It looks to be a very good pitching matchup Monday night from Atlanta when the Cincinnati Reds and Braves open a series, with the home side as a solid favorite on the MLB odds behind NL Cy Young contender Reynaldo Lopez.
Cincinnati at Atlanta: 2024 MLB Expert Analysis
| MLB Picks: Braves -155, Reds +140 (total 8) Score Prediction: Braves 4, Reds 3 |
Cincinnati Reds Moneyline +128
Last Game Review
Two of Cincinnati’s regulars didn’t start Sunday’s series finale at the Nationals in catcher Tyler Stephenson and rookie outfielder Rece Hinds.
Stephenson went 1-for-6 with a solo home run and two walks while starting behind the plate in the first two games of the series.
After opening his big-league career earlier in July by going 11-for-22 with eight extra-base hits (five home runs, two doubles and one triple) to go with two stolen bases in his first six games, Hinds has cooled down.
He went 0-for-4 in the Reds’ final contest before the All-Star break, and opened the second half by going 1-for-8 with three strikeouts in the Reds’ first two games in Washington.
Hunter Greene, on the Mound
It’s fire-balling righty Hunter Greene (6-4) scheduled on the hill for the Reds, and he was part of the NL All-Star team – allowing two runs in an inning to take the loss for the National League.
After entering the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with the score tied at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Greene retired the first two batters he faced with fly outs by Riley Greene and Corey Seager.
But then Baltimore’s Anthony Santander roped a single at nearly 100 mph to right field before Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran crushed a 2-home-run, giving the American League a 5-3 lead that would stand.
Greene threw 18 pitches, 15 of them for strikes. Taken No. 2 overall by the Reds in the 2017 MLB Draft, Greene became the highest-drafted player to make an All-Star Game with the Reds since Ken Griffey Jr. (No. 1) was the club’s representative in 2007.
Hunter savored the opportunity he gained when he replaced injured Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow on the NL roster.
Greene’s last start that counted was July 11 vs. Colorado. He got to win, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over six innings against the Rockies.
He struck out 10. It was the fifth time in his last six outings that Greene allowed two or fewer runs, a feat he’s now accomplished 13 times in 19 starts this season.
Greene has a 3.34 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 126 strikeouts over 110.1 innings. He has allowed just one run through his first 13 innings in July.
Hunter averages 97.7 mph with his fastball this year. That is the second-highest average among pitchers who have thrown at least 750 fastballs, trailing only the Angels’ José Soriano (98.1 mph).
The Reds average 3.63 runs per game in which Greene starts, tied for fourth-lowest among all qualified NL starters. Greene is 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA in 11 career innings vs. Atlanta.
^Atlanta Braves Moneyline -159
Last Game Review
The Braves rested catcher Sean Murphy and outfielder Adam Duvall for Sunday’s series finale vs. St. Louis, but both should be in there Monday – well, maybe not Murphy because he’s in a 3-for-23 slump.
Duvall went 0-for-8 with a strikeout and a run during Saturday’s doubleheader, and had started 20 games in a row before Sunday.
Former NL Rookie of the Year and outfielder Michael Harris remains on the injured list. He strained his left hamstring during a June 14 game against the Rays.
An MRI exam showed he suffered a Grade 2 strain. Harris is not expected back this week.
In addition, excellent lefty starting pitcher Max Fried landed on the IL Sunday. Fried, who threw a scoreless inning for the National League team in the All-Star Game, is 7-5 with a 3.08 ERA in 108 innings this season, with 95 strikeouts and 34 walks issued.
Reynaldo Lopez, on the Mound
It’s righty Lopez on the hill Monday – he pitched a third of an inning in last week’s All-Star Game. Lopez (7-3) last took the mound in a game that counted on July 13 at San Diego and took the loss, giving up three runs on 11 hits over six innings. He struck out two without walking a batter.
Lopez didn’t give up a lot of hard contact, as nine of the 11 hits were singles and the other two were well-placed doubles, but it was still a season high in hits allowed for Lopez.
It was his first loss since May 25, snapping a seven-start stretch in which he’d gone 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 46:16 K:BB through 38.1 innings.
Fatigue could be creeping in for the converted reliever, as his 95.2 innings on the year are already his highest total since 2019.
Lopez posted a 4.64 ERA over the 65 starts he made for the White Sox from 2018-19. He started to transition to a relief role during the 2021 season, one in which he spent significant time at the Triple-A level.
His most successful career stretch came when he produced a 3.02 ERA over 129 combined appearances with the White Sox, Angels and Guardians from 2022-23. Lopez credits his wife for his starting success this year.
Lopez is 2-1 with a 1.00 ERA in nine career innings (one start, three relief appearances) vs. Cincinnati.
^Betting Reds at Braves MLB Odds
When: Monday, 7:20 PM ET
Where: Truist Park
Pitchers (away/home): Hunter Greene/Reynaldo Lopez
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/game day audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
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