Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week (August 8th, 2022)

By Hank Blaine • August 8, 2022

While it’s not exactly a marquee matchup in terms of good teams, the likely most-watched and most-wagered MLB game this week will feature the Cincinnati Reds “hosting” the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night in the Field of Dreams game from Iowa. Fox has the national telecast.

Top MLB Betting Picks of the Week (August 8th, 2022)

There's a new top team in this week's power rankings. ????

(MLB x @SorareMLB) pic.twitter.com/wrRuh5upkJ
— MLB (@MLB) August 8, 2022

Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds

When: Thursday, August 11, 2022, 7:15 PM ET
Where: Field of Dreams – Dyersville, IA
TV: FOX
Radio: WRTO 1200 AM (Cubs) / WLW 700 (Reds)
Live Stream: MLB.tv
MLB Betting Odds: TBA

Both teams will wear uniforms reminiscent of the early 20th century. The Cubs will take the field in solid cream-colored jerseys featuring the team’s old-school logo depicting a bear cub holding a bat inside a large red and navy “C,” plus navy blue caps adorned by a white bear cub. The team wore similar jerseys as its home uniforms from 1927-29. The major difference was color — the home jerseys were white rather than cream.

The Reds’ uniform features a pinstriped jersey with the 1919-era version of the franchise’s iconic C-Reds logo on the chest, plus a matching striped white cap with a red band and the distinctive “C” logo that appeared on the team’s caps at that time.

The teams will get a police escort for their game played in the specially constructed stadium located near the Dyersville diamond that was the central part of the 1989 film. The Cubs and Reds will fly into Dubuque the day of the game and bus to the park for what should be about a 40-minute commute. The police escort will help them navigate through traffic. After the game, they’ll bus back to the Dubuque airport to fly to Cincinnati to resume their series.

“I think this brings us back to our minor-league bus days when we’re traveling for eight hours, 10 hours a night going from one city to the other, like going from Omaha to Oklahoma,” said Reds infielder Kyle Farmer.

The first Field of Dreams game last season was a major hit and a spectacular game as the Chicago White Sox rallied to beat the New York Yankees in the first-ever MLB game held in the state of Iowa. Actor Kevin Costner, who starred as Ray Kinsella in the 1989 film, made his dramatic return to Dyersville through the cornfield shortly before the game started.

Knowing the game was coming up soon, Cubs manager David Ross sat down with his kids recently to watch the movie.

“I’m looking forward to playing in Iowa in the cornfields. That’s cool,” Ross said. “I think it’s really neat. I think anybody that grew up — especially in my generation and era — who watched that movie, it would be a really cool moment.”

The current pitching matchup features Cubs lefty Drew Smyly against Reds rookie southpaw Nick Lodolo. Smyly (4-6) delivered a strong performance in Saturday’s victory over the Marlins, scattering five hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. The only extra-base hit that he allowed was a two-out double by Charles LeBlanc in the seventh inning — the final batter that Smyly faced. He generated 11 swings and misses on 106 pitches in the game — six on his sinker and five on his knuckle curve — while posting a CSW of 27 percent. He has a 3.97 ERA and 1.29 WHIP on the season.

Lodolo (3-3) walked four and gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Brewers on Saturday. Lodolo threw 56 of 100 pitches for strikes, and he was tagged for a pair of home runs by Andrew McCutchen and Keston Hiura in the fourth inning. It was just the second time in nine outings Lodolo allowed but the four walks were a season high and the four strikeouts matched his low mark for the year. The 24-year-old owns a 4.40 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 58:20 K:BB through 43 innings.

A couple of High-A Midwest League clubs will take to the field first. The Quad Cities River Bandits, a Royals affiliate, will play host to the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET on MLB Network and MiLB.TV. The Kernels will morph into the Cedar Rapids Bunnies, the club’s identity from 1904-1932. Cedar Rapids has been affiliated with Minnesota since 2013. The Royals affiliate will become the Davenport Blue Sox, the franchise’s name during various seasons from 1913-1937.

MLB Betting Pick: Reds

Feel free to browse sports betting guides. While you are at it, go ahead and check out all the latest MLB betting odds and more in our online Bitcoin sportsbook.

*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.