In the second of a three-game series between the Milwaukee Brewers (54-74) and the Cincinnati Reds (52-75) at Miller Park, Matt Garza (6-14, 5.26 ERA) and Keyvius Sampson (2-2, 5.55 ERA) take the mound. The Brewers won the last game 5-0 and Milwaukee leads the series 1-0. The game starts at 7:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 29 and will air on FSOH and FSWI.
In his most recent outing, Garza pitched 4.2 innings, allowing seven runs, striking out seven and walking six in a 9-5 loss to the Nationals. Khris Davis (.238, 35 Rs, 17 HRs, 46 RBIs, 2 SBs) went 1 for 3 yesterday with one RBI. The Reds were unsuccessful to the Tigers 12-5 the last time Sampson pitched. He went 4.0 innings, giving up five runs, striking out five and walking two. Joey Votto (.306, 75 Rs, 24 HRs, 62 RBIs, 8 SBs) went 1 for 2 yesterday with one stolen base.
Milwaukee, a -135 favorite, will look to capitalize at home against Cincinnati. The Over/Under (O/U) for the matchup is set at eight runs. The Brewers are 24-26 as the favorite and have an overall money line of -2,095. They have a 19-28 record SU and are 6-6 as favorite within their division. Milwaukee has averaged 5.0 runs per game over the last 10 games, higher than its season average of 4.0. Below average play has been the norm lately for the Milwaukee pitchers. The Brewers have given up an average of 6.0 runs to opponents in their last 10 games, above their season average of 4.5 runs per game.
Across the field, the Reds have a subpar record of 24-51 when they are the underdog and are -2,157 overall with the money line. Over the last 10 games, they were winless as the underdog with a 0-6 record and 1-9 SU. Cincinnati is a terror on the base paths, with an MLB-best 116 stolen bases. Switching gears to Cincinnati’s pitching staff, they average just 8.1 hits allowed per road game, third-best in the NL.
The Brewers have mostly come out on top against the Reds in their previous 11 games this season, earning a 6-5 record. The Brewers will take on a right-hander (Sampson) in this game and have a 38-60 record against right-handed starting pitchers this season. Taking the hill against the Reds will be the right-hander Garza. They sport a 40-55 record against righties.
Predictions: SU Winner – Cin, O/U – Over
Notes
Milwaukee earned its sixth shutout of the season in its last game. Cincinnati has been shut out 12 times this season.
The Brewers managed to give up four walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Reds who are coming in with a 22-22 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
When they are outhit, the Reds are 8-53. The Brewers have a 10-57 record when opponents outhit them.
Milwaukee ranks in the bottom half of the league at 18th when it comes to home runs, hitting 117 this season. Cincinnati ranks in the top 10 at 10th with 132.
Milwaukee and Cincinnati both rank in the top 10 of the league in hits. Milwaukee sits at 10th with 8.43 hits per game and Cincinnati ranks ninth with 8.53.
Ranking 24th, Milwaukee is near the bottom of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.699). Cincinnati ranks in the bottom half at 19th with an OPS of .709.
The Reds are 23-58 when they allow at least one home run. The Brewers perform similarly when they allow one or more homers with a 31-52 record.
