Dodgers crave series split against Reds
Cincinnati long ago resigned itself to thinking about 2017. Yet that doesn’t preclude Bryan Price’s club from having a little fun in the here and now.
The Reds hope to remain on a roll entering this afternoon’s series finale vs. the Dodgers, with a 12:35 p.m. ET first pitch at Great American Ball Park. Online sports book Bovada.lv sees things differently, giving the visitors odds of -125 to triumph. Cincy is considered a +105 underdog. As for the over/under run total, that number rests at nine.
Despite Sunday’s 4-0 setback, Price’s troops are 21-13 since the All-Star break. First baseman Joey Votto continues to be one of the game’s most intimidating threats at the plate, as he boasts a .429 batting average with 16 RBIs over the past three weeks. Look to the mound, though, for the biggest evidence as to why the squad keeps cruising. Cincinnati’s staff ERA of 3.48 in August ranks third in the National League.
Homer Bailey is just beginning to get back into the swing of things, too. Tommy John rehab caused the veteran righty to miss the first few months of the regular season, but he’s been sharp through four appearances. Bailey holds a 4-3 mark with a 3.84 ERA in nine lifetime outings vs. Los Angeles.
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Meanwhile, Dave Roberts turns to a man who’s yet suffer a road defeat in 2016. Scott Kazmir totes a 6-0 record with 4.77 ERA away from Chavez Ravine. Most recently, he limited the Phillies to two runs across five innings.
While the Reds seem likely to distance themselves from the NL Central basement as the stretch run nears, we can’t imagine the Dodgers failing to split here. Immersed in an ultra-tight race with San Francisco, Roberts’ gang needs to capitalize on every available opportunity. Expect Kazmir to come through in the clutch and send the Boys in Blue out of town on a happy note.
MONDAY MLB FREE PICK: DODGERS -1.5