It’s a possible preview of the National League Wild-Card game on Friday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Cincinnati Reds for the first time this season. The Dodgers are solid MLB favorites behind Cy Young candidate Walker Buehler.

How to Bet Dodgers at Reds MLB Odds & TV Info

• When: Friday, 7:10 PM ET
• Where: Great American Ball Park
• Probable pitchers (away/home): Walker Buehler/Luis Castillo
• TV: MLB Extra Innings
• Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
• Opening MLB Lines: Dodgers -165, Reds +150 (total 8.5)

Why Bet on LA Dodgers?

NL MVP candidate Max Muncy suffered a right knee contusion while sliding into second base on Wednesday, per Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Muncy did however finish the game, even slugging his 34th home run of the season, and is expected to be ready for Friday’s series opener at Cincinnati. Muncy’s 34 dingers are third in the National League and one behind his career-high mark set in both 2018 and 2019.

Star shortstop Trea Turner leads the National League with 29 steals and has gone 5-for-15 with a home run, four walks, three RBI and three stolen bases over his past four games.

It’s ace and Cy Young betting favorite Walker Buehler (14-3) on the mound for the Dodgers. Buehler allowed two runs over seven innings while striking out five and walking two in last Saturday’s 5-4 victory over the Padres.  Besides giving up a two-run homer to s Fernando Tatis Jr. in the top of the fourth, Buehler was very effective against one of the better lineups in MLB. On the season, the 27-year-old has a 2.32 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 189/47 K/BB over 186 innings.

Buehler will face the Reds for the second time this year after allowing five runs in 6.1 innings in a no-decision on April 27 at Dodger Stadium (eventual 6-5 Reds win). In four career starts against Cincinnati, he has gone 1-2 with a 2.92 ERA (8 ER/24.2 IP)

Dodger starting pitchers lead the Major Leagues in ERA (2.80), WHIP (1.02), opponents’ average (.206) and opponents’ OBP (.264). The Dodgers’ overall ERA is 2.63 in the second half, which, is the club’s best post-All-Star break ERA since posting a 2.26 mark in 1976.

Why Bet on Cincinnati?

Cincinnati outfielder Jesse Winker could be activated from the injured list on Friday. That’d be a huge boost for the Reds, who have begun to fade in the NL Wild Card race. Winker, a first-time All-Star this year, was batting .307/.395/.560 with 24 home runs, 71 RBI, and 77 runs scored through 109 games played before he suffered an intercostal strain in mid-August.

The Reds lead the season series vs. the Dodgers after snapping their season-high 7-game losing streak (4/18-4/25) by winning 2 of 3 games in April at Dodger Stadium. However, the Dodgers’ .603 winning percentage at Great American Ball Park (35-23) is the second-best by any National League team here (Mets, .632, 36-21).

It’s Luis Castillo (7-15) on the mound for the Reds. Castillo wasn’t that sharp against the Cardinals last Saturday night, giving up four runs on eight hits across seven innings. The right-hander punched out five and issued one walk. After being staked to an early 4-0 lead, Castillo served up a solo homer to Paul DeJong and an RBI single to Tommy Edman in the third inning to make it 4-2. He then allowed an RBI triple to Nolan Arenado in the sixth and a game-tying RBI double to Dylan Carlson to even the score.

Castillo’s streak of five straight quality starts was snapped, though he did tie his season-high mark by completing seven innings. The 28-year-old hasn’t taken a loss since Aug. 14, and he has brought an ERA that stood at 7.61 after 10 starts this season down 4.24 with a WHIP of 1.36.

He still has thrown quality starts in 5 of his last 6 apps (1-4, 3.23), in 9 of his last 11 apps (4-5, 3.61) and beginning 6/4 in 15 of his last 19 apps (6-7, 2.91). Castillo’s changeup was recently rated by managers the best in the National League.

Castillo is 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA in three career starts vs. the Dodgers.

Game Trends

• Dodgers are 10-4 in their last 14 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Dodgers are 43-18 in their last 61 games following an off day.
• Dodgers are 39-17 in their last 56 vs. National League Central.
• Reds are 1-4 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
• Dodgers are 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
• Dodgers are 8-3 in the last 11 meetings in Cincinnati.

Expert Prediction

• Dodgers 6, Reds 2

 

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