The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds meet at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon to begin a three-game weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 2:20 PM ET. These teams just played in Cincinnati last weekend, where the Cubs won two of three games.
Chicago enters this matchup on a four-game winning streak. They are 35-21 overall and 18-10 at home. Cincinnati is 28-29 and sits one game under .500. The Cubs beat the Reds 11-8 in their last meeting on May 25, scoring 28 runs in the series.
Cubs Preview – Offense Producing Big Numbers at Home
The Cubs average 5.89 runs per game, which is one of the highest in the league. They’ve scored at least four runs in nine of their last ten games. Pete Crow-Armstrong is a major contributor with 15 home runs and 16 stolen bases in just 56 games.
Colin Rea will start for Chicago. He is 3-1 with a 3.28 ERA this season. But against the Reds last week, he gave up six runs in five innings. He has struggled against Cincinnati in his career with a 5.88 ERA over nine appearances.
Dansby Swanson has been successful against Reds starter Andrew Abbott. He has two doubles, one home run, and four walks in 11 matchups. The Cubs’ bullpen has also been reliable with a team ERA of 3.05 and strong outings from Brad Keller and Drew Pomeranz.
Reds Preview – Abbott Leading the Way on the Mound
Cincinnati averages 4.63 runs per game and allows 4.07. Their offense cooled off after scoring 28 runs over three games last weekend against Chicago. Austin Hays has been a key hitter with a .303 average, but he left Wednesday’s game with a foot injury.
Andrew Abbott starts again for the Reds after beating the Cubs last Saturday. He has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this month, going 4-0 with a 0.70 ERA in May. In five May starts, he’s allowed just two total runs over 25.2 innings.
The Reds bullpen has been inconsistent. Over the last three games, they’ve allowed 31 earned runs in 37 innings. Closer Tony Santillan and setup men Brent Suter and Emilio Pagan will be needed if this game stays close late.
Betting Prediction
The Cubs are listed as the favorite with Rea on the mound, and they’ve been strong at home. Chicago has won 33 of its last 51 games and has covered the run line often when their offense clicks. The over has hit in 30 of their last 51 games as well.
Abbott gives the Reds a chance to keep this game tight early. But the Cubs’ lineup is deeper and more consistent, especially with Crow-Armstrong and Swanson swinging the bat well. Look for Chicago to win by multiple runs and extend their win streak.
Pick: Cubs -1.5
SEO Description: Cubs vs Reds prediction for May 30, 2025. Preview the stats, trends, and betting pick for Friday’s MLB game at Wrigley Field.
