Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds 5/23/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Great American Ball Park will play host to a Monday night MLB clash between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds. The Cubs (16-24) have split their first 18 road games and are tied with Pittsburgh for third place in the NL Central Division standings. On Sunday, Patrick Wisdom and Frank Schwindel each went deep in the eighth inning to lift Chicago to a 5-4 home victory versus Arizona.

Thirty-two year old southpaw Drew Smyly (1-5 3.97 ERA) will take the mound for the Cubs in this matchup. The Cubs have dropped Smyly’s previous five starts and he has given up 15 earned runs over his last 24 plus innings.

The Cincinnati Reds have won six of their last ten games and still own the worst overall record in the majors. On Sunday, veteran 1B Joey Votto broke an eighth inning tie with a solo shot to propel Cincinnati to a 3-2 road victory against Toronto. OF Aristides Aquino contributed a two-run double for the Reds (12-28).

Cincinnati manager David Bell has yet to name a starting pitcher for the series opener. The Reds have limited quality options on a staff that ranks last in the majors with a 5.70 team ERA.