Reds vs Brewers Betting Preview: Streaking Reds Are Favored to Take Monday’s Series

Two Top Teams in the National League Central Division Set to Meet Again

First place will be on the line in the National League Central Division when the Cincinnati Reds head to face the Milwaukee Brewers. When looking at the Reds vs Brewers betting preview, keep in mind that Cincinnati has won five games in a row after losing six straight games with four of the losses coming to the Brewers.

Cincinnati’s 20 road losses are the second-fewest in the National League while Milwaukee is 27-23 at home. When looking at the MLB standings by division, Milwaukee is 1/2 of a game ahead of Cincinnati in the NL Central.

The Reds and Brewers have met 10 times since the start of June with Milwaukee winning eight of those matchups, including four one-run wins. The MLB score predictions have Milwaukee listed at -108 odds to win the series opener. The total is set at nine juiced to the over at -120.

Milwaukee (+3000) is fifth among National League teams in the odds to win the World Series. Cincinnati (+6000) is ninth among NL squads in the championship odds.

Coming into the season, the Brewers were priced at +165 to win the NL Central title with Cincinnati well back at +5000. Those odds have moved -175 for the Brewers and +185 for the Reds.

Probable Pitching Matchups

• Monday: Graham Ashcraft (Reds); Colin Rea (Brewers)
• Tuesday: Andrew Abbott (Reds); Corbin Burnes (Brewers)
• Wednesday: Ben Lively (Reds); Freddy Peralta (Brewers)

De La Cruz Goes Deep

It has been a bit of a rough stretch for Cincinnati rookie Elly De La Cruz as he had one extra-base hit in his previous 13 games before hitting a home run in Sunday’s win as the Reds won their fifth game in a row. That will factor into the Reds vs Brewers betting preview.

Perhaps that will get De La Cruz going after he had two hits in his last 31 at-bats before leading off the bottom of the first inning with his five home of the season.

He had plenty of help as Matt McLain, TJ Friedl, Spencer Steer, Christian Encarncion-Strand and Luke Maile each had two hits as Cincinnati swept a three-game series against Arizona.

Clutch Hits Hard to Come By

Even though the Brewers continue to be the only team in the majors with an ERA under 3.00 since the end of the MLB All-Star break, according to the MLB stats, Milwaukee dropped two of the three games in the series to the Atlanta Braves.

The inability to deliver with runners in scoring position has been an issue as the Brewers were 4 for 17 with RISP in the series. Blake Perkins was the only Milwaukee batter to come up with runners in scoring position in all three games of the series.

The Brewers were 6-for-22 with runners in scoring position in the last series against the Reds, which could play a role in the Reds vs Brewers betting preview.

Who’s Hot

• Ian Gibault, Cincinnati Reds P: Gibault has allowed one earned run with 12 strikeouts in 10.2 innings in nine games in July.
• Matt McLain, Cincinnati Reds IF: McLain is batting .423 with three home runs, eight runs, and six RBIs in his last seven games.
• Joel Payamps, Milwaukee Brewers P: Payamps has not allowed a run in his last 15 appearances. He has not given up a hit in his previous five games and has struck out nine of the last 15 batters he has faced.
• Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers OF: Yelich is 11-for-29 with three doubles, two home runs, and seven RBIs over the last seven games.

Who’s Not

• Derek Law, Cincinnati Reds P: Reds has surrendered six hits and five runs in three innings over his last four outings.
• Colin Rea, Milwaukee Brewers P: Rea has given up 12 hits, three home runs, and eight runs in 9.2 innings in his last two starts.
• Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers IF: Turang is 3-for-17 in his last seven games and has one extra-base hit in his last 10 contests.
• Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds 1B: Votto is 0-for-14 with three strikeouts in his last four games.

Reds vs Brewers Injury Update

Cincinnati infielder Kevin Newman is out indefinitely with a stomach issue. The Reds aren’t expected to get starting pitchers Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo back until early August.

For Milwaukee, infielder Brian Anderson is expected to be out until early next month with pitchers Wade Miley and Brandon Woodruff also out until August.

Reds vs Brewers Betting Preview

The pitching matchup in Game 2 is the best of the series with Cincinnati rookie Andrew Abbott, who has allowed two runs or less in seven of his nine starts, going up against 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes. Burnes is 4-0 with a 1.33 ERA in four starts during July.

Seven of the 10 meetings this season, including the last four, finished under the total with just 12 runs scored in those four contests.

The total has gone under in nine of Cincinnati’s last 11 games as well as in nine of Cincinnati’s last 10 games.

Cincinnati is 15-3 in the last 18 road games.

The teams are 45-28 when listed as the favorite this season compared to a 58-58 record as the underdog.

The Reds have covered 31 of its 47 road games with Milwaukee 21-28 against the spread at home.

For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• Orioles vs Phillies Betting Odds: Surprising Baltimore Visits Philadelphia
• Taijuan Walker Stats: Underrated Consistency
• Blue Jays vs Mariners Odds Preview: Key Players, Trends, and Predictions
• White Sox vs Twins Odds: Are The Minnesota Twins Frauds?
• Diamondbacks vs Reds betting preview: A pair of surprising National League