The Chicago Cubs will travel to Great American Ball Park on Saturday to take on the Cincinnati Reds. The Cubs are 88-66 and have already clinched a Wild Card spot. The Reds are 78-76 and still fighting for their postseason lives. The Reds have won the first two games of this series at home and will look to continue their winning ways tonight. Before the first pitch from Cincinnati, continue reading to get my Cubs vs Reds prediction.
Our Cubs vs Reds Pick
- Pick: Reds Moneyline
- Confidence: 4/5
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds
- Date & Time: Saturday, September 20, 2025, 6:40 p.m. ET
- Starting Pitchers: Javier Assad (Cubs) vs Zack Littell (Reds)
- Stadium: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
- Broadcast: FDSOH and MARQ
Key Storylines
Pitching matchup
Javier Assad has gone 3-1 with a 4.23 ERA in his recent outings. He has shown some flashes of brilliance but also some inconsistency. His strikeout rate isn’t overwhelming and his stuff can be attacked if the Reds can time him up. Zack Littell of the Reds is 9-8 with a 3.86 ERA. He tends to be more effective at home than on the road, but he’s had trouble sustaining his level of performance late in games. The Reds need him to pitch well here as they need to keep winning to help their playoff hopes.
Recent team streaks
- The Cubs have lost two games in a row in this series so far.
- Cincinnati enters this contest on a three-game winning streak and having won four of their last five games.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop | Projection |
|---|---|---|
| Elly De La Cruz | Total Bases | Over 1.5 |
| Seiya Suzuki | Strikeouts | Over 1.5 |
| Pete Crow-Armstrong | Home Run | Over 0.5 |
Betting Trends & H2H
- Cincinnati leads the season series over the Cubs by a 6-5 margin.
- The Reds have won four of their last five games over the Cubs.
- Cincinnati is 42-34 at home on the season.
- Chicago is 42-37 on the road in 2025.
Cubs vs Reds Model Projection
Score Projection: Reds 4 – Cubs 3
Win Probability: Reds 55%, Cubs 45%
Final Thoughts
This feels like one of those low-scoring affairs where pitching carries the day. With Assad and Littell expected to battle, and recent games trending under, my best bet is for the Reds to get a third straight win over Chicago in this series. The Reds’ pitching staff has been lights out in this series so far and I expect that to continue in what should be a good game from Great American Ball Park.
