Braves vs Reds | Predictions

Atlanta Braves vs. Cincinnati Reds
7:10PM Friday July 30  – MLBN

Pitching Probables: Kris Medlen vs Johnny Cueto

Atlanta has to be feeling some heat now.  The Phillies seem to be finding their stride and are closing in on them as they arrive in Cincinnati for what is now an important series between NL contenders.  On the hill is Kris Medlen.  Hardly a household name the Braves are an amazing 11-1 in the 12 games he has started this year with that one loss back in May, to Pittsburgh of all teams.  He is an amazing +10 units but he has never faced the Reds and this Reds crew is mashing most everybody this year.  The last time these two teams met was back in May in a rare two game series.  The Braves took both, winning each by a run and scoring 15 runs.  They need a return of that kind of offense as they managed a meagre 10 runs in their last four games dropping three of them.  It looks like this team may simply be running out of steam and the recent acquisition of SS Alex Gonzalez hasn’t added much.

The Reds are refusing to go away and now sit just ahead of the Cardinals in the NL Central.  Johnny Cueto takes the hill fresh off 8 shutout innings in his last outing.  The dude hasn’t lost since in over a month and is among the pitchers having break out seasons this year.  The Reds as a team are at a critical juncture.  Teams around them are upgrading but they have yet to make a move.  Will the return of Edinson Volquez be enough?  Joey Votto is still crushing it but other hitters like Scott Rolen, who has a renaissance first half have gotten very quite lately – no homers since the All-Star break.  How the team does in this series may determine whether we will talking about them a month from now.  It will be interesting to see how the players respond to that pressure.

Prediction:  Cueto should be solid for another victory.  I see the Braves in for a swoon unless the lineup starts producing.

The odds makers have the Reds as -1½ favorite with a run total of 8½.

Score Prediction: (I know who can predict a baseball score)

Cincinnati Reds – 6
Atlanta Braves – 1

Atlanta Braves Betting Trends:

• Atlanta is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
• Atlanta is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
• Atlanta is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Cincinnati
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta’s last 7 games when playing Cincinnati

Cincinnati Reds Betting Trends:

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cincinnati’s last 6 games
• Cincinnati is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
• Cincinnati is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing Atlanta
• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cincinnati’s last 7 games when playing Atlanta