The Cincinnati Reds will be taking on the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Fox Sports Ohio will televise this NL matchup and the opening pitch will be at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Cincinnati Reds at Philadelphia Phillies Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Philadelphia (-120) as the favorite over Cincinnati (+110). The total is sitting at 8 runs and gamblers can take the over for -125 and the under for +105. Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the current runline odds coming in at Reds +1.5 runs (-190) and Phillies +-1.5 runs (+165).
The Phillies are 5-5 SU and 2-7 ATS. They’ve lost 2.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 6.9 units against the spread (ATS). Philadelphia has covered the spread only twice in its last seven games and the total went over in four of those seven. The Reds are 2-8 SU and have gone 4-5 ATS. In total, the teams lost 4.7 units for moneyline gamblers this year and 2.4 units ATS. Cincinnati’s covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Phillies games have had an over/under record of 5-3-1 so far in 2018. The Reds have an over/under record of 5-4.
The Reds have lost 2.7 units and are 3-4 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in four of those games, compared to three that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Phillies have lost 5.0 units and are 0-6 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The overs hit in three of those games, as opposed to two that’ve gone under.
Luis Castillo (0-2, 9.00 ERA) will get the nod for the visiting Reds. The right-handed Castillo recorded 98 strikeouts over 89 innings last year (with only 32 walks) while finishing the season 3-7 overall with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP.
The Phils have tabbed righty Nick Pivetta (1-0, 2.79 ERA) as their starter. Pivetta recorded 140 strikeouts across 133 innings last year (with 57 walks), while finishing the season 8-10 overall with a 6.02 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.
As a unit, Philadelphia’s pitchers have allowed 4.6 runs per game overall this season. The clubs starters have a 3.63 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 8.3 K/9.
Philadelphia’s offense has put up 5.4 runs per contest, including 8.0 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .276/.376/.521 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Phillies batters have been led by outfielder Rhys Hoskins and second baseman Cesar Hernandez. Hoskins is hitting .375/.500/.719 with 12 hits, nine RBIs and seven runs scored, while Hernandez line is .306/.432/.444 with 11 hits, two RBIs and seven runs scored.
For the visiting squad, Cincinnati’s pitchers have allowed 6.1 runs per game and its starters own a 5.44 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 6.49 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 6.95, along with a K/9 of 7.75.
The Reds offense has slashed .229/.313/.330 on its way to 3.1 runs scored per game in 2018, including over the teams last five outings (1-4 SU).
Third baseman Eugenio Suarez and catcher Tucker Barnhart have led Cincinnati’s hitters. Suarez is hitting .296/.424/.630 with eight hits, seven RBIs and five runs scored, while Barnhart (.269/.387/.462) is up to seven hits, two RBIs and three runs scored.
Suarez seemed to take a step back when hitting right-handed pitchers on the road in 2017. Over 250 such plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .233/.340/.300 (his total season line was .260/.367/.461).
Cincinnati Reds vs. Philadelphia Phillies MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Phillies, ATS Winner – Reds, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Reds went 4-2 SU against the Phillies last season.
- The Reds have lost five of their last six games SU while the Phillies have won four of their last five SU.
- The Reds bullpen posted 1.33 ERA against the Phillies last year.
