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Things have gotten off to a slow start following the MLB All-Star break for both the Cincinnati Reds and the Atlanta Braves, with Cincinnati being swept by the Washington Nationals and Atlanta dropping two of three games at home to the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Reds vs Braves MLB picks favor host Atlanta as the teams get ready to meet for the first time this season.
The Braves won five of the six games against the Reds last season, with all six MLB matchups going over the total. Atlanta has won nine of its last 12 home games against the Reds.
The Braves have been favored in each of the last 18 games against the Reds.
The free MLB odds list the Braves with -155 odds to win the series opener with +145 odds at -1.5 on the run line.
Cincinnati, which hasn’t been favored in Atlanta since 2015
, is at +130 to take Monday’s series opener behind the pitching of Hunter Greene.
- The Braves are fifth at +900 in the odds of winning the World Series, with Cincinnati well back at +30000 in the championship odds.
Reds vs Braves Series Information
Reds vs Braves Series 
📊Records: Cincinnati Reds 47-53 at Atlanta Braves 54-44
⏰Day/Time:
📍Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
📺Streaming: MLB Network
Reds vs Braves Probable Starting Pitchers
- Monday: Hunter Greene (Reds); Reynaldo Lopez (Braves)
- Tuesday: TBA (Reds); Chris Sale (Braves)
- Wednesday: Frankie Montas (Reds); TBA (Braves)
Not Bad, For Openers
The batters for both MLB teams better be dialed in when the series gets underway.
Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene has allowed two runs or less in five of his last six outings (six of the last seven if you factor in the All-Star Game).
In his last three games, Greene has allowed nine hits and two runs with 23 strikeouts in 17.2 innings. Greene struck out 10 hitters in six innings the last time he faced the Braves. Keep that in mind when it comes to the Reds vs Braves MLB picks.
- Reynaldo Lopez has given up one run or less in 10 of his 17 starts, with the Braves going 11-6 in games started by Lopez.
The last time Lopez pitched against the Reds, it came in relief as he tossed a scoreless inning.
Seven of Cincinnati’s last nine games went over the total.
Ready to Dial Long Distance?
Neither Atlanta nor Cincinnati have been hitting with much consistency in July, but good things happen when the Braves and Reds do make contact.
The Reds lead the majors with 32 home runs in July. The Braves are fifth in the majors and third among National League teams with 26 home runs.
Tie it up, Stu! pic.twitter.com/I5jsNSgX9n
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 21, 2024
Marcell Ozuna leads the Braves with seven home runs in July, while Austin Riley has four home runs and a team-high 11 extra-base hits. That could factor into the Reds vs Braves MLB picks.
Rece Hinds, Spencer Steer, and Tyler Stephenson each have five home runs in July for the Reds.
Five of Atlanta’s last seven games finished under the total.
Who’s Hot
- Raisel Iglesias, Atlanta Braves P: Iglesias hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last nine appearances. He has allowed two hits and struck out 12 in 10 innings.
- Jonathan India, Cincinnati Reds 2B: India is 4-for-13 with three runs and five walks over his last four games.
- Nick Martinez, Cincinnati Reds P: Martinez surrendered five hits and no runs with six strikeouts over his last 5.1 innings.
- Marcell Ozuna, Atlanta Braves DH: Ozuna is 16-for-35 with nine runs, five home runs, and six RBIs in a nine-game hitting streak.
Who’s Not
- Will Benson, Cincinnati Reds OF: Benson is 4-for-25 with 14 strikeouts in his last 11 games.
- Jesse Chavez, Atlanta Braves P: Chavez has given up nine hits and seven runs in 9.1 innings in his last five appearances.
- Adam Duvall, Atlanta Braves OF: Duvall is 4-for-28 with eight strikeouts in his last seven games.
- Frankie Montas, Cincinnati Reds P: Montas has allowed 14 hits, four home runs, and 12 runs in 11.2 innings in his last two starts.
Reds vs Braves Injury Update
Ozzie Albies is expected to miss about eight weeks due to a fractured left wrist for the Braves as he becomes the latest key player for the Braves to suffer a serious injury with the Braves’ top hitter Ronald Acuna Jr. and best starting pitcher Spencer Strider suffering season-ending MLB injuries.
Ozzie Albies today underwent X-rays that revealed a left wrist fracture. He is expected to miss approximately eight weeks.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 21, 2024
The Braves are also without outfielder Michael Harris II as well as pitchers Jimmy Herget, Tyler Matzek, and Hurston Waldrep, while pitcher Max Fried also landed on the injured list.
Outfielder TJ Friedl, catcher Luke Maile as well as pitchers Carson Spiers, Emilio Pagan, and Brent Suter are on the injured list for the Reds.
Reds vs Braves Betting Preview
There are probably better options for a team seeking to snap a four-game losing streak than facing Reynaldo Lopez and Chris Sale in the first two games in a series in Atlanta.
Each of the last six games between the Reds and the Braves finished over the total with the total at 8.5 for Monday’s series opener. Twelve of Atlanta’s last 15 games at home went under the total.
When considering the MLB score predictions, keep in mind that Atlanta is 29-18 outright as the home favorite, while Cincinnati is just 14-23 as the road underdog.
- However, the run-line numbers tell a different story, with the Braves covering in just 20 of 27 games when favored at home compared to a 24-13 mark against the run line for the Reds as the road ‘dog.
A quick look at the MLB standings shows that the Braves have the best record in the National League among the non-division leaders. The Reds have fallen into last place in the National League Central Division.
Cincinnati is just 2-5 in its last seven games against NL East teams and much of the smart money will be on the Braves to take care of business in this series.
For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
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