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The Cincinnati Reds (67-62) play the 2nd game of a 4-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks (67-61) Friday. First pitch from Chase Field is at 9:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Reds vs. Diamondbacks odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Reds lead 3-1
The Reds lost the opener of the series 3-2 Thursday, snapping a 3-game win streak and slipping to 3-1 through the first 4 games of a 10-game road trip. Cincinnati is in 3rd place in the NL Central, trailing the first-place Milwaukee Brewers by 4 games, and a half-game out of the final NL Wild Card.
The Diamondbacks have won 5 games in a row and 10 of their last 12. They overtook the Reds for the final NL Wild Card spot on Thursday and they are in 2nd place in the NL West, although that’s still 12 games back of the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.
Reds at Diamondbacks projected starters
RHP Hunter Greene vs. RHP Brandon Pfaadt
Greene (2-5, 4.72 ERA) makes his 16th start. He has a 1.47 WHIP, 4.0 BB/9 and 12.3 K/9 through 76 1/3 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 3 IP, 9 R (8 ER), 10 H, 3 BB. 4 K in 10-3 home loss to Toronto Blue Jays Sunday
- Making 2nd start since returning from IL because of a hip injury that sidelined him from mid-June until Sunday
Pfaadt (0-6, 6.13 ERA) makes his 13th start. He has a 1.41 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 8.0 K/9 through 61 2/3 IP.
- Last start: No decision, 7 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 5 K in 4-0 road loss to San Diego Padres last Friday
- One career start vs. Reds: Loss, 6 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 6 K in 4-2 road loss on July 22
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Reds at Diamondbacks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:10 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Reds +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Diamondbacks -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Reds +1.5 (-145) | Diamondbacks -1.5 (+120)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Reds at Diamondbacks picks and predictions
Prediction
Diamondbacks 5, Reds 3
Moneyline
The Diamondbacks are red-hot right now. They have won 5 straight and 10 of their last 12 games. Pfaadt is coming off his best outing of the year and while he is winless, his ERA over his last 6 starts is 3.94.
Green was knocked around in his return from the injured list.
The Reds entered the series winning 3 straight but are 8-13 in their last 21 games.
BET DIAMONDBACKS -1.5 (+120)
Run line/Against the spread
The Reds are 82-47 ATS, the best mark in all of baseball, and they have covered the spread in 4 straight games and in 7 of their last 8. They are 68-30 ATS as underdogs.
The Diamondbacks are 30-29 ATS when favored but are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games. They have covered the spread in 14 of their last 15 wins, and because of that, going with the plus odds on the moneyline is better than the spread.
PASS.
Over/Under
The series opener on Thursday had 5 total runs. Two of the 4 games between the 2 teams have had fewer than 10 runs.
Pfaadt has not had a start with a total of 10 runs or more since there were 19 in his MLB debut, a streak of 11 starts.
Eleven of Greene’s 15 starts have stayed below 10 total runs.
BET UNDER 9.5 (-115).
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