Chicago will try to be nasty hosts on Friday when the Cincinnati Reds pay a visit to Wrigley Field.

The Cubs will rely on Ryan Dempster to turn in a quality outing on the mound in this one, while Mike Leake will be his counterpart for the Reds. Ryan Dempster is 8-8 this season, and Mike Leake is 9-5.



View Cincinnati vs Chi Cubs Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Baseball odds makers opened the Cubs as +110 moneyline underdogs in this matchup. Over under bettors saw the number open at 999.

Power Rankings:
According to new MLB Power Rankings here, it's the National League No. 11-ranked Cubs and the National League No. 8-rated Reds in this matchup.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Chicago's No. 9 ranked National League offense (4 runs per game) against a Reds defense and pitching staff that sits at No. 9 in the National League at 4.3 runs allowed per game. The Cubs have been averaging 8.9 hits per game, less than the Reds have managed so far this season (9 hits on average).

Cincinnati brings the National League's No. 9-rated defense to this matchup, facing the Cubs' league No. 16-ranked defense.

Cincinnati was a 5-4 loser in its last match on the road against the Astros. They lost as -140 favorites, while the total score of 9 made Sportsbooks of OVER bettors. The Reds endured a 5-4 loss at the hands of the Astros on Wednesday, with Dontrelle Willis throwing 6 innings of 8-hit ball at Minute Maid Park.

Last time out for Chicago, they were a 7-6 Sportsbook as they battled the Pirates on the road. Moneyline bettors who got the Cubs at +144 were rewarded, while the 13 combined runs moved the game OVER for totals bettors. Chicago looks to continue its winning ways following a victory last time out against the Pirates, a 7-6 final on Thursday in support of Rodrigo Lopez at PNC Park.


Cincinnati Reds Trends:
When playing on Friday are 6-4
Before playing Chi Cubs are 7-3
After playing Houston are 6-4
After a loss are 6-4

Chicago Cubs Trends:
When playing on Friday are 4-6
Before playing Cincinnati are 3-7
After playing Pittsburgh are 6-4
After a win are 6-4

A few Reds at Cubs trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Cincinnati's last 7 games on the road
Cincinnati is 6-1 SU in their last 7 games when playing on the road against Chi Cubs
Cincinnati is 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing Chi Cubs
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 5 games when playing Chi Cubs
Chi Cubs are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chi Cubs' last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi Cubs' last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chi Cubs' last 5 games when playing Cincinnati


Next up:
Cincinnati at Chi Cubs, Saturday, August 6