 10 runs (-110, BetMGM)