Reds (58-44) vs Dodgers (53-47)
The Cincinnati Reds are 7-3 in their last 10 games but they have made up zero ground in their division, the very challenging National League Central.
Thursday July 25
Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles, CA
10:10PM
Probable Starters:
CIN: Mat Latos (R)
LAD: Zach Greinke (R)
Moneyline: Los Angeles -125, Cincinnati +115
O/U: 7
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Cincinnati
They have started their West Coast run well taking 3 of 4 in San Francisco but now have to tangle with the National League`s hottest team – Los Angeles. It is nice to see the bats come alive on the left coast as the Reds scored 11, 9 and 8 runs in victories against the Giants.
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The middle of their lineup did the damage last night with 1B Joey Votto, 2B Brandon Phillips and OF Jay Bruce all chipping in 2 hits and driving in 5. It is a very good sign. <
After a very good start Mat Latos has cooled lately. The Red are 5-5 in his last 10 starts but he has only pitched 7 innings a couple of times during that span and his ERA has jumped half a run. Latos has not made a start against the Dodgers this season and has a losing career record of 2-6 against L.A.
However, I think a lot of that may be from his days with the Padres because his ERA is a very sharp 2.48. He has never won a game at Dodger stadium – 0-5 for his career. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Los Angeles
Los Angeles continued their run of good play by taking the final game of their set against the Blue Jays. However, the game went into extra innings and now they have to travel all the way cross country to face the Reds who have been only up the coast in San Francisco. I know there is a lot of evidence for teams travelling far being at a disadvantage in the NFL but I am not sure baseball is the same but it has to have some effect.
Either way it doesn`t change the fact that the Dodgers are red hot. OF Yasiel Puig went deep last night and they need him to get reignited now that OF Matt Kemp is back on the disabled list.
The Dodgers have been on fire and starter Zach Greinke has been at the heart of their surge. Over his last 3 starts he has given up just a single run over 22 innings and the Dodgers have won his last 6 starts with him taking the decision in the first 5. L.A. is finally getting value for the big contract they gave him in the offseason but he is going to have to continue earning it on Thursday night.
This is a big series and the exact kind of game they need another quality start from one of their big guns.
With the travel and the Reds playing really well too this just seems like a good spot to fade the Dodgers. Sure they could get a gem from Greinke that would paper over any fatigue but the same could be said for Latos.
I just think the Reds will be a little fresher and sharper and the Dodgers are going to win everyone even though it has looked that way over the past month.
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Cincinnati 7 – Los Angeles 2
