The Athletics visit the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night to open a three-game series, and the home side sits as a moderate favorite. Cincinnati is priced at -135 on the moneyline, while the total has already ticked down to 9.0. The pitching matchup carries a twist. Oakland hands the ball to a starter walking straight off the injured list. The Reds counter with a home arm whose ugly won-loss record hides steadier work in his own ballpark. Our lean sides with the hosts, and the run environment gives us a second angle worth examining before first pitch.
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Athletics vs. Cincinnati Reds — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio |
| When | August 4, 2026 — 6:40 PM ET |
| TV | Reds.TV / NBC Sports California (MLB.TV) |
Athletics vs. Cincinnati Reds Betting Preview
Start with the arms, because this game turns on them. The Athletics send right-hander J.T. Ginn to the mound as he returns from the injured list after a blister on his throwing hand. Before the layoff, Ginn carried a mid-3.00s ERA with a winning record, so the talent is real. However, he had not started since early July, and a stretch of nearly a month off usually means rust and a capped pitch count. A short leash puts Oakland’s bullpen in play earlier than the Reds’ pen.
Cincinnati answers with right-hander Brady Singer, who owns a 5-10 record and a 4.35 ERA. Those numbers look pedestrian on the surface. Still, Singer has missed bats all year and has been more comfortable working at Great American Ball Park than on the road. His main flaw is traffic. When his command drifts, he walks hitters and runs up long innings, which matters in a park this friendly to offense.
The season-long picture also favors the hosts. Cincinnati enters at 53-58, while Oakland sits well below .500 at 45-67. That is an eight-game gap between the two clubs, and the Athletics are the road underdog for good reason, a theme covered in our recent Athletics coverage. Great American Ball Park remains one of the more hitter-friendly venues in the league on a multi-year basis, so the total and the late innings both deserve attention. This is the first meeting of the season between the two sides.
Athletics vs. Cincinnati Reds Odds
| Run Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athletics | +1.5 (-170) | +113 | U 9.0 (+100) |
| Reds | -1.5 (+145) | -135 | O 9.0 (-120) |
Odds accurate as of Tuesday, August 4, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest MLB Odds – Futures – Props
Athletics vs. Cincinnati Reds — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Athletics | 48% | 52% | Reds |
See the latest MLB Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Athletics vs. Reds Best Bet — Is Cincinnati Today’s Best Value at -135?
The load-bearing signal here is Ginn’s timing. A pitcher making his first start in nearly a month rarely gets a full workload, and managers tend to script an early hook. That hands the middle innings to a bullpen that has to cover more ground than usual. Meanwhile, the Reds get to face a starter still shaking off rust in a park where mistakes travel. Add the eight-game gap in the standings, and the better team is also the home team at a fair price.
The market does not fight this read. The public is stacked on Cincinnati at roughly 85 percent of moneyline tickets, and the price has firmed from its open rather than drifting back. When the number moves with the crowd, there is no hidden sharp money on the other side to respect. The money and the public point the same way, which is a mild confirmation rather than a warning.
The case against is honest and worth stating. Ginn’s rate stats before the injury were actually better than Singer’s, so this is not a talent mismatch on paper. Singer’s 4.35 ERA and his habit of issuing walks can turn a quiet night into a bullpen game for Cincinnati, too. A home favorite also carries run-line risk, because a walk-off win ends by exactly one run. That argues for keeping the focus on the outright result rather than a two-run margin.
The Pick: Cincinnati Reds Moneyline (-135)
Athletics vs. Reds Prediction — Does the Number Belong Under Nine?
The most useful market clue on this game is the total itself. It opened at 9.5 and has been bet down to 9.0, with the under now sitting at plus money. A half-run move toward the under is a real signal, not cosmetic, because games tied late must produce at least one more run. Both starters can miss bats when they are on, and Oakland’s offense has been far less productive on the road than at home this season.
The counter is the ballpark, and it is a strong counter. Great American Ball Park inflates run scoring, and the Reds’ lineup does damage at home. Ginn’s rust cuts both ways as well. If he labors early and both bullpens get long looks, nine runs can arrive in a hurry. This projects as a lean rather than a hammer. The market’s downward move and the plus-money price both add to the appeal of the lower number.
The Pick: Under 9.0 (+100)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
The swing factor to watch is Ginn’s pitch count. If Oakland pulls him by the fifth inning, the game tilts further toward Cincinnati and toward a bullpen-driven finish, as we noted in our latest Reds betting coverage. For bettors who want more return on the Reds side, the run line offers a plus-money alternative. Cincinnati -1.5 pays +145, and against a road underdog eight games worse in the standings, a two-run home win is live. The trade-off is the walk-off risk noted above, so treat this as a higher-variance dart rather than a core play.
Bonus Pick: Cincinnati Reds Run Line -1.5 (+145)
To recap the card: the lead play is the Cincinnati Reds moneyline at -135, the second play is the game total Under 9.0 at +100, and the bonus swing is the Cincinnati Reds run line -1.5 at +145. Each rests on the same core read, that the better and healthier team is at home against a rusty opposing starter, and each is a lean rather than a lock.
MLB Athletics vs. Reds FAQ: Tuesday August 4, 2026
What time does the Athletics vs. Reds game start?
First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The game opens a three-game series between the two clubs. Local Reds radio coverage is on 700WLW for listeners who cannot get to a screen.
What channel is the Athletics vs. Reds game on?
The game airs on Reds.TV for Cincinnati viewers and on NBC Sports California for the Athletics market. Out-of-market fans can stream it through MLB.TV. Radio coverage is available on 700WLW, and first pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
Who is pitching for the Reds on Tuesday?
Right-hander Brady Singer is the probable starter for the Cincinnati Reds. He carries a 5-10 record with a 4.35 ERA this season and takes the mound at home. Singer has generated strikeouts all year but has also allowed his share of baserunners when his command wavers.
Who is pitching for the Athletics on Tuesday?
Right-hander J.T. Ginn is the probable starter for the Athletics. He is returning from a stint on the injured list caused by a blister on his throwing hand. Before the injury, Ginn had pitched to a winning record and a mid-3.00s ERA, though his workload on Tuesday may be limited.
Where are the Athletics and Reds playing?
The game is at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, the home of the Reds. The venue is known as a hitter-friendly ballpark that tends to boost run scoring. Cincinnati enters at 53-58 on the season, while the Athletics come in at 45-67.