Baseball is back in Iowa.
The 2022 MLB Field of Dreams Game—easily one of the coolest things the league has done in decades—is ready to play ball in the middle of the cornfields once again. After an epic inaugural event between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees ended with Tim Anderson’s storybook walk-off homer, the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds will try to provide the elusive Hollywood sequel that proves better than the original.
It won’t be easy. The Cubs (-1.5) and Reds (-115 ML) are each 20 games under .500. The name recognition among players on either side is relatively minimal compared to last year’s game.
Still, the spectacle of it all will be hard to turn away from. And if we’re going to watch this game, we’re certainly going to bet on it.
Here are seven of the wagers we feel most confident on. Best of luck tailing.
Odds via Tipico
Bet on sports with Tipico
Yes Runs First Inning (-105)
Let’s be absolutely clear: these are not good baseball teams. That is on purpose. Both clubs are tanking this season for various reasons. Which is why MLB’s marquee regular season game will be started by Reds rookie Nick Lodolo (4.40 ERA) and Cubs veteran Drew Smyly (3.97 ERA).
Both are lefties, which is good news for Chicago since it’s tied for the eighth most home runs against southpaws in baseball this year (34). The Reds aren’t far behind in that category, either (31).
Looking at the top of Cincinnati’s lineup, No. 2 hitter Nick Senzel is slashing .286/.286/.714 with one homer against Smyly.
If there’s one thing MLB should be able to count on by putting two teams a combined 40+ games under .500 in the Field of Dreams slot, its runs scored. Let’s bank on that starting early.
11+ Total Runs Scored Combined (+165)
These are boosted odds at Tipico, and while 11 is a big ask, these teams have pretty atrocious pitching staffs.
Cincy has the fifth-worst WHIP (1.40) and the Cubs have the sixth-worst (1.40). The Reds have given up the third-most runs this season (573) while Chicago has allowed the seventh-most (530).
Most importantly, in seven matchups this season the teams have combined for at least 11 runs in five of them.
Cubs total team hits over 9.5 (+102)
The Cubs have hovered right around nine hits in their last few games against similarly bad teams in the Nationals and Marlins. Considering the ballpark in Iowa has similar dimensions to Wrigley Field—and the aforementioned horrible Reds pitching—even money on the over feels like the worthy play.
Nick Lodolo Under 7.5 Strikeouts (-165)
Lodolo might not be long for this game, which hurts his chances of reaching the over. He’s only reached eight or more strikeouts in three of nine starts this year.
This isn’t a knock on his long-term prospects. It’s just hard to see him reaching that mark today.
Joey Votto Total Bases Over 1.5 (+120)
This game means a lot to Votto. He’s made that abundantly clear.
Might as well take a flier on him to hit a home run (+310) as well.
Aristides Aquino to hit a home run (+350)
The guy hits tanks. And he tends to hit them off Smyly. Aquino has a .444 batting average against the lefty in nine at-bats with three home runs. He’s as solid a bet to go yard as anyone today.
Total Runs Over 8.5 (-140)
You knew we were going to end up here. Everything we’ve already covered was leading to it. The public knew it, too. According to Action Network, 81 percent of all bets on the run total, and 71 percent of all money wagered on the run total, are backing the over.
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO).
