MLB Odds: Braves and Reds Highlight MLB Weekend
It's doubtful that anyone back in April saw this weekend's set in Cincinnati as a battle between division leaders, but that's the case as Joey Votto and the Reds play host to the Atlanta Braves.
Let’s have a show of hands of bettors that picked both the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds to contend for the playoffs this season.
I get it if you liked the Braves to get to the postseason. After all, Atlanta was one of the hottest teams in baseball in the second half last year before barely falling short of the National League Wild Card, and it added five-tool prospect Jason Heyward to the lineup.
But if you had both the Braves and Reds getting to the playoffs, you’re either a genius or an idiot.
No one saw this coming from Cincinnati (57-46 SU, +9.73 units), which heads into its three-game weekend set with Atlanta (58-43 SU, +7.98 units) at Great American Ball Park up a half-game on St. Louis for first place in the NL Central.
It has a lot to do with the bandbox they pass off as a ballpark, but the Reds have gotten to this point with one of the best offenses in baseball. Coming into Friday night’s series opener (7:10 PM ET), the Reds ranked fifth in runs per game (4.91) and team batting average (.272), and were fourth in team OPS (.776) and home runs (121).
For their part, the Braves are middle of the pack offensively, but have one of the best pitching staffs going. Atlanta ranks fourth in team ERA (3.61).
Call it a contrast of styles, but the teams have a lot in common when it comes to the baseball betting odds board. Both clubs are among the five most profitable wagers on the MLB moneylist, and are in the top six against the run line.
Cincinnati took two of three from Milwaukee earlier this week, cashing 10-2 as -115 favorites at Miller Park on Wednesday. The game played ‘over’ the 8½-run total, and bettors can expect more of the same against Atlanta.
The Braves are 8-4 O/U in their last 12 games, during which they’ve gone 5-7 against the money line.
Look for the Reds to hold up their end of the bargain, too. Cincy is hitting .290 in its last 10 games – including .303 against righthanded pitching – while its starters have posted a 5.03 ERA.
If that’s not enough, Atlanta outscored Cincinnati 15-13 in a two-game sweep at Turner Field in May, as the teams played ‘over’ the number in both contests. Overall, the Braves and Reds are 25-11-1 O/U in their last 37 meetings.
If there’s one spot where the ‘over’ is in jeopardy it’s on Friday night, when Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto (10-2, 3.18 ERA) matches up with Atlanta’s Kris Medlen (6-2, 3.57 ERA).
Cueto tossed eight scoreless innings to get the win in the Reds’ 7-0 victory at Houston last Saturday, and has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last six starts.
MLB oddsmakers opened Cincinnati as -140 money line for chalk for Friday night’s game, while Atlanta was listed at +120. The total was set at 8½.
Bronson Arroyo (10-6, 4.21 ERA) takes the ball for the Reds on Saturday afternoon (4:10 p.m. ET, FOX), and he’s looking to get on track. The righty has a 5.23 ERA in his last three outings, during which Cincy is 1-2 against the moneyline.
Arroyo throws opposite Jair Jurrjens (3-3, 4.37 ERA), who’s making his sixth start since coming off the disabled list. Jurrjens has a 7.88 ERA on the road this season to go along with a 7.27 ERA in day games.
The Braves had yet to announce their starter for Sunday afternoon’s finale (1:10 p.m. ET), but expect them to go with Tommy Hanson (8-7, 3.99 ERA). Hanson was ripped for eight runs over 1 2-3 innings in Atlanta’s 10-9 win against Cincinnati on May 20.
Edinson Volquez (1-1, 8.25 ERA) toes the rubber on Sunday for the fourth time since coming off the 60-day DL/finishing his 50-game suspension for violating MLB’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Volquez has gone five innings or more just once this season.
It's doubtful that anyone back in April saw this weekend's set in Cincinnati as a battle between division leaders, but that's the case as Joey Votto and the Reds play host to the Atlanta Braves.
Let’s have a show of hands of bettors that picked both the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds to contend for the playoffs this season.
I get it if you liked the Braves to get to the postseason. After all, Atlanta was one of the hottest teams in baseball in the second half last year before barely falling short of the National League Wild Card, and it added five-tool prospect Jason Heyward to the lineup.
But if you had both the Braves and Reds getting to the playoffs, you’re either a genius or an idiot.
No one saw this coming from Cincinnati (57-46 SU, +9.73 units), which heads into its three-game weekend set with Atlanta (58-43 SU, +7.98 units) at Great American Ball Park up a half-game on St. Louis for first place in the NL Central.
It has a lot to do with the bandbox they pass off as a ballpark, but the Reds have gotten to this point with one of the best offenses in baseball. Coming into Friday night’s series opener (7:10 PM ET), the Reds ranked fifth in runs per game (4.91) and team batting average (.272), and were fourth in team OPS (.776) and home runs (121).
For their part, the Braves are middle of the pack offensively, but have one of the best pitching staffs going. Atlanta ranks fourth in team ERA (3.61).
Call it a contrast of styles, but the teams have a lot in common when it comes to the baseball betting odds board. Both clubs are among the five most profitable wagers on the MLB moneylist, and are in the top six against the run line.
Cincinnati took two of three from Milwaukee earlier this week, cashing 10-2 as -115 favorites at Miller Park on Wednesday. The game played ‘over’ the 8½-run total, and bettors can expect more of the same against Atlanta.
The Braves are 8-4 O/U in their last 12 games, during which they’ve gone 5-7 against the money line.
Look for the Reds to hold up their end of the bargain, too. Cincy is hitting .290 in its last 10 games – including .303 against righthanded pitching – while its starters have posted a 5.03 ERA.
If that’s not enough, Atlanta outscored Cincinnati 15-13 in a two-game sweep at Turner Field in May, as the teams played ‘over’ the number in both contests. Overall, the Braves and Reds are 25-11-1 O/U in their last 37 meetings.
If there’s one spot where the ‘over’ is in jeopardy it’s on Friday night, when Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto (10-2, 3.18 ERA) matches up with Atlanta’s Kris Medlen (6-2, 3.57 ERA).
Cueto tossed eight scoreless innings to get the win in the Reds’ 7-0 victory at Houston last Saturday, and has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last six starts.
MLB oddsmakers opened Cincinnati as -140 money line for chalk for Friday night’s game, while Atlanta was listed at +120. The total was set at 8½.
Bronson Arroyo (10-6, 4.21 ERA) takes the ball for the Reds on Saturday afternoon (4:10 p.m. ET, FOX), and he’s looking to get on track. The righty has a 5.23 ERA in his last three outings, during which Cincy is 1-2 against the moneyline.
Arroyo throws opposite Jair Jurrjens (3-3, 4.37 ERA), who’s making his sixth start since coming off the disabled list. Jurrjens has a 7.88 ERA on the road this season to go along with a 7.27 ERA in day games.
The Braves had yet to announce their starter for Sunday afternoon’s finale (1:10 p.m. ET), but expect them to go with Tommy Hanson (8-7, 3.99 ERA). Hanson was ripped for eight runs over 1 2-3 innings in Atlanta’s 10-9 win against Cincinnati on May 20.
Edinson Volquez (1-1, 8.25 ERA) toes the rubber on Sunday for the fourth time since coming off the 60-day DL/finishing his 50-game suspension for violating MLB’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Volquez has gone five innings or more just once this season.
