Reds at Dodgers Preview and Pick: The Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers will wrap up a three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. This has been a good start to the week for the visiting Reds, and the Dodgers will be looking to avoid being swept in the series finale.
Cincinnati has had an interesting start to the 2021 season, and it’s hard to get a good read on this team. The Reds just went through a brutal seven-game losing streak, but they are still 11-12 on the season, just three games out of first.
The Dodgers have gone just 1-5 in their last six games, and they are showing some chinks in the armor of late. Los Angeles still leads the NL West with a record of 15-9, but the San Francisco Giants have also gotten to that mark.
It is the Los Angeles Dodgers that are the betting favorites at -203 in the series finale.
Reds at Dodgers Preview and Pick: Reds Showing Off Power
The Cincinnati Reds are the highest-scoring team in baseball so far this season, despite not getting much attention. Cincinnati comes into Wednesday afternoon with 128 runs on the year, and they have the second-best team slugging percentage.
There just isn’t a real weak spot in the Reds everyday lineup, and there is also plenty of power throughout. Three Reds’ outfielders have combined for 19 home runs already this season, and Nick Castellanos leads the way with seven of them.
Pitching has been a problem at times for the Reds, but they will have one of their top pitchers on the mound for this game. Sonny Gray is just 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA to begin the 2021 campaign, but he has the stuff to shut down a lineup.
The Reds will need a better outing from Gray, but this team can win any game with its offense.
Reds at Dodgers Preview and Pick: Kershaw Just Keeps Pitching Well
The Los Angeles Dodgers will have Clayton Kershaw on the mound Wednesday afternoon, and he is the perfect man to stop this losing streak. Even though Kershaw is nearing the end of his stellar career he is still 3-2 with a 2.56 earned run average this season.
The bullpen has been an issue for the Dodgers, especially in the last few games. Los Angeles still has a team ERA of 3.12, but the late-inning relievers have struggled holding onto a lead of late.
Los Angeles is hitting .237 as a team, but this team is still looking for hit for more power as the season goes along. Third baseman Justin Turner leads the way with five home runs and 19 RBIs, but he is going to need some help as the season goes along.
This hasn’t been a great last six days for the Dodgers, but they can turn this thing around at any time.
Reds at Dodgers Preview and Pick: Dodgers Avoid Sweep
All of a sudden the Dodgers offense has been struggling, and facing Sonny Gray won’t help matters. Look for Los Angeles to scratch across just enough runs on Wednesday to pick up a win, but this won’t be a dominating performance.
Cincinnati has been a team that has played up to its competition all season long, and the Reds won’t shy away from the challenge of facing Kershaw. The Reds will put some pressure on the former Cy Young, but they just won’t be able to find enough offense this time around.
Winning two out of three games in Los Angeles has to be considered a victory, but the Reds will be unable to close this one out for a sweep. Bet the Los Angeles Dodgers -203 as Clayton Kershaw leads the way.
Final Score:
Dodgers 4
Reds 3
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