The Cincinnati Reds began the week 6 ¹/₂ games out of the lead in the National League Central and will look to gain ground in the division on Monday in Chicago against the Cubs.

The Reds will turn to Wade Miley to continue his solid 2021 season, as he enters Monday having allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his eight starts on the road and the Reds going 3-1 in his last four starts away from Cincinnati.

He will be opposed by Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, who for his career has a 2.67 ERA at Wrigley Field and a 3.68 road ERA but this season has a worse ERA at home than on the road. Despite leading MLB with 12 wins, he has a 3.90 home ERA with 12 home runs allowed across 55 ¹/₃ innings in 10 home starts, and opponents are hitting .262 off of him in Chicago.

The Reds entered the week with their bullpen improving with a 4.17 ERA the past 30 days, 13th in the league, while the Cubs are 27th in that category with a 5.94 ERA, which is much different than how each bullpen was performing to start the year. Overall, the Reds’ bullpen is last in the major leagues in bullpen ERA for the season, while the Cubs entered the week fourth.

The Cubs entered the week 6-18 in their last 24 games since their combined no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 24, which is the league’s worst record in that span. The Reds will improve their record with a win on Monday.

The Play: Reds, +110.