The Reds welcome the Diamondbacks to Cincinnati tonight for game one of a four game set at the Great American Ball Park. Start time in this evening’s Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Cincinnati Reds series opener, which features starters Wade Miley and Bronson Arroyo, is set for 7:10pm ET. MLB Monday Odds have the hosting Reds listed as a -133 moneyline favorite ($133 to win $100) while the Diamondbacks are drawing +123 odds in a road dog role. Tonight’s game total is set at 8.5 runs; the Over is favored at -120 odds.
Cincinnati opened the second half in exactly the same fashion it closed out the season’s first half, by winning three straight games. The Reds hosted their hated division rival St. Louis over the weekend and they defeated the Cardinals 5-3, 3-2, and 4-2 to overtake the Pirates in the NL Central.
Cincinnati, now 50-38 overall, owns a one game lead over Pittsburgh and a 4.5 game lead over the Cardinals in the division standings.
The Diamondbacks went into the All-Star break within striking distance of the NL West leading Giants, but the team’s outlook is decidedly different following its weekend series against the Cubs. Arizona dropped three in a row to Chicago after scoring a grand total of three runs in three games. Making matters worse for Kirk Gibson’s crew was the Giants weekend sweep of the Astros.
The Diamondbacks, a 19-25 road team, sit 6.5 games back of San Francisco and five games behind the second place Dodgers as a result.
Twenty-five year old lefty Wade Miley, who has been the D-backs most consistent mound presence this season, will look to stop the bleeding tonight as he gets the call from Gibson. Miley posted a 9-5 record and 3.04 ERA in 14 first half starts (17 appearances), but he did go into the break on a low note. Miley yielded 16 hits and 12 earned runs in his final two pre-All-Star Game starts (10 1/3 innings pitched).
Countering Miley for the Reds this evening is veteran right hander Bronson Arroyo. The well-traveled Arroyo performed well heading into the break, giving up just 13 hits and five earned runs in his three most recent appearances (22 2/3 innings). The Florida native was near perfect in his last outing, holding the punch less Padres to three hits and no earned runs while striking out eight (one walk) in a complete game performance.
Shockingly, Arroyo has earned just one decision in seven starts at the Great American Ball Park this season; however, the Reds are 5-2 in those games, winning by an average of 1.6 runs per contest.
MLB Monday Betting Trend: The Reds are 6-1 when Arroyo starts as a home favorite in the month of July with a moneyline spread between 120 and 140 (Under 6-1 in those games).
MLB Monday Odds: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Cincinnati Reds
Arizona Diamondbacks +1.5 (-175), Over 8.5 (-120), +123 (Moneyline)
Cincinnati Reds -1.5 (+155), Under 8.5 (+100), -133 (Moneyline)
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Monday at Pregame.com (Sports Betting Picks- 07/16/2012)
Join host Johnny Detroit to hear about the biggest sports betting picks and best bets from the famous handicappers available for sale at Pregame.com for NBA and College Basketball action on Monday, July 16, 2012.