The Cincinnati Reds are set to take on the Cleveland Guardians in the first game of a three-game series on Monday evening at Progressive Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. The Reds currently lead the season series against the Guardians 3-0, having secured a sweep during a previous matchup from May 16-18 at home.
In their last outing, the Reds completed a sweep over the Arizona Diamondbacks, winning 4-2, and showcasing potent offensive performance with 21 runs in the series. Despite short outings from standout shortstop Elly De La Cruz, first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand has been on fire, hitting home runs in each of the three games against the Diamondbacks and boasting an impressive .471 average along with 8 RBIs over his last four games.
On the other hand, the Guardians narrowly avoided a sweep against the Houston Astros, also winning 4-2. Catcher Bo Naylor excelled, going 3-for-4 with a homer, contributing to the team’s recent 5-5 record over the last ten games. Cleveland has shown that when they score four or more runs, they typically clinch the win, underlining the team’s dependency on their offensive output.
The projected pitchers for the matchup are Wade Miley for the Reds and Luis Ortiz for the Guardians. Miley, who is returning from Tommy John surgery, has struggled in his brief appearances this season, recording an ERA of 18.00 in his limited outings. He’s faced Cleveland ten times in his career and has a solid 3.51 ERA against them. In contrast, Ortiz has been more consistent this season, holding a 4.02 ERA, and has demonstrated strong performance in his recent starts, including a shutout against the New York Yankees.
BetMGM Sportsbook has placed the Guardians as the favorites, with a moneyline of -160 compared to the Reds’ +135. The over/under for the game is set at 8.5 runs, suggesting an expectation for a high-scoring game based on the current weather conditions and pitcher performances.
As both teams approach this critical matchup, the Reds will want to build on their recent success, while the Guardians aim to strengthen their position in the race for the postseason by leveraging their home field advantage. This game promises to be exciting and pivotal for both squads.