The red hot Cincinnati Reds open a three game set with the Colorado Rockies at the Great American Ball Park tonight (7:10pm ET start time). Cincinnati carries a six game win streak into this evening’s series opener and it now sits atop the National League Central standings with a 25-19 record. The Reds, who will send right handed hurler Johnny Cueto to the hill, are listed as a -150 moneyline favorite in tonight’s game; the game total is set at eight runs.
Cincinnati capped off a four game home sweep of the Atlanta Braves yesterday with a 6-3 victory. The Reds hot streak figures to continue this evening with Cueto taking the ball. The Dominican native has been outstanding this season, posting a 5-1 record and 1.97 ERA in nine starts. Cueto, who has not made a home start since an April 28th outing against the Astros, has gone at least six innings in seven of his nine starts and allowed just three earned runs in 19 innings of work at the Great American Ball Park. The four year veteran is 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA three career starts opposite Colorado.
Also working in the Reds favor tonight is the recent play of the Rockies. Colorado earned an 8-4 road win over Miami on Wednesday night, but that victory snapped a six game skid for the fading club. The Rockies have also experienced more than their share of troubles away from home. Colorado is 7-13 on the road this season, a total influenced by the team’s inability to score runs as a visitor.
The Rockies rank sixth in the league in runs scored with a total of 206; however, they are one of the worst offensive road teams in the league. Jim Tracy’s crew, which is hitting .222 with a .285 on-base percentage away from home, is averaging 3.6 runs per game in opposing parks.
Colorado rookie Christian Friedrich will make his fourth start of the year this evening. While the 24 year old lefty was solid in his first two appearances of the season (yielding 11 hits and two earned runs in 13 innings), it appeared the Mariners had a book on him over the weekend. Seattle pounded the Illinois native for nine hits and earned runs over five innings in a 10-3 win.
Free Baseball Pick: The Reds have struggled plating runners against southpaws this season (37 in 28 games played), but there are too many other factors working in their favor tonight. Take Cincinnati -150.
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