Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
CHC	0	0	0	0	1	2	2	0	0	5	9	0
CIN	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	3	11	0

Javier Assad (6-1, 4.11 ERA) got the ball for Chicago against Cincinnati's Nick Lodolo (3-2, 4.60 ERA), a lefty who's quietly been one of the tougher outs in the NL Central over his last three turns. First pitch went off at 7:10 PM ET.

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FINAL

Spread

ML

Total

Cubs(52-42)

LLWWW

5

-1.5+160+106o9.5-106

Reds(43-50)

WLWLW

3

+1.5-163-108u9.5+104

Best BetCubs -118

Postgame

Cubs won outright 5-3, cashing the moneyline as Cincinnati's thin lineup couldn't hold the late lead.

Pregame

Chicago went off at plus-money on the moneyline even as the favorite by run line, and that price moved quickly toward even odds before first pitch — a sign the market liked the Cubs here. With Cincinnati's lineup already banged up and Chicago getting healthier arms back, this was a discount price for the better roster.

Assad has bounced between the bullpen and the rotation for Craig Counsell all year, and his last outing was a clean 4.2 shutout innings against the Cardinals — encouraging, if short. Cincinnati, meanwhile, is already thin in the outfield with Blake Dunn and Dane Myers both out, and just lost second baseman Matt McLain to a strained calf the day before this one. Chicago has its own rehab watch, with Jameson Taillon and Edward Cabrera both progressing toward the rotation.

Javier Assad

(6-1)·4.04 ERA

Jul 5 vs Cardinals

ND

4.2IP

0ER

2K

2BB

80P

07/11 Lineup

Nick Lodolo

(3-2)·4.60 ERA

Jul 5 vs Orioles

W

6.0IP

1ER

4K

2BB

97P

07/11 Lineup

None of that mattered much for six innings. Both teams were locked in a low-scoring grind before the game tipped in Chicago's favor, and what happened next says a lot about where each roster stands heading into the stretch run.

The Cubs broke through with a run in the 5th, then stacked 2 more in each of the 6th and 7th to turn a tight game into a comfortable one. Cincinnati never had an answer after building an early 2-0 cushion in the 4th — a familiar shape for a Reds team that's had trouble putting away good starts this year.

Chicago Cubs

(52-42)

Jul 10L@ Reds0-4

Jul 9L@ Orioles2-3

Jul 8W@ Orioles9-7

Jul 7W@ Orioles5-2

Jul 5Wvs Cardinals6-4

Cincinnati Reds

(43-50)

Jul 10Wvs Cubs4-0

Jul 9Lvs Phillies0-1

Jul 8Wvs Phillies11-5

Jul 7Lvs Phillies1-4

Jul 5Wvs Orioles3-2

Chicago is 52-42 and has the look of a team that survived an ugly stretch — Counsell has talked openly about steadying a group that fell to fourth in the division at its low point — while Cincinnati sits under .500 at 43-50 and is still scrapping for signs of consistency. Saturday was a reminder that even with the injuries piling up on both sides, the Cubs have more margin for error right now.

Chicago Cubs

(14)

• 10-Day-ILMatt Shaw (RF) — Shaw (hand) won't be activated from the injured list until after the All-Star break, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.07/04
• 15-Day-ILJameson Taillon (SP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Taillon (hamstring) is expected to make another rehab start before returning from the 15-day injured list, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.07/07
• 15-Day-ILEdward Cabrera (SP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Cabrera (hamstring) resumed a throwing program this weekend, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.07/06
• 15-Day-ILEthan Roberts (RP) — The Cubs placed Roberts on the 15-day injured list Monday due to right forearm inflammation.06/29
• 15-Day-ILDaniel Palencia (RP) — Palencia (elbow) is progressing in his rehab from elbow tendinitis, but he won't be activated from the injured list until after the All-Star break, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.06/28
• 15-Day-ILHoby Milner (RP) — Milner (abdomen) will be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks after undergoing emergency appendectomy surgery on Friday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.06/27
• 15-Day-ILBen Brown (RP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Brown has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his neck and will have limited activity for the next month, 104.3 The Score reports.06/25
• 15-Day-ILRiley Martin (RP) — The Cubs announced June 10 that Martin (elbow) has resumed playing catch, MLB.com reports.06/22
• 60-Day-ILJustin Steele (SP) — Steele (elbow) was cleared to begin ramping up his throwing program Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.07/08
• 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP) — The Cubs moved Harvey (triceps) from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.05/17
• 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP) — The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
• 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP) — The Cubs placed Miller (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.05/08
• 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP) — The Cubs transferred Horton (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
• 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B) — The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08

Cincinnati Reds

(6)

• 10-Day-ILMatt McLain (2B) — The Reds placed McLain on the 10-day injured list with a strained calf, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.07/10
• 10-Day-ILBlake Dunn (CF) — Dunn (elbow) hoped to resume baseball activity Saturday but was not ready, MLB.com reports.07/05
• 10-Day-ILDane Myers (CF) — Myers received an injection in the AC joint of his left shoulder Saturday, MLB.com reports.07/05
• 15-Day-ILTony Santillan (RP) — Reds manager Terry Francona said Friday that an MRI on Santillan's left oblique showed a significant strain, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.06/26
• 60-Day-ILGraham Ashcraft (RP) — Ashcraft is expected to resume throwing soon after receiving good news Tuesday regarding the imaging on his injured right elbow UCL, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.06/30
• 60-Day-ILBrandon Williamson (SP) — Williamson (shoulder) injured his finger while working out, and his rehab program has been pushed back by about 10 days as a result, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.06/28