Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Braves Betting Preview

betdsiArticles, Baseball, MLB

The Cincinnati Reds are set to face off against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park. Fox Sports Ohio will showcase this NL matchup and the first pitch will be at 12:10 p.m. ET.

Cincinnati Reds vs. Atlanta Braves Odds

Atlanta (-135) is favored over Cincinnati (+125) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this one at 8.5 runs. The odds for betting on the games total sit at -110 for both the over and the under. The games most recent runline odds sit at -170 for taking the Reds +1.5 runs and +150 for the Braves -1.5.

The Braves are 45-33 straight up (SU) and 42-34 against the spread (ATS). The team has gained 16.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 7.7 units (ATS). The Reds are 33-46 SU and have gone 45-33 ATS. In total, the teams lost 7.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline, but have gained 1.9 units ATS.

Neither team has established itself as an obvious over/under play this year. Braves games have an over/under record of 37-35-4 so far in 2018. The Reds have an over/under record of 37-38-3.

The right-handed Luis Castillo will get the start for Cincinnati. Castillo is 5-8 with a 5.70 ERA and 81 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Braves this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-1, 4.50 ERA and eight strikeouts over four innings).

The Braves will send lefty Sean Newcomb (8-2, 2.59 ERA) to the mound. Newcomb has 84 strikeouts and 38 walks to his name, as well as a 1.16 WHIP. Newcomb is 0-0 with seven strikeouts and a 6.00 ERA in one start against Cincinnati this year.

As a unit, Atlanta’s pitching staff has given up 4.0 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have a 3.43 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.05 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 9.1 K/9.

The Atlanta hitters have produced 4.9 runs per contest, including 5.0 per game over its last 10 games and 5.4 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .286/.374/.407 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.

The Braves batters have been led by right fielder Nick Markakis and first baseman Freddie Freeman. Markakis is slashing .326/.391/.484 with eight home runs, 50 RBIs and 45 runs scored, while Freeman’s line is .321/.410/.553 with 15 homers, 54 RBIs and 50 runs.

In the visiting dugout, Cincinnati’s pitchers have allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.29 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 7.28 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.98, along with a K-per-9 of 8.05.

The Reds offense has slashed .255/.337/.398 on its way to 4.5 runs scored per game this season, including 6.4 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 6.8 per game over the teams last five outings (4-1 SU).

Cincinnati’s hitters have been paced by second baseman Scooter Gennett and first baseman Joey Votto. Gennett is hitting .334/.374/.533 with 13 home runs, 52 RBIs and 44 runs scored. Votto (.302/.435/.460) is up to eight homers, 42 RBIs and 42 runs scored.

The Reds have gained 2.4 units and are 13-9 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 14 of those games, as opposed to seven that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Braves have netted 12.8 units and are 30-21 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 22 of those games, compared to 25 that’ve gone under.

Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Braves Free Pick

Predictions: SU Winner – Braves, ATS Winner – Reds, O/U – UNDER

Betting Trends

  • The under has cashed in only one of Atlanta’s last seven games.
  • The Reds have won eight of their last nine games SU.
  • Cincinnati fielders have committed three errors over their last five games, compared to zero errors for Atlanta over its last five.
  • The Reds have hit 17 home runs in their last 10 games. The Braves have hit nine over their last 10.