The NL Central-rival Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers close out their series from Milwaukee on Wednesday afternoon with the Brew Crew favored on the MLB Odds despite starting struggling pitcher Jhoulys Chacin, who has hugely regressed from 2018.
How to Bet Reds vs Brewers MLB Odds & Game Info
- When: Wednesday, 2:10 PM ET
- Where: Miller Park
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Lucas Sims/Jhoulys Chacin
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: WFAW
- MLB Odds: Milwaukee Brewers -155 (Total 10)
Why Bet on Cincinnati?
Injured Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart, who has been on the IL since June 28 with a right oblique strain, joined the club for the road series at Miller Park and took early and regular batting practice. Barnhart is expected to head out on a rehab assignment with Louisville on Thursday. The Reds have also been without their other catchers — Curt Casali and Kyle Farmer — since last week because of injuries.
One of the hottest Reds is a guy the team doesn’t even play every day: outfielder Phillip Ervin. He’s hitting .478 in the second half and .364 in the 24 games he’s played since being called up on June 15. His home run accounted for the Reds’ only run Sunday. Nick Senzel is going to get almost of all the starts in center field when healthy, and Yasiel Puig is a fixture in right field so that leaves left field as a bit of a catch-all between a few guys.
Was to be Tyler Mahle here on the mound, but he just landed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain. Right-hander Sal Romano was called up from Triple-A Louisville to take Mahle’s roster spot. It remains to be seen exactly how Romano will be deployed, seeing as the former MLB starter worked exclusively as a reliever in Louisville until the end of June, but has been starting over the last three weeks. His stuff has been excellent since returning to a starting role, as he’s pitched to a 1.59 ERA in 17 IP over his last 4 games. In 55 big league games, including 41 starts for the Reds over parts of the previous two seasons, Romano has had checkered results while going 13-19 with a 4.99 ERA.
It will be Lucas Sims (1-0, 3.72) taking Mahle’s spot in the rotation. Sims, the 25-year-old right-hander, was obtained from Atlanta for Adam Duvall July 30 of last season. He’s pitched twice on his second stint with the Reds. (2 ⅓ innings, no runs, one hit, three strikeouts.) In one start on May 28, he threw 7 1/3 innings with four earned runs in a win vs. the Pirates. He took a three-hit shutout into the eighth before giving up a grand slam.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 4.41
- Hits: 8.16
- Walks: 2.93
- Strike Outs: 8.74
Defense
- Runs: 4.12
- Hits: 7.93
- Walks: 3.29
- Strike Outs: 9.67
Why Bet on Milwaukee?
Good-looking rookie infielder Keston Hiura (quad) drew a walk as a pinch-hitter on Monday in the Brewers’ loss to the Reds. Hiura was a late scratch because of tightness in his left quad, but was able to make an appearance and drew a free pass. Hiura has hit safely in 17 of his last 20 games, batting .392 (29-for-74) with 4 HR and 14 RBI.
His replacement was (almost) the hero Monday, as Tyler Saladino hit a grand slam in the eighth inning to make it 5-4 Brewers. The lead was blown, however. Jeremy Jeffress allowed a two-run homer in the ninth inning to take a blown save and a loss. It was the third blown save in four chances for Jeffress, and his ERA increased to 3.98.
Monday marked the Brewers’ first defeat of the season when leading after 8 innings. The team is now 48-1. The Angels, Giants, Nationals and White Sox are the only teams remaining without a loss when leading after 8 innings.
Jhoulys Chacin takes the mound for Milwaukee. Chacin (3-10) took the loss Friday against the Diamondbacks, lasting just 2.1 innings and surrendering seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Chacin held it together until a messy third and final inning during which he allowed five straight hits, including a double to Ketel Marte, a triple to Eduardo Escobar and a two-run home run to Christian Walker.
He walked the last batter he faced and left the game with the Brewers trailing 7-3. The 31-year-old will look to improve upon his disappointing 5.67 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 75:38 K:BB when he faces Cincinnati. Chacin is winless over his last 11 starts, posting a 5.96 ERA in 51 1/3 innings. He is 3-4 with a 4.14 ERA in 13 career games (11 starts) against the Reds.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 4.89
- Hits: 8.56
- Walks: 3.79
- Strike Outs: 9.52
Defense
- Runs: 4.94
- Hits: 8.85
- Walks: 3.51
- Strike Outs: 9.20
Reds vs Brewers MLB Betting Trends
- Reds are 3-9 in their last 12 games vs. a right-handed starter
- Brewers are 1-5 in Chacin’s last 6 starts vs. National League Central
- Reds are 4-8 SU in their last 12 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cincinnati’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
- Brewers are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games played on a Wednesday
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Milwaukee’s last 6 games at home
Expert Final Score Prediction for Reds vs Brewers
Cincinnati Reds 5 – Milwaukee Brewers 6
