Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs 6/29/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Chicago Cubs will play host to the Cincinnati Reds in game two of a three-game set between two of the worst teams in the MLB this season. The Cubs took a road series off their divisional rival Cardinals, winning 6-5 in 10 innings in the series finale and improving to 28-45 on the year. The Reds took a road series from the Giants in their last series, but remain in the bottom of the NL Central and 15.5 games back of the Brewers.

The Cubs offense, although filled with a lot of inexperience, has been the stronger half of the innings. Chicago is 19th in scoring offense averaging 4.25 runs per game, and is 13th in team batting hitting .245 as a team. Patrick Wisdom, the replacement of superstar Kris Bryant, has had a strong season leading the team with 14 home runs and 37 RBIs.

The left-handed Justin Steele will get the start for the Cubs and hope to continue to build on a solid last couple of starts. Steele has a 3.28 ERA in his 24.2 innings in the month of June, he’s limited the walks, and struck out eight in his last start against the Pirates. Steele was solid as a fringe-rotation arm last season, and he has posted a 4.44 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in his 121.2 career innings.

Cincinnati has played better baseball over the last couple of weeks after one of the worst starts in the history of the MLB, granted they’re still 2-8 in their last ten and are in the running for the worst records in baseball. Third baseman Brandon Drury has had a great season leading the team with 15 home runs and 38 RBIs, the 29 year old is already just one home run shy of his career high of 16.

The struggling Hunter Greene will get the start for the Reds and put an end to what has been a brutal stretch. Greene has allowed 10 runs on 14 hits in just 10 inning across his last two starts. Granted, those came against two of the best offenses in baseball, but Green has a 3-8 record and 5.66 ERA on the year and has consistently struggled.