Chicago and Cincinnati have a tough act to follow in the Cubs vs Reds Field of Dreams betting matchup. Last year’s inaugural game at the historic site of the 1989 movie was a thriller, with the White Sox winning 9-8 over the Yankees on a Tim Anderson walk-off HR.
Thursday’s game is going to be a little less star-studded than last year’s in which Brett Gardner, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge (2), Jose Abreu, Anderson, Eloy Jimenez, and Seby Zavala all found the corn stalks. Cincinnati is 44-66 on the year while the Cubs are slightly ahead of them at 45-65. Oddsmakers are split, listing the Reds at -112 and Chicago -104 for this matchup.
Can City of Chicago Go 2-0 in Dyersville?
The White Sox had a little more historical relevance in the Field of Dreams game last year considering Shoeless Joe Jackson and the 1919 controversial ‘black Sox’ team was featured in the film. The Cubs have some history of their own though, forever known as the ‘loveable losers’ of MLB, finally breaking a 108-year World Series drought with their 2016 championship.
Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javy Baez, and other key components of that world championship are long gone though, and the Cubs are trying to rebuild with some youth. Chicago has won four of their last six and also had a six game win streak last month, but this is still a team 16 games off the pace in the NL Central and in the wild card race.
Drew Smyly (4-6, 3.97 ERA) gets the honors of starting in Cubs vs Reds Field of Dreams game betting. Cincinnati is 5-2 in their last 7 vs. a LH starter which isn’t ideal, but Smyly has also allowed an ER or less in three of his last four. Smyly picked up the win in his only start vs. Cincinnati this season, allowing 3ER over 5.2 IP as the Cubs won 7-4 as -124 favorites.
Reds Try to Put on a Show
This would have been a great game last year (prior to the trade deadline) with all of Chicago’s star power and the Reds having the likes of Eugenio Suarez, Jesse Winker, and Nick Castellanos in their lineup.
Chicago catcher Willson Contreras and the Reds’ Joey Votto are the biggest names in the 2022 contest, but Votto is hitting .190 over the past week. Contreras is also one of five key Chicago batters (Seiya Suzuki, Patrick Wisdom, Rafael Ortega, and Frank Schwindel) hitting less than .250 over that same span.
The Reds have lost three straight but it’s always a close one when these two teams meet up as the Cubs have a slight 4-3 advantage in the season series. Nick Lodolo (3-3, 4.40 ERA) gets a nice experience pitching in the Field of Dreams game in his rookie year, and he’s allowed just 4ER total over his last three starts. This is the left-handers first career appearance vs. the Cubs.
Free Cubs vs Reds Field of Dreams Game Betting Pick
Oddsmakers are correct in releasing a close line in this game that could really go either way. The Reds scored just 5 total runs in getting swept by the Mets this week, and they didn’t even have to face Jacob deGrom or Max Scherzer. Chicago has won two straight series’ against the Marlins and Nationals, and you have to go with the Windy City for the second consecutive year in Dyersville.
Free Pick: Cubs -104
