In the second of a three-game series between the Cincinnati Reds (52-72) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (68-56) at the Great American Ball Park, David Holmberg (1-3, 6.57 ERA) and Brett Anderson (7-8, 3.52 ERA) get the ball. The Dodgers won the last game 5-1 and Los Angeles leads the series 1-0. The game gets underway at 7:10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Aug. 26 and will air on FSOH and SNLA.
In his most recent outing, Holmberg pitched 5.0 innings, allowing five runs, striking out two and walking one in a 6-3 loss to the Diamondbacks. Todd Frazier (.263, 68 Rs, 29 HRs, 75 RBIs, 11 SBs) played well again yesterday, going 2 for 3 with one RBI. The Dodgers were unsuccessful to the Astros 3-0 the last time Anderson pitched. He went 6.0 innings, allowing three runs and striking out five. Justin Turner (.303, 40 Rs, 15 HRs, 51 RBIs, 1 SB) went 1 for 4 yesterday with one run, one home run, and two RBIs.
Cincinnati is a +143 underdog in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is eight runs. The Reds perform poorly as an underdog with a 24-48 record and have an overall money line of -1,857. They have struggled as the underdog over their last 10 games, going 0-6. They have been a terror on the base paths, leading all of baseball with 113 steals.
Moving on to the opposing team, the Dodgers come into this game with a win percentage of .545 when playing as the favorite (60-50) and an overall money line of -1,563. During the last 10 games, they averaged 3.0 runs per game, below their 4.1 season average. The Dodgers average 3.4 walks per game, making them one of the most disciplined teams in the NL. Switching gears to Los Angeles’s pitching staff, they have the fifth-lowest ERA in the NL at 3.54. They have a WHIP of 1.20 on the year, good for fifth in the league.
In their previous five games this season, the Dodgers have a 4-1 record. This game will feature Anderson (LHP) on the mound against the Reds, who have a 12-17 record when they take on a left-handed starter. The left-handed Holmberg will take the mound against the Dodgers, who have a 10-14 record against lefty starters this season.
Predictions: SU Winner – LAD, O/U – Over
Notes
Having scored one run in their last game, the Reds are going to have to up their game if they want to win this matchup. The Dodgers have a 27-1 record in games where opponents scored that many runs or fewer.
When they are outhit, the Reds are 8-50. The Dodgers have a 13-40 record when opponents outhit them.
Cincinnati ranks in the top 10 of the league at ninth when it comes to home runs, hitting 132 this season. Los Angeles ranks in the top five at fifth with 150.
Ranking 11th, Los Angeles is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 8.37 per game. Cincinnati ranks in the top 10 at seventh with 8.59.
Ranking 16th, Cincinnati is in the bottom half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.715). Los Angeles ranks in the top five at fourth with an OPS of .751.
When the Dodgers allow at least one home run, they are 28-39. When the Reds allow one or more homers, they have a 23-56 record.
