Expert Picks and Betting Line for Reds vs Cubs - Saturday August 29th, 2026

+165O/U: 8.5
(-120/+100)-195

Andrew Abbott – Over/Under 3.5 Strikeouts (-160/+125)
Andrew Abbott has gone to his slider 5.6% more often this year (19.5%) than he did last year (13.9%).
Explain: Because sliders are one of the most effective pitches to use, a pitcher who alters his pitch mix to use more of them will often see more success as a result.
Hector Rodriguez – Over/Under 0.5 Hits (-205/+160)
Hector Rodriguez is projected to hit 1st on the lineup card in today’s game, which would be an upgrade from his 93% rate of hitting in the bottom-half of the lineup this season.
Explain: The higher in the order a player bats, the more plate appearances he will get and the more opportunities he will get to hit the Over for every market. A player who hits higher in the order than he normally does may provide extra value opportunity since the market may be based on him hitting lower.
Cincinnati Reds – 2H Moneyline
According to the leading projection system (THE BAT), the Cincinnati Reds’ bullpen profiles as the 3rd-worst out of all the teams in Major League Baseball.
Explain: Most bettors only consider the starting pitcher, but a weak bullpen sneakily creates an easier matchup for the opposing offense and boosts a game’s runs.

Chicago Cubs – Moneyline (-195)
Out of all the teams playing today, the strongest infield defense is that of the Chicago Cubs.
Explain: Defense is an integral part of preventing hits and runs.
Pete Crow-Armstrong – Over/Under 1.5 Total Bases (+100/-130)
In today’s game, Pete Crow-Armstrong is at a disadvantage facing the league’s 5th-deepest RF fences given that he hits his flyballs to the pull field at a 41.8% rate (99th percentile).
Explain: This player’s skill set does not match up particularly well with the park he’s in today, which may lead to worse-than-usual performance.

WriteNow™ by EV Analytics