The Chicago Cubs host the Cincinnati Reds on May 7, 2026. First pitch from Wrigley Field is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on CINR.
The Cubs are favored by -205 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Reds are +172 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 8.5 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Reds vs Cubs prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Reds vs Cubs Prediction
- Reds vs Cubs Pick: Under 8.5
My Reds vs Cubs best bet is on the Under. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Reds vs Cubs Odds
| Reds Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -125 | 8.5 -122o / -100u | +172 |
| Cubs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +104 | 8.5 -122o / -100u | -205 |
- Reds vs Cubs moneyline: Reds +172, Cubs -205
- Reds vs Cubs over/under: 8.5 (-122 / -100)
- Reds vs Cubs spread: Cubs -1.5 (+104), Reds +1.5 (-125)
Reds vs Cubs Probable Pitchers
| Rhett Lowder (RHP, CIN) | Stat | Shota Imanaga (LHP, CHC) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-2 | W-L | 3-2 |
| 0.9 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.5 |
| 5.09 / 4.57 | ERA / xERA | 2.40 / 2.83 |
| 3.23 / 4.55 | FIP / xFIP | 2.73 / 3.48 |
| 7.8% | K-BB% | 20.8% |
| 41.6% | GB% | 34.0% |
| .304 | BABIP | .214 |
| 85 | Stuff+ | 96 |
| 106 | Location+ | 108 |
Reds vs Cubs MLB Betting Preview
This game triggered one of our Action PRO betting systems, powered by Evan Abrams.
In matchups between winning teams, sportsbooks often inflate totals based on perceived offensive capability, yet these teams also tend to have stronger pitching and tighter late-game execution — creating a profitable edge on the under.
Reds vs Cubs Pick, Betting Analysis
It's also worth mentioning that hitting conditions likely won't be great for this game. Although the wind is projected to be blowing out toward right field, it's going to be cold, with temperatures in the low-50s.
Shota Imanaga pitches well in cold weather, mainly because he's a fly-ball pitcher who starts to struggle with the long ball in the heat. But right now, he's pitching like a superstar, and he's running a ridiculous 1.80 ERA across 25 innings at Wrigley Field so far.
It also helps that Shota has one of MLB's best defenses behind him — I power-rate the Cubs as MLB's third-best defense.
I also think Rhett Lowder is a little undervalued. He's running a 5.09 ERA, but an uber-low 59% strand rate will do that. I project him closer to his botERA (4.18).
Pick: Under 8.5
