Will Isaac Paredes Make Early Impact With Chicago?
Cubs vs Reds Odds: Chicago's Rotation Looks Better This Series
The Cubs have already been wheeling and dealing.
The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds have a meager chance of making the MLB playoffs heading into their new series this week. The two rivals are five games out of the Wild Card and ten out of the NL Central.
Either team will need a miracle second half to reach the top of the MLB Playoff standings.
But if one of these two MLB teams adds a series win or, even better, a sweep, they’ll be right in the thick of things.
Chicago traded Christopher Morel and a package of prospects to the Tampa Bay Rays for Isaac Paredes. Paredes is an All-Star third baseman who should enjoy hitting at Wrigley Field, especially when he pulls the ball. The Rays always seem to know when to trade their top players. So, making a trade with Tampa Bay is always a bit alarming.
It’s unclear if Paredes will play for the Cubs today, but it’s likely we’ll see him play in this series against the Reds.
- Yet, the Reds are still slight favorites at home against Chicago tonight. Cincinnati is -108 on the moneyline at home, with the total currently at 9. However, the Over is up to -115 on the odds board.
Let’s discuss the Cubs vs Reds odds for the three-game series that starts tonight.
Cubs vs Reds 
📊Records: Chicago Cubs (51-56)/ Cincinnati Reds (50-55)
⏰Day/Time:
📍Location: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
📺Streaming: Bally Sports Ohio, Marquee Sports Network
The Big Chicago Blockbuster
The Cubs sent Christopher Morel and two prospects, Ty Johnson and Hunter Biggee, to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Issac Paredes.
Paredes is an All-Star third baseman, but he’s going to the Cubs, who are tied for last place in the NL Central.
Meanwhile, the Rays are above .500 and have already dealt many of their best players, almost conceding the season. However, the trade becomes more understandable once you dig deeper into it.
Paredes is in control until 2027. He’s not a rental. Therefore, the Cubs felt comfortable making the deal now, knowing they’d have him for another three years.
Paredes won’t be a part of the MLB home run leaders 2024, but he’ll be a quality addition.
The Reds Won’t Trade Jonathan India
Multiple reports surfacing the web believe the Reds are reluctant to trade Jonathan India before the MLB Trade Deadline.
India has resurged in 2024, and at 27 years old, he’s still got a lot of prime left in his tank. However, the Reds could end up trading Frankie Montas before the deadline.
Cubs vs Reds Odds For Game 1:
RL: Cubs -1.5 (+147) ML: Reds -108, O/U: 9 -115/-105
Cubs vs Reds Series Preview
⚾ Game 1 ⚾
- Monday, 7:10 pm ET
- Jameson Taillon vs. Carson Spiers
The Cubs will pitch Jameson Taillon tonight. This could be his final game in a Chicago uniform. He’s a candidate to get traded, but like the Reds with India, the Cubs are reluctant to trade Taillon.
And for good reason. Taillon has an ERA below 3.00 and has held his last 96 batters to a .110 ISO and wOBA of .247. He’s not averaging a high strikeout rate, but he’s allowed just 4.2% of walks over the last month. Overall, he’s got convincing stats.
Meanwhile, the Reds have five batters with a wOBA of below .290 over the last month. Cincinnati’s lineup has also struck out more than 26% of the time in the previous 30 days. Taillon should have a good outing for Chicago.
Meanwhile, Carson Spiers will get the call for the Reds. The right-hander has been awful against lefties over the last month. He’s allowed a .429 ISO and wOBA of .464 with 48% of fly balls and just 20% of ground balls induced against lefties in the last 30 days.
Chicago should have more lefties than righties in the lineup, including power sluggers like Michael Busch, Ian Happ, and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Consider the Cubs at -102 for Game 1 of this series.
⚾ Game 2 ⚾
- Tuesday, 7:10 pm ET
- Justin Steele vs. Frankie Montas
In the second game of the series, Justin Steele will pitch. The left-handed ace has a 3.08 ERA this season and has been just as good as Taillon.
Steele has held his last 129 batters to a .042 ISO and wOBA of .244. He’s also induced 46.3% of grounders and has limited walks to 5.4%. You’d like to see his strikeout rate increase some, but beggars can’t be choosers. Overall, Steele has been excellent.
On the other hand, Frankie Montas is scheduled to start this game. It’s unclear if he’ll be traded. So, for now, he’s in the rotation. But by Tuesday night, he might not be Cincinnati’s starter. Keep that in mind.
Either way, Montas has struggled badly against lefties, allowing an ISO of .409 and wOBA of .484 over the last 30 days. The same Chicago bats that will take advantage of Spiers should take advantage of Montas, too.
We’d take the Cubs again in Game 2 when the Cubs vs Reds odds come out.
⚾ Game 3 ⚾
- Wednesday, 7:10 pm ET
- Kyle Hendricks vs. Nick Lodolo
In the series finale, the Cubs will give the ball to veteran righty Kyle Hendricks. Hendricks has been poor against lefties over the last month and really throughout the year. He’s allowed a .273 ISO and wOBA of .447 to his previous 50 lefties.
Meanwhile, the Reds have still hit a .207 ISO against righties over the last month using the projected lineup. With Cincinnati potentially trying to salvage the series, this is a good spot for the Reds.
Plus, with Nick Lodolo on the mound, the Reds have their best MLB pitcher of the series scheduled for Wednesday. Once the MLB odds release, back the Reds in this one.
Cubs vs Reds Lines
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