Brewers in Cincy
Jeff Suppan and the Milwaukee Brewers will take on Johnny Cueto and the Cinncinnati Reds on Saturday and thus far, 52% of the public likes the Reds. Cincinnati is currently -128 on the money line.
The Milwaukee Brewers’ starting rotation suffered a potentially major blow their last time out, but help appears to be on the way.
The Brewers look to press on and win their third straight game as they continue a three-game set against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Cincinnati –128 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 52% of bets for this game have been placed on Cincinnati –128 (View MLB Bet Percentages). Bet this game.
Milwaukee (10-6) beat the Reds 5-2 in Friday’s series opener, but staff ace Ben Sheets left after five innings with tightness in his right triceps.
Sheets, who has been limited by a strained groin, a torn finger tendon, shoulder tendinitis and a sore chest muscle in the last two years, had gotten off to an outstanding start, going 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA.
"It’s just sore,” Sheets said, acknowledging he was a little worried. "It’s really sore. It’s kind of a crampiness in there.”
The next few days will tell whether this is just a temporary thing or something that could land him on the disabled list.
Yovani Gallardo will be added to the Brewers’ starting rotation and could possibly start Sunday’s finale after beginning the year on the 15-day DL with torn cartilage in his left knee. The 22-year-old Gallardo went 9-5 with a 3.67 ERA as a rookie last season.
On Saturday, Milwaukee manager New Yost will give the ball to Jeff Suppan (1-0, 4.67 ERA), who is coming off a rough outing.
Suppan was tagged for six runs and nine hits in four innings of Milwaukee’s 9-7 win over the New York Mets on Sunday. In his previous start on April 8 against the Reds (7-10), Suppan had a stellar outing, allowing one run and six hits in seven innings of a 3-2, 10-inning victory.
The right-hander has not had much success at Cincinnati, though, going 1-1 with a 7.49 ERA in six career starts at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds counter with rookie Johnny Cueto (1-1, 3.72), who looks to bounce back from his first career loss when he takes the ball Saturday.
After allowing three runs, six hits, striking out 18 and walking none in 13 1-3 innings over his first two starts, Cueto gave up five runs, five hits and struck out six in six innings of a 9-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday. He also issued his first walk of the season.
"Johnny got some balls up in the zone a little bit and over the heart of the plate, like he doesn’t usually do,” Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said.
The 22-year-old right-hander had a strong outing against Suppan and the Brewers last week, allowing two runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings of the 10-inning loss.
Milwaukee’s Bill Hall hit his sixth homer of the season on Friday, and hit a solo home run against Cueto last week.
Prince Fielder is hitless in 13 at-bats against the Reds this season after batting .345 with five home runs in 15 games versus them a year ago.
Cincinnati had only two hits through seven innings on Friday after getting 11 in Thursday’s 9-6 win against the Chicago Cubs to avoid a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field. The Reds have lost eight of their last 11 games.
Ken Griffey Jr. went 1-for-4 Friday, remaining four homers shy of 600 for his career. Griffey is batting .412 (14-for-34) with five home runs and two doubles lifetime versus Suppan, and was 2-for-3 against him last weekend.
Slugger Adam Dunn, who is batting only .191 with two home runs on the season, is 11-for-22 with a homer and five doubles versus Suppan in his career.