The May 24, 2025 matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park serves as a high-leverage divisional contest with both teams eyeing critical positioning in the NL Central. The Cubs enter the game at 30–20, holding the division lead and showing one of the most potent offenses in all of baseball, averaging an MLB-best 5.86 runs per game thanks to a lineup that is deep, balanced, and capable of scoring in bunches. They’ve recently called up top prospect Matt Shaw, whose brief demotion to Triple-A served as a turning point; he returned with refined mechanics and faster bat speed and has already added a new layer of dynamism to Chicago’s already-dangerous lineup. Shaw now joins a Cubs offense that features consistent run producers like Seiya Suzuki, Christopher Morel, Nico Hoerner, and Michael Busch, all of whom have been producing at high clips and forcing opposing pitchers into long, stressful innings. On the mound, Colin Rea is expected to get the start, and while not a frontline ace, he has delivered ace-like results in limited action with a 3–0 record and 2.38 ERA. Rea’s command and ability to keep hitters off balance with his sequencing have made him a steady hand in the middle of the rotation. He’s backed by a Cubs bullpen that has been among the league’s most efficient in protecting leads and avoiding blowups, complemented by strong infield defense that converts outs and rarely gives teams extra chances.

The Reds, sitting at 25–26, are looking to get back to .500 but face an uphill battle, particularly because of their offensive inconsistencies. While they’ve been shut out eight times already this season—many of those against left-handed pitchers—the team has generally struggled to provide consistent run support, leaving their elite pitching staff with little margin for error. Fortunately for Cincinnati, Andrew Abbott will take the mound, and he has been nothing short of excellent, boasting a 3–0 record and a stingy 1.80 ERA while emerging as one of the league’s best young starters. Abbott’s poise, pitch mix, and ability to limit walks have kept the Reds in games where the offense has failed to show up, and he’ll need to be sharp again to contain a Cubs lineup that has handled left-handed pitching well this season. Injuries to key offensive players like Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Jeimer Candelario have further hampered the Reds’ ability to generate offense, forcing manager Terry Francona to lean more heavily on unproven bats in key spots. Defensively, the Reds have been solid, but they’ll need a near-flawless game to counteract the Cubs’ power and run-manufacturing abilities. With the Cubs having covered in 60% of their last five head-to-head matchups, and holding a 30–20 ATS record this year, momentum and numbers lean in their favor—but Abbott’s presence on the mound could be the equalizer. This matchup is ultimately about whether Cincinnati’s pitching can stifle Chicago’s relentless offense, and whether the Reds can do just enough with the bat to scrape together the runs needed to avoid falling further behind in the division. Expect a well-contested game with playoff implications that reach beyond just the box score.