The Los Angeles Dodgers look to curb a subpar start when they host the Cincinnati Reds at 9:10 p.m. ET on Thursday. Hollywood will get its first look at the championship hopefuls as Walker Buehler gets the ball against Cincinnati’s Luis Cessa, who has not allowed a run in 2.2 innings through two appearances.
Two teams trending in different ways based on offseason moves. The Dodgers added Freddie Freeman to their already potent lineup. Meanwhile Cincinnati traded off stars Sonny Gray, Eugenio Suarez and Amir Garrett to signal a rebuild.
The line opened at Dodgers -1.5 with an over/under of 8.5.
Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Preview: Roll with Buehler
Dave Roberts caught heat for not allowing Clayton Kershaw to try and finish his perfect game against Minnesota on Wednesday. Kershaw was through seven innings on only 80 pitches. Buehler will get an opportunity against a subpar offense. Dodgers’ pitching is second, forcing opponents to hit .193 and a league-worst .558 OPS. Yes, the bullpen can be trusted but let the pitchers build their Cy Young cases.
The Los Angeles offense is sixth at 5.23 runs per game and 11th with a .715 OPS this season. Austin Barnes leads the team with two home runs, and all but two, including Freddie Freeman, have an RBI this season.
Cincinnati Reds Betting Preview: Pitch with Conviction
An opener approach is an interesting way to go. Cincinnati can throw several pitchers and ask them to give their best 30 pitches or so to try and keep fresh arms in against a potent lineup. The Reds, who traded away Sonny Gray, Amir Garrett, Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez, are in full-on rebuild mode. They haven’t been strong offensively or pitching, as one may expect.
The Reds are 27th in average at 1.98, 28th in OPS at .585, 22nd in home runs at 0.87 per game, and 28th in strikeouts at 10.21 per game. Pitching-wise, they give up 5.54 runs per game (27th) and a .820 OPS, which is 28th.
Fan favorites Joey Votto, Nick Senzel and Jonathan India have struggled out of the gate, which hasn’t helped matters. But the welcoming sign of Kyle Farmer, Tyler Stephenson and Tyler Naquin has provided a beam of light.
Reds-Dodgers Betting Prediction
Los Angeles is 35-17 straight up against the Reds when playing at Dodger Stadium of late. The over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings, too. So far 74% of the money is on the Dodgers to cover 1.5 runs, and 58% think the total goes over 8.5. In Buehler’s first start, the under hit.
Buehler is a power pitcher and has an opportunity to pad an early Cy Young candidacy with a strong and deep start against the Reds. Playing in a pitcher’s park helps, too.
Whatever strikeout props are out there are intriguing, though the pitch count mishap with Kershaw is raw. But the Dodgers should be able to cover the 1.5 runs and the under 8.5 could still hit.
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