MLB Predictions: Reds vs Dodgers Lines
The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night in the second game of a three-game set at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers took the opener in the series on Monday by a score of 4-3.
Cincinnati Reds (22-27) at Los Angeles Dodgers (28-24)
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, California
O/U Odds: 6.5
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Money Line: Los Angeles -163, Cincinnati +148
Pitching Matchup: RH Alfredo Simon (6-2, 2.31 ERA) at RH Zack Greinke (7-1, 2.01 ERA)
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The Dodgers will be hard-pressed to find any issues with their last two starting pitching performances. Josh Beckett threw a no-hitter on Sunday, and Hyun-Jin Ryu took a perfect game into the eighth inning against the Reds on Monday.
Todd Frazier led off the eighth with a double to break up Ryu’s perfect game bid, but the current state of the team’s offense has to be worrisome to onlookers, as they continue to struggle to score runs, even more so now that Joey Votto is out of the lineup.
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They’ll have a tough time scoring runs against Zack Greinke on Tuesday. He’s pitched his way into Cy Young consideration. His streak of allowing two runs or fewer was halted at 21 games in his last outing when he gave up three runs (two of them unearned) against the New York Mets.
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He’ll look to start that streak back up on Tuesday against a Reds team that has scored just 2.6 runs per game over their last five outings.
The Reds counter with Alfredo Simon, who has come out of nowhere to have a real strong start to the campaign. He’s actually been better on the road thus far, compiling a 5-0 record with a 1.05 ERA in five road starts.
The Dodgers will be without catcher A.J. Ellis for a couple weeks after he was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Monday. He sprained his ankle while celebrating Josh Beckett’s no-hitter on Sunday.
Given the success Simon has had this season, the number feels a little steep for those looking to back the Dodgers in this one, but the Dodgers just win so often when Greinke takes the hill that this number almost feels like a gift. It may be a steep price to fade Simon, but it’s a downright bargain for backing Greinke.
Additionally, the total may be low in this one, but both pitchers have been prone to getting involved in pitcher’s duels of late. Simon in particular has seen some low-scoring affairs when he takes to the hill. At some point, he’s going to regress, but this doesn’t look like the spot where that will happen.
The Dodgers are 16-3 in Greinke’s last 19 home starts, and 24-8 in his last 32 starts overall. The home team is 7-0 in the last seven meetings between these teams.
The under is 8-1 in Simon’s last nine starts overall, and 5-0 in his last five road starts.
The play: Los Angeles -163, Under 6.5
