Cubs vs Reds Picks and Prediction – 5/23/2025

The Great American Ball Park will play host to a Friday night NL Central Division clash between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds. Be ready for the baseball season with all of our MLB predictions. The Cubs (30-20) have won 15 of their first 25 road games and hold a three-game lead over St. Louis for first place. On Wednesday, OF Kyle Tucker homered for the second straight game to lead Chicago to a 2-1 road victory against Miami. 

Thirty-four year old southpaw Matthew Boyd (4-2 2.98 ERA) has been a solid starter for the Cubs. Last time out, Boyd (6 IP) gave up three runs and fanned eight batters during a 7-3 home victory versus the White Sox. 

The Cincinnati Reds are a game above .500 at home and 5.5 games out of first place. On Wednesday, Cincinnati batters were limited to four hits and struck out eight times during a 3-1 road loss against Pittsburgh. SP Brady Singer (5-3) gave up two runs in five innings and took the loss for the Reds (25-26), who fell to 12-14 on the road. 

Flame-throwing righty Hunter Greene (4-2 2.36 ERA) will be activated from the injured list to start for the Reds on Friday. Greene, who has been sidelined with a strained groin, has struck out 61 batters and owns a minuscule 0.81 WHIP across 45 plus frames. 

Cincinnati 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand (back) is currently on a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League. Through 50 games, Chicago ranks 3rd in OPS and 1st in runs scored. For the season, Cincinnati ranks 13th in OPS and 10th in runs scored. Take the Cubs to win on the road. Final Score Prediction, Chicago Cubs win 5-3.