The June 1, 2025 matchup between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field sets the stage for a tightly contested NL Central showdown between two teams with very different season trajectories to date, as the first-place Cubs aim to close out a home series win while the Reds look to even their record and make a statement on the road. The Cubs enter the finale at 36–22, riding the momentum of eight wins in their last nine home games and thriving behind an explosive offense that averages nearly six runs per game, powered by the dynamic combination of Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 15 home runs and Seiya Suzuki’s 52 RBIs, both of whom have consistently come through in big moments. Chicago’s lineup has shown balance and depth, with contributions coming from throughout the order, and manager Craig Counsell’s disciplined, matchup-oriented approach has paid dividends, especially at Wrigley where the Cubs have been excellent at applying pressure early and forcing mistakes from opposing pitchers. Jameson Taillon (4–3, 3.86 ERA) gets the start for the Cubs and brings stability to a rotation that has improved steadily, and while he’s not overpowering, his ability to limit hard contact and pitch deep into games has been critical to preserving bullpen depth and holding narrow leads.

On the other side, the Reds come into the game at 29–30, just below .500 but far from out of contention, especially given their resilience on the road where they’ve gone 15–16 and covered the run line in two-thirds of those games—a mark of their scrappiness and tendency to hang around late into contests. Elly De La Cruz remains the focal point of Cincinnati’s offense with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs, and his combination of power and speed makes him a constant threat to flip a game with one swing or one stolen base, but the Reds need more consistent support around him to capitalize on scoring opportunities and match teams like Chicago inning for inning. Nick Martinez (3–5, 3.48 ERA) will start for Cincinnati and enters with a respectable ERA but has been victimized by poor run support and late-game breakdowns, so he’ll need to work efficiently and limit walks against a Cubs lineup that thrives on grinding out at-bats. Defensively, both teams have been sharp, but the Reds have been particularly opportunistic on the bases and in high-leverage defensive situations, making clean execution a must if the Cubs want to avoid late-inning drama. The total is set at 7.5 runs, and the Cubs are favored at -1.5, but given Cincinnati’s ATS success and the presence of capable arms on both sides, this game could hinge on one or two timely hits or defensive plays. With first-place implications for Chicago and momentum-shifting potential for Cincinnati, Sunday’s series finale is poised to be a high-stakes contest full of playoff energy, divisional pride, and the kind of intensity that defines June baseball between longtime rivals.