Cleveland Guardians vs
Cincinnati RedsPredictions & Preview

Cincinnati Reds Favored to Win Second Game Against Cleveland Amid Pitching Disparities

The Cleveland Guardians (42-22, 1st AL Central) will play the Cincinnati Reds (32-34, 2nd NL Central) in the final game of a two-game interleague series on Wednesday. The Guardians are coming off a successful series against the Marlins, while the Reds just won three of four against the Cubs. This will be the first series between the teams this season. The game will be played at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, with Tanner Bibee (3.73 ERA) starting for the Guardians and Nick Lodolo (2.92 ERA) starting for the Reds. The Reds are the betting favorites, opening at -116 and currently at -120. Kickoff is at 7:10 EST.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Guardians +100 | Reds -120
• Spread: Guardians +1.5 (-205) | Reds -1.5 (+175)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Cincinnati will win straight-up is 55%.

Cleveland vs Cincinnati Stats

Cleveland Guardians

The Cleveland Guardians are currently leading the AL Central with a 4.5-game lead over the second place Royals. Their dominance is illustrated by their growing lead in the division as other teams fall out of contention. Prior to their series against the Cincinnati Reds, the Guardians won two out of three games against the Miami Marlins, with Tyler Freeman hitting a pivotal three-run home run in the last game. Freeman, now batting second, is the team's center fielder with six home runs and 27 RBIs. Steven Kwan, who missed most of May due to injury, has rejoined the lineup and is now batting at the top of the order with four home runs and an impressive .370 batting average. The standout player for Cleveland is Jose Ramirez, leading the team in home runs (18), RBIs (62), and batting average (.275). Josh Naylor, the cleanup hitter, has contributed 16 home runs and 47 RBIs. Tanner Bibee will make his 14th start of the season, boasting a 4-1 record with a 3.73 ERA, 76 strikeouts, and 19 walks. Cleveland is ranked first in power ranking, third in offense (scoring an average of 5.06 runs per game), and fifth in defense (allowing an average of 3.68 runs per game). Overall, the Guardians have a strong record of 42-22 this season.

Cincinnati Reds Analysis

The Cincinnati Reds are currently in a competitive battle in the NL Central, with the Reds, Cubs, and Cardinals all trailing the Brewers by seven games, with the Pirates just 7.5 games back. The division is tightly contested, with the Reds recently gaining ground by winning three out of four games against the Cubs in their recent series. Power hitter Elly De La Cruz leads the team with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs, while also leading the league with 34 stolen bases. Third baseman Jeimer Candelerio has nine home runs and 26 RBIs on the season, and outfielder Will Benson has eight home runs and 22 RBIs. Spencer Steer, who leads the team with 40 RBIs, took the DH spot in the last series. Pitcher Nick Lodolo, with a 6-2 record and a 2.92 ERA, will make his 10th start of the season, coming off a strong performance against the Cubs. The Reds have a power ranking of 6 and are ranked #13 for offense, averaging 4.40 runs per game, and #11 for defense, allowing 4.14 points per game. They currently hold a 32-34 overall record and recently went 2-1 in their last three matchups against Cleveland.

Cincinnati Reds Favored to Win Second Game Against Cleveland Amid Pitching Disparities

The Cincinnati Reds are poised to secure a victory in the upcoming second game of the series against the Cleveland team. Recently, pitcher Lodolo has demonstrated impressive performance by leading the Reds to three consecutive victories, limiting opposing teams to no more than two runs in each game. In contrast, Cleveland's pitcher Bibee, although possessing strong season statistics, has shown a decline in form by conceding a total of six runs in his last three games. Additionally, Bibee has displayed vulnerability to allowing home runs, which plays in favor of the Reds' offense. Despite Cleveland's recent success against the subpar Miami Marlins, the Reds are embroiled in a competitive race in the NL Central and are expected to claim victory in this crucial series finale at home. I recommend betting on the Reds for the win.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]