Cincinnati Reds vs
Los Angeles AngelsPredictions & Preview

Los Angeles Angels Look to Extend Winning Streak Against Cincinnati Reds Despite Struggles Against Left-Handed Pitchers

The 2025 Major League Baseball season continues with a matchup between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA on Wednesday, August 20. Cincinnati and Los Angeles will be wrapping up their three-game regular-season series, with the Reds taking the win in the opener. This preview was written before Tuesday's results, so be sure to check out our Reds vs. Angels prediction and all of our MLB picks for Wednesday's games. The first pitch is scheduled for 9:38 PM ET, with the Angels as -130 favorites and a total of 8.5 runs.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Reds +109 | Angels -125
• Spread: Reds +1.5 (-192) | Angels -1.5 (+165)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Los Angeles will win straight-up is 56%.

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Angels last Monday with a strong performance, out-hitting them 11-8. Gavin Lux hit a two-run homer, Brady Singer pitched six innings of one-run ball, and Scott Barlow secured his first save of the season. This win marked the Reds' sixth victory in nine games, with impressive offensive and bullpen stats during this stretch. Cincinnati is close to a wild-card spot in the National League. Nick Martinez is set to pitch for the Reds against the Angels on Wednesday, with a solid 4.73 ERA this season. Despite a recent rough outing, Martinez has a good track record against the Angels.

Los Angeles Angels

The Los Angeles Angels recently swept a three-game home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers but have since struggled, losing two out of three road games against the Athletics and dropping the opener of the Reds series. Overall, the Angels have won five of their last nine games but remain 7.5 games behind the bottom wild card in the American League, putting them out of playoff contention for the 11th consecutive year. Yusei Kikuchi is set to start on Wednesday, with a 6-8 record, 3.52 ERA, and 1.44 WHIP in 26 starts this season. Kikuchi has struggled recently, allowing at least three earned runs in seven of his last eight starts. In his only career meeting with the Reds in 2022, Kikuchi gave up 11 hits, including two doubles and three home runs.

Cincinnati Reds Struggle Against Left-Handed Pitchers While Los Angeles Angels Maintain Strong Performance

The Cincinnati Reds have faced challenges when playing against left-handed pitchers throughout the current season. Their performance shows a .731 OPS faced by right-handers, whereas their OPS against left-handers is lower at .646, indicating a struggle. Over the last 10 days, the Reds have maintained a .685 OPS and 87 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers, a significant drop compared to the 110 wRC+ they achieved against right-handed pitchers during the same period. In contrast, the Los Angeles Angels have shown a respectable performance with a .733 OPS and 105 wRC+ against right-handers in their last 10 games and 275 plate appearances. Considering Nick Martinez's recent underwhelming performance, it is expected that the Angels will capitalize on this opportunity. Yusei Kikuchi, on the other hand, is predicted to exhibit a strong pitching performance against the Reds.

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