Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs — Mar 21, 2026 | AI Prediction & Stats
Cincinnati Reds
3-3
Finished
8
:
6
Chicago Cubs
3-3
Scoreboard
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Reds
|
0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 14 | 0 |
|
Cubs
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 2 |
AI PREDICTIONNeural Network Forecast
AI| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Reds
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
|
Cubs
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
Expect a tight, low-scoring first inning as Cubs left-hander Justin Steele establishes his fastball/slider mix against a Reds lineup that has been less potent versus southpaws. Hunter Greene counters for Cincinnati, flashing triple-digit velocity but still vulnerable to left-handed power; look for Ian Happ to drive in Chicago’s first run with a double in the second.
Steele settles in through the middle frames, forcing the Reds to scratch only a manufactured run in the fifth. The Cubs strike decisively in the fourth: Seiya Suzuki ambushes a first-pitch fastball for a two-run homer after Cody Bellinger’s walk, capitalizing on Greene’s tendency to leave elevated heaters on his third trip through the order.
Chicago’s bullpen—strengthened by the spring addition of veteran setup man Yimi García—locks down the late innings. Mark Leiter Jr. strands the tying runs in the seventh, and Adbert Alzolay records a clean ninth for his first save of 2026.
Cincinnati keeps the pressure on with Elly De La Cruz’s speed and Jeimer Candelario’s gap power, but Chicago’s defensive efficiency (second-best team DRS last season) squashes potential rallies. Wind blowing in from left at Wrigley further suppresses Reds’ long-ball chances, tilting the edge to the home side.
Final projection: Cubs 5, Reds 3—snapping Cincinnati’s five-game head-to-head streak and affirming Chicago’s preseason contention credentials.
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Season Comparison
Reds
STAT
Cubs
3-3
Record
3-3
50.0%
Win %
50.0%
.500
PCT
.500
17
Runs For
30
26
Runs Against
24
6
Games Played
6
LLWWW
Form
WLWLW
Head to Head
5
0
Mar 2
Cubs
9 - 17
Reds
Sep 21
Cubs
0 - 1
Reds
Sep 20
Cubs
3 - 6
Reds
Sep 19
Cubs
4 - 7
Reds
Sep 18
Cubs
0 - 1
Reds
Reds Recent
Apr 1
vs Pirates
8-3
L
Mar 31
vs Pirates
8-3
L
Mar 30
vs Pirates
0-2
W
Mar 29
vs Red Sox
2-3
W
Mar 28
vs Red Sox
5-6
W
Cubs Recent
Apr 1
vs Angels
2-6
W
Mar 31
vs Angels
2-0
L
Mar 30
vs Angels
2-7
W
Mar 29
vs Nationals
6-3
L
Mar 28
vs Nationals
2-10
W
Lineups
AWAY ROSTER
Nathaniel Lowe
AVG-
HR0
RBI1
OBP-
H1
AB4
Spencer Steer
AVG-
HR0
RBI1
OBP-
H1
AB17
Matt McLain
AVG-
HR0
RBI1
OBP-
H4
AB21
Eugenio Suárez
AVG-
HR2
RBI6
OBP-
H5
AB23
Ke'Bryan Hayes
AVG-
HR0
RBI0
OBP-
H1
AB15
Sal Stewart
AVG-
HR2
RBI3
OBP-
H9
AB19
Jose Trevino
AVG-
HR0
RBI0
OBP-
H1
AB7
Tyler Stephenson
AVG-
HR0
RBI0
OBP-
H1
AB13
Dane Myers
AVG-
HR0
RBI1
OBP-
H4
AB9
TJ Friedl
AVG-
HR0
RBI0
OBP-
H2
AB22
Will Benson
AVG-
HR0
RBI1
OBP-
H2
AB11
Noelvi Marte
AVG-
HR0
RBI0
OBP-
H0
AB8
Andrew Abbott
ERA3.09
W-L0-1
SO9
Brady Singer
ERA6.75
W-L0-0
SO5
Brandon Williamson
ERA11.57
W-L0-1
SO3
Brock Burke
ERA0.00
W-L1-0
SO2
Chase Burns
ERA0.00
W-L1-0
SO7
Connor Phillips
ERA4.50
W-L1-0
SO5
Emilio Pagán
ERA13.50
W-L0-0
SO4
Graham Ashcraft
ERA2.25
W-L0-0
SO8
Pierce Johnson
ERA10.12
W-L0-1
SO1
Rhett Lowder
ERA3.60
W-L0-0
SO5
Sam Moll
ERA0.00
W-L0-0
SO2
Tony Santillan
ERA0.00
W-L0-0
SO6
Elly De La Cruz
AVG-
HR2
RBI2
OBP-
H5
AB24
HOME ROSTER
Michael Busch
AVG-
HR0
RBI1
OBP-
H6
AB21
Nico Hoerner
AVG-
HR0
RBI3
OBP-
H7
AB22
Scott Kingery
AVG-
HR-
RBI-
OBP-
H-
AB-
Alex Bregman
AVG-
HR2
RBI3
OBP-
H5
AB24
Matt Shaw
AVG-
HR0
RBI3
OBP-
H4
AB15
Carson Kelly
AVG-
HR0
RBI3
OBP-
H3
AB16
Miguel Amaya
AVG-
HR1
RBI2
OBP-
H3
AB8
Moisés Ballesteros
AVG-
HR0
RBI2
OBP-
H3
AB18
Pete Crow-Armstrong
AVG-
HR0
RBI3
OBP-
H6
AB23
Dylan Carlson
AVG-
HR-
RBI-
OBP-
H-
AB-
Ian Happ
AVG-
HR3
RBI5
OBP-
H5
AB24
Michael Conforto
AVG-
HR0
RBI0
OBP-
H0
AB6
Ben Brown
ERA2.70
W-L0-0
SO8
Cade Horton
ERA2.84
W-L1-0
SO4
Caleb Thielbar
ERA0.00
W-L0-0
SO3
Colin Rea
ERA6.00
W-L0-0
SO4
Daniel Palencia
ERA0.00
W-L0-0
SO2
Edward Cabrera
ERA0.00
W-L1-0
SO5
Hoby Milner
ERA7.72
W-L0-0
SO0
Hunter Harvey
ERA0.00
W-L0-0
SO3
Jacob Webb
ERA0.00
W-L0-0
SO2
Jameson Taillon
ERA0.00
W-L0-0
SO3
Matthew Boyd
ERA6.75
W-L1-1
SO17
Phil Maton
ERA7.72
W-L0-1
SO3
Shota Imanaga
ERA7.20
W-L0-1
SO7
Dansby Swanson
AVG-
HR0
RBI3
OBP-
H2
AB17
