Ragtag Reds, Braves open set at Turner Field
Last-place Cincinnati has won seven of its past 11 contests. Manager Bryan Price merely hopes that leaving Great American Ball Park doesn’t cause old habits to resurface.
The Reds open a nine-game road trip tonight, with a 7:10 p.m. ET first pitch in Atlanta. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv prefer the host team here. Cincy enters as a -110 underdog, while the over/under run total rests at 8.5.
Both squads have rotation questions galore. In a few hours, Price turns to rookie Daniel Wright for only the second time. For all intents and purposes, the righty assumed Alfredo Simon’s spot on May 24. He yielded seven hits and three earned runs to the Dodgers in that affair. With phenoms Cody Reed and Robert Stephenson still honing their skills at Class AAA Louisville, it’s imperative for Wright to provide quality innings in the interim.
On the other side, Brian Snitker deploys the Braves’ No. 2 prospect. After posting dominant numbers for Triple-A Gwinnett, though, Aaron Blair (0-4, 7.13 ERA) has ventured beyond the fifth frame just twice in eight MLB assignments. Most recently, he needed 86 pitches to record 13 outs at San Diego.
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Atlanta performed reasonably well in two of three weekend affairs vs. the Cubs, so we’ll (begrudgingly) take the worst club in the majors to prevail at home. The Reds simply must elevate their play away from the Queen City. Until that happens, they don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt against any foe.
MONDAY MLB FREE PICK: REDS/BRAVES OVER 8.5 RUNS
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