The Rockies and Diamondbacks were in tossup territory until a surprising error by Nolan Arenado and a subsequent triple changed the course of the game and my side ended up getting blow out. I’ll take a chance with a red hot entry as small road chalk tonight.
BREWERS (Fiers) @ REDS (Lorenzen)
Take: BREWERS -113 (consensus line at publication time)
The Brewers would need one of the all-time great rallies to get back into playoff contention this season. But while they might already be reduced to playing the role of spoiler the rest of the way, there’s no question this Milwaukee entry is on its best run of the season to date right now.
I don’t think it’s any coincidence that this surge has come just as catcher Jonathan Lucroy is rounding into the form he displayed for most of last season. Lucroy is the glue on this team. Ryan Braun is the past MVP and Carlos Gomez is the most exciting talent on the team. But the Brewers MVP is Lucroy and it isn’t close. Milwaukee could be a seller at the deadline, but unless they were to be offered a king’s ransom, the one guy on that roster who should be untouchable is Lucroy.
In addition to Lucroy getting back toward his groove, there has been an increase in energy since Craig Counsell assumed the managerial reigns. Let’s face it, the Brewers came into 2015 looking like the team that fell apart late in 2014 and the change in the dugout had to happen.
Speaking of change, the Reds need to make some moves themselves. And it sure looks like they’ll be doing exactly that, although the general consensus is that that the front office won’t officially wave the white flag until after the All-Star festivities taking place in Cincinnati are done. It’s rather silly as everyone knows what’s about to happen, but I guess creating a phony perception matters somehow.
Regardless of when, it’s virtually a given that Johnny Cueto is going to be dealt away and Aroldis Chapman might not be far behind. It look to me like everyone on the current roster knows the score and let’s just say that this is not the most focused team in the game right now.
The Reds have actually been a decent home team this year. But Michael Lorenzen has had some struggles and the numbers tonight point to Mike Fiers of the Brewers having the advantage. The one downer is that the Reds enjoyed a day off on Thursday while the Brewers were winning a 13 inning marathon over the Phillies.
But with the Brewers actually the hottest team in the NL over the pasty ten days and an edge on the mound with Fiers over Lorenzen, I’m of the opinion this is a good spot for the visitors. The early money showed on Milwaukee and they’re now small chalk, but at the current impost I’ll endorse the Brewers to pick up another win tonight.