Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 5/25/2022

Time: 6:40 p.m. ET

Venue: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH

Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, Bally Sports Ohio, MLB Network

DraftKings: Reds -135, Cubs +115

BetMGM: Reds -125, Cubs +105

Caesars: Reds -141, Cubs +120

Cubs: 18-24

Reds: 12-30

Frank Schwindel chose to hit baseballs high and far in a runaway 11-4 victory for the Chicago Cubs over the Cincinnati Reds. And once Marcus Stroman built enough of a lead for the Cubs to cruise, the Chicago bats did enough.

Schwindel hit two homers, including a two-run shot in the top of the first, to help pace the Chicago offense. On top of that, Stroman pitched five strong innings and struck out eight. In a weird twisted way, the bottom of the order helped out Stroman on Tuesday.

"Definitely a good day, looking to build on that," Schwindel said. "Had a pretty good last week or so. I don't know if it's weather, baseballs, whatever, I'll take it."

From Schwindel at No. 5 to Andrelton Simmons at No. 9, the bottom half of the Cubs' batting order combined to go 12-for-23. That's better than a .500 batting average. Most nights when Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ would combine to go 0-for-10, that'd be a bad night.

But that was more than enough after the fact Stroman threw 37 pitches in the first inning, getting out of the frame unscathed, if you call two runs unscathed.

"Not ideal to throw 37 pitches in the first inning (but) I always battle. It's something I've always done," Stroman said. "I was able to settle down, really focus on my mechanics. I'm a little bit of a mess with my mechanics. Just fighting it a little bit."

Remember that good stretch of baseball from the Cincinnati Reds a while back? Seems like it was forever ago. And of course they're now sitting at 30 losses after they got their behinds handed to them from Schwindel and Stroman, which sounds like a Jewish law firm.

It was a rough day all around for Reds starter Tyler Mahle, who lasted only four innings and allowed eight earned runs. Three of those runs came on extra-base hits.

"Whether you get beat by several runs or one run, it doesn't get any easier to take," Reds manager David Bell said. "It makes it tough when you get behind like that. We are so used to having Tyler on top of his game. Tonight just wasn't his night."

Hard to be at the top of your game when you're 2-5 this season, but that's just a microcosm of what the Reds' season has been to this point. With 120 games remaining, it's not going to get any easier.

"I fell behind some guys and made some bad pitches," Mahle said. "Falling behind Schwindel wasn't good. I had to throw the fastball when everyone in the world knew I was going to throw the fastball."

Eight hits aren't going to cut it, especially when 15 are coming off the opponents' bats.

No sense in thinking the Cubs will slow down here. Kyle Hendricks has been in need of a good start, and I wouldn't put it past him to make that happen. Chicago in a runaway affair. Cubs win 8-2

Cubs are 8-8 against division opponents this season.

Cubs are 11-15 as an underdog this season.

Reds are 4-10 when the line is between +125 and -125 this season.

Reds are 1-7 when the line at home is between +125 and -125 this season.

Cubs:
Rafael Ortega (L) CF
Jonathan Villar (S) 2B
Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
Ian Happ (S) LF
Yan Gomes (R) C
Frank Schwindel (R) DH
Alfonso Rivas (L) 1B
Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B
Christopher Morel (R) SS
SP - Kyle Hendricks

Reds:
Nick Senzel (R) CF
Brandon Drury (R) 2B
Tommy Pham (R) DH
Joey Votto (L) 1B
Tyler Stephenson (R) C
Aristides Aquino (R) RF
Mike Moustakas (L) 3B
Albert Almora Jr. (R) LF
Matt Reynolds (R) SS
SP - Luis Castillo

Batting average: Ian Happ -- .275

Hits: Ian Happ -- 36

Home runs: Patrick Wisdom -- 10

RBI: Patrick Wisdom -- 23

Wins: Keegan Thompson -- 4

Saves: David Robertson -- 6

ERA: Keegan Thompson -- 1.54

Batting average: Tyler Naquin -- .270

Hits: Tyler Naquin -- 34

Home runs: Brandon Drury -- 7

RBI: Brandon Drury -- 22

Wins: Four tied -- 2

Saves: Two tied -- 2

ERA: Tyler Mahle -- 6.32