The Cincinnati Reds (19-19) and the Atlanta Braves (17-19) conclude their four-game series on Thursday evening at Truist Park, with first pitch set for 7:15 p.m. ET, broadcasted on MLB Network. This meeting comes after the Braves narrowly lead the season series 2-1.
The Reds secured a hard-fought 4-3 victory on Wednesday, rebounding from earlier losses in the series—4-0 and 2-1. Cincinnati’s center fielder TJ Friedl shined in the recent win, hitting two home runs and driving in two runs. Despite the uplifting victory, Reds pitcher Hunter Greene exited the game with a groin injury and is now listed as day-to-day.
On the other hand, Braves pitcher Grant Holmes faced a setback, suffering his second consecutive loss after allowing four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. Atlanta’s three-game winning streak also came to an end with this defeat.
Looking ahead to the scheduled match-up, the Reds’ projected starter is left-handed pitcher Nick Lodolo, who sports a 3.27 ERA over seven starts. He has shown promise on the road this season, boasting a 1.07 ERA in four away games. Meanwhile, the Braves will send right-handed pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach to the mound, who has a 3.92 ERA in seven games. Schwellenbach will look to build on his previous success against the Reds, having recorded a solid performance against them last September.
As for the betting outlook, the odds provided by BetMGM show that the Braves are heavy favorites at -200, while the Reds sit at +165. With the current trends in mind—particularly that the Under has hit in 62.5% of Braves home games this season—analysts suggest considering the run line for better value.
The sentiment around this match-up leans toward the Braves bouncing back, making a prediction of 4-2 in their favor. Notably, both teams’ recent performances indicate a trend towards low-scoring games, painting a picture of a tense and competitive finale to their series.
With sports betting continuing to grow, particularly in MLB, fans are encouraged to engage with this matchup as it highlights the unpredictability and excitement inherent in baseball. Whether you’re cheering for the Reds or Braves, this game promises to be an intriguing battle on the diamond.