How many runs will Reds, Brewers rack up?
If misery truly loves company, there should be plenty of horrendous pitching to go around in tonight’s series opener between the Reds and Brewers.
Oddsmakers rightly expect an offensive bonanza starting at 7:10 p.m. ET. Host Cincinnati currently sits as online sports book BetDSI’s 1.5-run favorite, while Milwaukee comes in as a +100 underdog. The over/under run total rests at nine.
Bryan Price’s club avoided a fourth consecutive loss at the Great American Ballpark with yesterday’s 7-4 win over San Francisco. Brandon Phillips, Zack Cozart, Eugenio Suarez and Adam Duvall all bashed homers. Cozart’s second-inning dinger was particularly encouraging considering his return from a two-game absence (tendinitis).
Still, it’s usually not the Reds’ offense that gives them fits. The hurlers at Price’s disposal, on the other hand, are responsible for the bulk of the Queen City’s displeasure at the moment. Take this evening’s starter, for instance. Alfredo Simon (0-3, 13.50 ERA) has yet to venture into the sixth. He barely logged four frames before getting knocked out by Pittsburgh over the weekend.
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Craig Counsell is equally familiar with these kinds of issues. His staff’s 5.58 ERA ranks dead last in the majors. The Brewers have also dropped the past three outings by Chase Anderson (1-3, 5.55), whose command problems make Simon look like Greg Maddux.
Milwaukee’s likely to be without an impact bat, too, as leadoff man Domingo Santana continues to combat right shoulder tightness. If Simon’s smart, he’ll avoid Ryan Braun (.374 with five homers and 22 RBIs) at all costs and attack the rest of the woebegone visiting lineup. Such a volatile matchup will inevitably produce illogical decisions, though, so we simply recommend siding with the lumber.
THURSDAY MLB FREE PICK: BREWERS/REDS OVER 9 RUNS
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