Cubs vs. Reds rain delay: Anthony Rizzo joins SNB broadcast
The Cubs vs. Reds Sunday Night Baseball finale at Wrigley Field was delayed by rain on Aug. 30, with first pitch pushed past 7:20 p.m. ET. Anthony Rizzo joins Jason Benetti, Jeff Brantley, Ahmed Fareed and Joey Votto in the NBC booth. SportsLine's model favors the Under 9.5 total and sees moneyline value as Chicago opens at -156.
Rain interrupted the rubber match of a high-scoring NL Central series on national television. Cincinnati (64-72) won Friday 10-8 before Chicago (77-59) answered with a 17-5 rout Saturday. Chase Burns (14-3, 2.77 ERA) opposes Shota Imanaga (8-9, 3.78 ERA) once the weather clears.
Key Takeaways
- Rain delayed the Cubs vs. Reds series finale at Wrigley Field on Sunday, Aug. 30.
- Anthony Rizzo is part of the NBC Sunday Night Baseball broadcast crew.
- Chicago is a -156 favorite; Cincinnati is +140 with a 9.5-run total.
- SportsLine's projection model favors the Under and one moneyline side.
- The series is tied after Cincinnati's 10-8 win and Chicago's 17-5 victory.
Why was the Cubs vs. Reds game delayed on Sunday?
Rain forced a delay at Wrigley Field before the series finale could begin. The Cubs estimated first pitch would slip about 25 minutes, targeting roughly 7:45 p.m. ET, according to Yahoo Sports.
The matchup had already been moved from an afternoon slot for television. NBC Chicago reported the game was originally set for 6:20 p.m. local time and would not start before 6:45 p.m. local, which aligns with the 7:20 p.m. ET schedule cited elsewhere.
Who is on the Sunday Night Baseball broadcast with Anthony Rizzo?
Anthony Rizzo joins a stacked NBC crew for Sunday Night Baseball coverage. Jason Benetti, Jeff Brantley, Ahmed Fareed and former Reds star Joey Votto round out the broadcast team, as NBC 5 Chicago reported.
Rizzo's booth role adds a familiar Cubs voice to a nationally televised divisional showdown. For more crossover sports and entertainment coverage, see our celebrity breaking news hub.
What are the Cubs vs. Reds odds and betting line?
Chicago enters as the -156 favorite at Wrigley Field, meaning bettors risk $156 to win $100 on the Cubs. Cincinnati sits at +140 on the moneyline. The over/under is set at 9.5 runs, per SportsLine.
Both offenses have been loud this weekend. The Reds' Rookie of the Year favorite homered in each of the first two games, reaching 30 home runs and 104 RBIs heading into the final two games of August. Cubs MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong hit three home runs in Saturday's 17-5 blowout.
What does the SportsLine MLB model predict?
SportsLine's projection model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It entered Week 23 on a 49-34 run on top-rated MLB picks and had simulated Reds vs. Cubs 10,000 times before Sunday's delayed start.
The model is backing the Under on the 9.5-run total and identifies value on one side of the moneyline. Burns and Imanaga add pitching intrigue after two explosive offensive nights, though the model's specific side pick sits behind SportsLine's subscriber paywall.