Today's Pick: CIN (-145) over ATL
The trade deadline has passed with a record number of trades being made between the 30 teams across MLB. It certainly changed the competitive landscape with the top teams dramatically improving and the teams who cashed in their players for prospects getting weaker.
We should get a lot of games down the stretch with teams in contention facing off against teams that are out of contention. These matchups should produce good opportunities to pick some winners.
The Reds play the Braves in an early start at The Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. It is an 11:40 AM CDT first pitch.
Brady Singer (8-8) starts for the Reds. Singer enters with a 4.60 ERA on the season but his 4.16 FIP suggests that he has pitched better. He is coming off a good start, three hits and one earned over 7.1IP with eight K's against Tampa in a win last week. I'm not counting on him to shut the Braves down, mostly counting on him to be better than Bryce Elder, who starts for Atlanta.
Elder (4-7) enters with a 6.29 ERA on the season. He got shelled last time out by the Rangers who put eight earned runs on him in 2.2IP. Elder has struggled with his command this season and when he is in the zone he has gotten hit hard. Since June 1st, opponents have hit .335/.401/.560 off the righty. Those are MVP numbers. That's like Aaron Judge at the plate in every at bat.
The Reds as a team have hit righties better all season. As a contender for the NL playoffs, Cincinnati added gold glove third baseman Bryan Reynolds and starter Zach Littell in a pair of deadline deals that should improve their defense and strengthen their bullpen. Littell is taking over in the rotation for veteran starter Nick Martinez who will pick up innings as a reliever.
Both bullpens are cooked after last night's game but the Reds should have their top two. The Braves still have some dangerous hitters and a pair of lefty sluggers in Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin. Singer has been real good against righties but does have trouble against left handed power. With TJ Friedl out on paternity leave, the Reds will also be without their lead off hitter.
I still like the Reds in this game. Ronald Acuna Jr. is out for the Braves and Elder has struggled mightily this season. I think the Reds get to Elder early and keep the runs coming off a depleted Braves' bullpen. If Singer can get through six, the Reds win this game.
I'm going to put a unit on the Reds at (-145). My plan for today was to play the early game. I plan on pressing my winnings on the Mets. They play the Giants who traded two of their best bullpen arms and veteran outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. If the Mets win, I'm going to press it on the Padres in the late game. They are at home against the Cardinals. St. Louis also traded off their best two bullpen arms. Three matchups of teams in contention, all playing at home against teams that are out of contention. It should be interesting.
Let's see how it goes.