Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Preview/Prop Picks

The Cincinnati Reds are in Los Angeles this weekend for a four-game series against the mighty Dodgers. It was the Dodgers that won the series opener by a score of 9-3, and the Reds will have to play well to pick up a win in this series.

Cincinnati was not expected to be a playoff contender this season, and it has not been a good start to the year. The Reds have gone just 2-5 through the first week of the season, and they have also lost three straight games.

The Dodgers have now won three straight games, and they are starting to round into form. Los Angeles is the clear betting favorite to win the World Series this season, and they are now 4-2 on the year. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the moneyline favorites at -247 for the second game of this series. 

Cincinnati Can’t Get Any Outs

The Cincinnati Reds traded away some of their top talents this offseason, and it has left some holes on the pitching staff. Cincinnati has a 5.55 ERA through the first week of the season, and that’s going to be a problem this weekend. 

Vladimir Gutierrez is now one of the leaders in the starting rotation, and he takes the ball on Friday night. Gutierrez is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA so far this season, and he will have to pitch well to keep this game close. 

There is some thunder in this Reds lineup, and they are currently averaging one home run a game. Cincinnati struggled at the plate in the series opener, but they have enough talent to break out a bit. 

No Holes in Dodgers Lineup

The Los Angeles lineup is scary on paper, and they have been hitting the ball well to begin the season. Los Angeles is currently sporting a .271 team batting average, and they simply wear down opposing pitchers. 

Will Smith had the big blow in the win on Thursday night, and he leads the team with six RBIs on the year. Catcher Austin Barnes has belted two home runs already, and the Dodgers still have some big bats that have yet to get going.

Tony Gonsolin makes the start on Friday night, and he is not one of the best pitchers on this staff. Gonsolin struggled a bit in his first start, but he doesn’t have to be perfect to pick up a win. 

Dodgers Roll Past the Reds

The first game of this series was not competitive, and all of the games this weekend could play out in the same way. This Dodgers offense is just too explosive, and the Reds do not have the pitching staff to shut them down.

Cincinnati does have the ability to score some runs, and they are not facing a dominant starting pitcher in this game. That will help the Reds to keep this game close for longer, but at some point, the Dodgers are going to break this game wide open. 

Bet the Los Angeles Dodgers -2.5 as they win this game by at least three runs over the Cincinnati Reds.

Prop Pick

LA Dodgers (-105) OVER 5.5 Runs

The Reds are giving up 6.15 runs per game on defense, which ranks No. 28 in the league, while allowing an OPS of .837, which also ranks No. 28. Scores have gone OVER in five of Cincinnati’s last eight road games.

With Dunkel predicting an LA home victory by the score of 7-5, take the Dodgers (-105) to finish OVER their Vegas team total of 5.5 runs against the Reds.

Freddie Freeman (-290) OVER 0.5 Hits

Freeman has eight hits on the young season, which ranks No. 1 on the Dodgers and tied for 24^th in the league. He picked up a pair of hits last night against the Reds and has six hits in the last three games to boost his average from .167 to .308.

With Dunkel predicting a Dodgers win with LA going OVER their Vegas team total, take Freeman (-290) to remain hot and go OVER 0.5 hits against Cincinnati.

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