Cincinnati (45-35) vs Texas (47-33)
The Cincinnati Reds have a nice record and a solid lead on that second Wild Card spot but they are slipping in the National League Central. They used to be neck and neck with Pittsburgh but the Pirates have raced ahead of late, zooming to the top of the league standings.
Saturday June 29
Ballpark at Arlington – Arlington, TX
7:15PM
Probable Starters:
CIN: Mike Leake (R)
TEX: Nick Tepesch (R)
Moneyline: Texas -112, Cincinnati +102
O/U: 10
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Cincinnati
The Reds are on a really tough road trip right now having to face 3 straight first place clubs in Arizona, Oakland and now Texas. Before they went on this journey they had a winning record on the road but that has now dipped below .500 as they have struggled winning once in 6 games.
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Today is as good as any to get back to winning.
Starter Mike Leake is the Rodney Dangerfield of the Reds rotation, no matter what he does he gets no respect. What he has been doing is pitching great and winning ball games though, in fact he has been pitching very well even when the team loses which is what happened last time out against – 8 IP, 4 hits 2ER in a loss to Arizona.
Leake has never faced the Texas Rangers and pitching in Texas in the summer can tire pitchers out so this may not be a good spot for him.
However, Leake has been even sharper on the road this season with a 5-1 record and an ERA of justy 2.31.
Texas
Texas shut out the Reds in the series opener Friday night extending their scoreless pitching streak to 20 innings. The Rangers are the the hottest team in the Majors right now and are looking to do to the Reds what they did to their division rivals St. Louis last weekend – sweep them. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
It is amazing that they have been winning with dominant pitching of late given their injury situation and reputation, especially at home, of being a tremendous offensive clueb. This team has been a tough one to figure out all season long which has probably cost bettors along the way even thought they have a great record.
Who is Nick Tepesch? Well it might surprise you to know that he has been up with the big club all season even though they probably would not be using him like they have without all the injuries they have incurred to the rotation this season. Unfortunately for Tepesch and the Rangers his first start was his best and longest of the year.
Last weekend he held the Cardinals to just 1 ER over 5 innings as part of the Rangers sweep. That was on the road and he won’t have the luxury of pitching to fellow pitchers this weekend. The Reds lineup is dangerous, especially from the left side.
I suppose it is another sign of disrespect that Leake and the Reds are not even favourites with this guy Tespech on the mound. I am not saying he is going to pitch great but I think the Reds win.
I love that Cincinnati lineup and against an inexperienced and struggling righty it can be extra deadly.
The over is looking like a nice play too, though maybe not as much value there is Leake performs to seasonal expectations.
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Cincinnati 8 – Texas 5
