2:20pm ET / 11:20pm PT
#957-958
CINCINNATI REDS w/ Bailey @ CHICAGO CUBS w/ Hendricks
2** Play on: OVER THE TOTAL
Chicago has looked great on their current homestand, and they’ll be going for the 4-game SWEEP of the lowly Reds this afternoon. The Cubbies are heating up bug-t e on offense as well. After being held to a single run in five straight games, they have currently hammered out a whopping 28 runs during their four-game winning streak (7.0 runs per game). In yesterday’s 10-6 win in Game Three, the Cubs blasted three home runs with an ideal wind situation. They will be setting the bar high again on Sunday (OU Line is 10), but with pretty good reason. Both of today’s starting pitchers have looked pretty bad this season against their respective opponents.
For the Reds, its quite possibly the worst pitcher in the entire league that is STILL in a starting rotation. That would be Homer Bailey (1-16 in his 17 teams starts and an ERA of 6.21 on the season). We’ve been on multiple Baily ‘OVERS’ this season, and he hasn’t disappointed us. Its hard to pitch worse than a YTD ERA of 6.21, but in Bailey’s case… he HAS as of late. In his last three starts, his ERA is 7.98. In his only start versus the Cubs this season, he was tagged for 10 hits, and 6 earned runs in less than 5 innings pitched. Since the 2013 season, Bailey’s last eight starts versus Chicago have gone a PERFECT 7-0-1 O/U. In fact, his last 18 career starts vs the Cubs have gone 13-3-2 O/U. It also doesn’t hurt us that the Reds have gone 19-7-1 O/U after scoring 5+ runs in their previous game, 12-4-1 O/U In their last 17 road games versus RIGHTIES… and 8-2 O/U on SUNDAYS.
For the hosts, it’ll be right-handed Kyle Hendricks taking the mound. He's been hit pretty hard by the Reds this season. In two starts over 10.6 innings, Hendricks has allowed eight runs for a high ERA of 5.90. In the last four seasons his last nine starts versus Cincinnati have gone 7-2 O/U… with an ERA of 4.92. He comes off a shaky start in which he allowed 10 hits against the Detroit Tigers. We will certainly give home credit for a pretty solid 9-10 record on the season and a decent ERA of 4.04. But he’s not perched well as of late. In his last four starts, Hendricks’ ERA has been 4.70.
The BEST ‘Over’ Umpire of Sunday’s action will be working this game in the Windy City. Behind the dish will be DAVID RACKLEY. Of the 89 full-time Major League Baseball Umpires, Rackley is ranked as the 2nd BEST ‘Over’ guy of the bunch. His year-to-date record is 14-5 O/U (74% Overs). The only Umpire that has been more consistent in OVER results this year has been Adrian Johnson (17-6-2 O/U). In terms of RECENT form, Rackley comes in with a 7-2 O/U record in his last nine games dating back to late June… with an average of 11.1 combined runs per game. Datong back to last season, his numbers are a strong 35-15-2 O/U in his last 52 games (70-% Overs)… and a strong 7-1 O/U on SUNDAYS.