The Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs continue their National League Central serries on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field, with the home side on a hot streak and the visitors searching for answers. Chicago has taken the first two games of the series in dramatic fashion, including a 3-2 extra-inning win on Tuesday that extended its winning streak to seven games. Cincinnati, meanwhile, has dropped five straight and now faces a tough road test against one of the hottest teams in baseball in this Reds vs Cubs contest.
Reds vs Cubs Pick
Pick: Chicago Cubs -1.5
Confidence: 4 out of 5
Game Snapshot
Matchup: Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs
Date & Time: Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 7:40 PM
Starting Pitchers: Colin Rea vs Brady Singer
Stadium: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Broadcast: MLB.tv
Key Storylines
The Chicago Cubs enter on a seven-game winning streak and have won 13 straight at home.
Cincinnati has lost five consecutive games and struggled to generate consistent offense.
The Cubs have already secured two tight wins in this series, winning each of the first two games by one run each.
Despite their recent slide, the Reds are still within four games of the Cubs in the NL Central standings and turning this series around would help them move closer to Chicago.
Pitching Matchup
Colin Rea is 4-1 with a 4.41 ERA and has allowed just 3 home runs across 32.2 innings.
Rea has helped Chicago win both times he started as a favorite this season.
Brady Singer is 2-2 with a 5.57 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP.
Singer has surrendered 7 home runs and 47 hits in 32.1 innings for the Cincinnati Reds.
The Reds are 4-1 as underdogs in Singer’s starts, though his numbers remain shaky.
Key Players
Elly De La Cruz leads Cincinnati with 10 home runs.
Nathaniel Lowe provides consistency with a .275 average for the Reds.
Nico Hoerner leads the Cubs with a .300 batting average and 27 RBI.
The Cubs' lineup has produced 193 runs compared to 147 for the Reds.
Betting Trends & H2H
The Cubs are 2-0 against the Reds so far this season.
Both of Chicago's wins over Cincinnati have come by one run.
The over is 22-13-1 in Cubs games so far this season.
The Reds have gone 21-14-1 to the over to this point in the year.
Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs Model Projection
Score Projection: Cincinnati Reds 3 - Chicago Cubs 5
Win Probability: Cincinnati Reds 38%, Chicago Cubs 62%
Everything in this matchup points toward Chicago holding the edge. The Cubs have been dominant at home, their offense ranks among the league’s best, and they continue to find ways to win tight games late. Cincinnati, on the other hand, is stuck in a slide and has not shown the consistency needed to compete with a team playing at this level.
While Brady Singer has delivered decent results in underdog spots, his advanced metrics raise concerns against a Cubs lineup that is disciplined and productive. Colin Rea is not overpowering, but he has been steady and benefits from strong run support. My projections support laying the runline with the Cubs, as they should continue their hot streak at the expense of the struggling Reds.
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