The Milwaukee Brewers will face off against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday at Great American Ball Park, with the first pitch set for 12:40 p.m. ET.
Milwaukee (76-56 SU, 72-60 RL, and 71-53-8 O/U) is set to start right-hander Colin Rea. The 34-year-old has a strong record of 12-4, boasting a 3.61 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 25 appearances (22 starts) this season.
Cincinnati (63-70 SU, 72-61 RL, and 62-65-6 O/U) has yet to announce a starting pitcher for the first game. The club’s number two prospect, Rhett Lowder, is confirmed to start game two of Friday’s doubleheader, but the identity of the game one starter remains uncertain.
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*Article published prior to the conclusion of Thursday’s games.
Colin Rea’s Day Game Dominance
Milwaukee holds a commanding nine-game lead in the NL Central and has a record of 6-4 in its last ten games, demonstrating solid performance throughout August (15-9 record). The question lingers: can the Brewers significantly impact the postseason?
The Brewers are led by standout players such as 2B Brice Turang (4.2 WAR), C William Contreras (18 HR and 76 RBI), and SS Willy Adames (24 HR and 88 RBI). As a team, Milwaukee ranks 3rd in on-base percentage (.331), 12th in OPS (.735), and 19th in home runs (141). Their pitching staff has maintained a commendable 3.70 ERA (3rd) and a 1.24 WHIP (11th) this season.
Rea will take the mound for the Brewers in Cincinnati tomorrow. The seasoned pitcher owns a 5-1 record with a 3.31 ERA and 1.33 WHIP on the road (65.1 IP) and an impressive 8-1 with a 2.77 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in day games (68.1 IP) this season. In his last outing, he allowed four runs on eight hits, including two home runs, during a 6.2-inning win against Oakland. Historically, Rea has faced the Reds seven times, winning all five of those games with a 5.01 ERA.
Cincinnati’s Struggles in Day Games
Cincinnati’s recent performance has not been encouraging, with the team losing five of its last six games and seven of ten overall. They sit 16-18 in the second half of the season, trailing ten games in the National League Wild Card race. Is there still a chance for a resurgence in The Queen City?
The Reds are led by dynamic players like SS Elly De La Cruz (22 HR, 61 SB, and .831 OPS), C Tyler Stephenson (17 HR and .807 OPS), and LF Spencer Steer (19 HR, 83 RBI, and .761 OPS). As a team, Cincinnati ranks 23rd in OBP (.305), 18th in OPS (.704), and 12th in home runs (153). Their pitching staff holds a 4.05 ERA (16th) and a 1.25 WHIP (13th) in 2024.
The Reds are likely to turn to right-hander Nick Martinez for the opening game of the doubleheader. The 34-year-old has a record of 6-6 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across 36 appearances (ten starts) this season. In his most recent outing on August 25, he allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits over three innings against Pittsburgh. At home, Martinez has a 3-4 record with a 4.42 ERA and 1.35 WHIP (55.0 IP) this season.
Strategic Betting Insights for Brewers vs. Reds
Considering Milwaukee’s strong performance, they are favored to cover the run line in Friday’s matchup. Rea has proven to be a formidable opponent in day games, previously limiting the Reds to three runs (two earned) in a six-inning victory earlier this season. He has successfully restricted Cincinnati to three or fewer runs in three of his last four starts against them since last season. The veteran pitcher has also recorded three scoreless outings in his last six appearances.
Analyzing Milwaukee’s performance on the road, they have consistently excelled, posting a slash line of .260/.334/.402/.736. During day games, they have similarly performed well with a .262/.335/.418/.753 line. This month, Milwaukee is averaging 5.3 runs per game and has been dominant against Cincinnati, winning six of their nine matchups this season while outscoring the Reds by 14 runs in those games. Given these factors, Martinez and the Reds bullpen may find it challenging to contain the Brewers’ offense tomorrow afternoon.
