The Cincinnati Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers conclude their significant NL Central Division series on Sunday in Milwaukee. Despite trading away some key players at the Trade Deadline, the Reds remain a competitive force in the National League playoff chase. The Brewers, who have consistently led the division this season, are aiming for their second consecutive title. The pitching duel will showcase Reds’ left-hander Nick Lodolo (9-4, 3.93) against Brewers’ right-hander Colin Rea (10-3, 3.83), with the first pitch set for 2:10 pm EST.
Reds Rely on Southpaw Lodolo’s Skills
The Cincinnati Reds may be at the bottom of the NL Central Division standings, but they are only four games under .500, making them a potential threat if they catch fire. The Brewers have been the dominant team in the division, yet the Reds are just three losses behind the second-place Cardinals as of Saturday’s game. After losing 8-3 in the series opener on Friday night, the Reds faced another setback on Saturday, falling 1-0 despite a stellar seven-inning performance from Nick Martinez, who only allowed one hit. The Reds managed just three hits and struck out 13 times as a team.
In the series finale, the Reds will send southpaw Nick Lodolo to the mound. Lodolo holds a record of 9-4 across 18 starts, including eight quality outings. With an ERA of 3.93 and a WHIP of 1.14, he has allowed 88 hits in 103 innings pitched. He has notched 107 strikeouts while walking only 29 and allowing 11 home runs. Lodolo’s last start was a success, where he earned a win in an 8-2 Reds victory over the Marlins, pitching six innings with just two hits and two runs while striking out seven batters.
Key Injuries: C Luke Maile, SP Graham Ashcraft, C Austin Wynns, RP Brent Suter, RP Emilio Pagan, RF Nick Martini, 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand, SP Brandon Williamson, SS Matt McLain are all out.
Brewers Turn to Rea for Series Victory
The Milwaukee Brewers have shown resilience amid injuries and pitching changes this season, maintaining their position at the top of the division with over 50 games remaining. However, the team faces challenges with star outfielder Christian Yelich dealing with back issues that may keep him sidelined for the rest of the season. Despite these setbacks, the Brewers enter the series with a comfortable lead of over seven games. On Friday night, they celebrated an 8-3 victory over the Reds, highlighted by a three-run homer from Willy Adames. Saturday’s game featured a narrow 1-0 win, thanks to an eighth-inning home run from Rhys Hoskins and a stellar performance from starter Tobias Myers, who pitched 7.1 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts.
For the series finale, the Brewers will count on their most reliable starter this season, Colin Rea. Rea boasts a 10-3 record with an ERA of 3.83 and a WHIP of 1.18. Since stepping into the starting role, he has achieved seven quality starts. Over 122.1 innings pitched, he has permitted 108 hits, striking out 99 batters while walking 36 and allowing 16 home runs. Rea’s last outing was impressive, where he contributed to a 10-0 victory over the Braves, pitching seven innings and allowing only five hits while striking out nine batters.
Key Injuries: RP Jared Koenig, SP Joe Ross, RP Trevor Megill, SP DL Hall, C Gary Sanchez, and SP Robert Gasser are sidelined.
Betting Insights for Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers are looking to Rea to secure a win and extend their lead over the Reds. While Lodolo presents a challenging matchup, his recent inconsistency is a concern. The Reds have lost three of Lodolo’s last five starts, while the Brewers have triumphed in four of Rea’s last five outings, including a dominant showing against the Braves. This season, the Brewers have won five of the seven matchups against the Reds. Additionally, the Reds have struggled with a 20-30 record during day games, in contrast to the Brewers’ strong 32-19 performance in daytime contests.
