CINCINNATI vs HOUSTON
When: 12/27/2020 1:00 PM
Where:

TV: 1:00 PM
LINE: -7.5
PREDICTION: HOUSTON , CINCINNATI

Oddsmakers currently have the HOUSTON listed as -7.5 point favorites versus the CINCINNATI, while the game’s total is sitting at 46.

The image of Deshaun Watson gazing in disbelief after another costly late-game fumble against the Indianapolis Colts is sure to linger with Houston Texans fans.

The quarterback and the Texans (4-10) will attempt to rebound Sunday when they host the Cincinnati Bengals (3-10-1).

Watson had once again dragged the short-handed Texans to the brink of victory with his exceptional play against the Colts, only to be undermined by a second red-zone turnover in three weeks. Houston lost each of those two games to Indianapolis on either side of a loss at Chicago.

The juxtaposition of the results for the Texans this season against Watson and his impressive performances will resonate into an offseason during which the Texans will have multiple needs to address, including vacancies at head coach and general manager.

Watson is the one constant. No one would question his bona fides as a top signal-caller, considering he ranks second in the NFL in passing yards (4,134) and passer rating (110.6) despite attrition at the Texans’ skill positions.

“I think all of that will make him better because he’s able to adapt to the receivers that he has on the field and he can still put up the good numbers,” Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel said. “I think that when he gets a consistent crew, that’ll just make him better down the line.

“Even though he’s had good numbers, I think that he will say that the fact that we’re not winning doesn’t satisfy him. I think his choice would be to have good numbers and to have a lot of wins to go along with it.”

The two demoralizing losses to Indianapolis left the Texans assured of a losing record this season following back-to-back AFC South division titles.

The Bengals’ 27-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday qualified as impressive at face value. Cincinnati was riding a five-game overall losing streak, had dropped 11 consecutive games against its AFC North rival and was a double-digit underdog entering the primetime affair.

Cincinnati overcame those odds, doing so with a third-string quarterback (Ryan Finley) and without their leading receiver, Tyler Boyd, who was knocked from the contest in the early stages after sustaining a concussion.

The Bengals appear undaunted by the chore of traveling to Houston during the holidays to square off with the Texans. Preparedness hasn’t been an issue.

“It hasn’t been a challenge to get these guys focused at all, to be quite honest, and I think that shows on how we played the other week,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “This week there’s a lot of things to manage. It’s a short week, we’re on the road, you’ve got Christmas. But again, I’ve got a lot of faith in our guys to handle it the right way and we’ve laid out our expectations for them. And we know that they’ll be pros about it.”

Playing out the string of a 16-game schedule is a task in itself. Doing so during a pandemic-altered season can sap enthusiasm. The Bengals might still be without Boyd and quarterback Brandon Allen (knee) against the Texans, but their effort Monday provided a bit of a boost, perhaps enough to carry Cincinnati through the final two games of the schedule.

“This was something that we all needed,” Bengals running back Giovani Bernard said of beating the Steelers. “It’s something that I’m sure everybody is proud of.”

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LA CHARGERS vs CINCINNATI
When: 9/13/2020 4:05 PM
Where:

TV: 4:05 PM
LINE: 3
PREDICTION: CINCINNATI , LA CHARGERS

Oddsmakers currently have the CINCINNATI listed as 3 point favorites versus the LA CHARGERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 44.5.

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CINCINNATI vs CLEVELAND
When: 9/17/2020 8:20 PM
Where:

TV: 8:20 PM
LINE: -7.5
PREDICTION: CLEVELAND , CINCINNATI

Oddsmakers currently have the CLEVELAND listed as -7.5 point favorites versus the CINCINNATI, while the game’s total is sitting at 46.

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SAN FRANCISCO vs CINCINNATI
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 15, 2019
Where: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. 
LINE: Bengals -1.5. 
O/U: 45.5.
PREDICTION: Bengals 31, 49ers 28

Oddsmakers currently have the CINCINNATI listed as 1.5 point favorites versus the SAN FRANCISCO, while the game’s total is sitting at 45.5.

Forcing turnovers was a big problem for the San Francisco 49ers while going 4-12 last season, but one game into 2019 it appears the problem is resolved. The 49ers will try to keep the interceptions coming when they visit Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

San Francisco was last in the NFL – by a wide margin – with just two interceptions last season but recorded three in a 31-17 victory over Tampa Bay in Week 1 while totaling four turnovers, and the defense believes it can play better. “You know, we played sloppy today, but it’s the first game, we’ve got to knock out some of the wrinkles,” veteran cornerback Richard Sherman told reporters. “… We’ve gotta find a way to play a more mistake-free football game, myself included. I had a couple penalties that I shouldn’t have had. Just ticky-tack, I’ve got to put myself in better position and we’ve got to hold ourselves to a standard. It was a decent game for us, but we have to get better.” That defense will be going up against a new-look Cincinnati offense under first-year head coach Zac Taylor that stalled in the red zone in a 21-20 loss at Seattle to open the season. “We know what the errors were,” Taylor told reporters. “We missed a field goal, had a turnover and they stopped us on fourth-and-one. We feel like those were self-inflicted plays to be exact. … Those are all things we felt like we could have done a better job controlling.”

ABOUT THE 49ERS (1-0): San Francisco recorded three sacks in the opener – including one each from first-round pick Joey Bosa and trade acquisition Dee Ford – and the upgraded defensive unit is hyping up offense as well. “I mean watching (Nick) Bosa get sacks, and watching the Dee Ford strip and get fumbles, it gets the offense going,” tight end George Kittle told the team’s website. “When your defense is playing like that, and (Richard) Sherman gets a pick-six, and Akhello (Witherspoon) with the pick-six. It just gets you fired up. … When your defense makes those big plays, it just gets everyone excited. It gets the offense moving, it’s just good vibes really, it just gets you going.” Kittle’s eight catches for 54 yards led the receiving corps as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (18-of-27, 166 yards, one TD, one INT) had an uneven season debut in his return from an ACL tear in his left knee.

ABOUT THE BENGALS (0-1): Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton threw the ball 51 times and finished with a career-best 418 yards to go with two touchdowns in his first game running Taylor’s offense, and he feels good about where the offense is going. “We know what we’re capable of, and then to go out and be productive in a game, especially our first one, it’s big,” Dalton told reporters. “It’s big for confidence. What we’re going to do here is going to work. Guys were pleased with the production; obviously we weren’t pleased with the result. With all the things we were able to do, I thought guys were happy with a lot of the stuff we did. It definitely gave us confidence.” Wide receiver John Ross was Dalton’s main target in Week 1 and established career bests of 158 yards and a pair of TDs on seven catches.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Bengals waived backup QB Jeff Driskel on Wednesday.

2. San Francisco RB Tevin Coleman (high ankle sprain) was ruled out for Sunday.

3. Cincinnati WR A.J. Green (ankle) is continuing his rehab from surgery and is not expected to play in Week 2.

PREDICTION: Bengals 31, 49ers 28

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CINCINNATI vs SEATTLE
When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, September 8, 2019
Where: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS.
 LINE: Seahawks -9.5.
O/U: 44
PREDICTION: Seahawks 31, Bengals 23

Oddsmakers currently have the SEATTLE listed as -9.5 point favorites versus the CINCINNATI, while the game’s total is sitting at 44.

The Seattle Seahawks added a prime asset to their defense and the visiting Cincinnati Bengals show off a new coach when the teams square off in Sunday’s season-opening contest. Seattle recently added star defender Jadeveon Clowney in a trade from the Houston Texans while Zac Taylor has replaced Marvin Lewis (16 seasons) as coach of the Bengals.

Clowney’s presence provides Seattle’s defense with a prolific game changer who is a three-time Pro Bowler and star middle linebacker Bobby Wagner is looking to see what impact his presence has on the defense. “His motor for sure,” Wagner told reporters of what impresses him about Clowney. “His effort. The vicious hits in the backfield. The running back has the ball and before he makes a step, he’s getting him. The sacks. You watch a couple plays where he just moves a 350-pound lineman out of the way like it’s nothing. It’s just the power.” Taylor is working on changing the direction of a squad that has experienced three consecutive losing campaigns. “We’ve worked on setting the foundation and the culture for this team the last six months,” Taylor told reporters. “Now we’re relying on that to carry us through the season. We talk to players all the time – there’s going to be some great moments, there’s going to be some adversity we face – and we just need to be the same through the whole process. This will be the first test for us.”

ABOUT THE BENGALS (2018: 6-10, LAST IN AFC NORTH): Quarterback Andy Dalton has seven 3,000-yard seasons in his career but is facing criticism at age 31 on whether he is the long-term solution under the new coaching regime despite Taylor’s public praise. “He’s very level-headed,” Taylor said. “When you face adversity over the course of the season or within a game, at least you know that your quarterback is that calming influence for everybody – sometimes for the head coach too. If you look over and your quarterback is calm, it calms you down too. It’s really good to have a leader like him – someone who has the football acumen that he has.” Running back Joe Mixon is looking to build on a big season (1,168 on the ground) while seven-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Geno Atkins (10 sacks) leads the defensive unit.

ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (2018: 10-6, SECOND IN NFC WEST): Clowney’s addition late in training camp was a stunner but it displayed the urgency at improving a defense that has slipped in recent seasons and allowed 353.3 yards per game last season, ranking 16th. Quarterback Russell Wilson is already the franchise’s all-time leader with 196 career touchdowns and joined Peyton Manning as the only signal callers in NFL history to pass for 3,000 yards and 20 scores in each of their first seven seasons. Wagner had 138 tackles last season and has reached 100 in his first seven campaigns.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Bengals won the past two meetings and hold a 10-9 series edge.

2. Seattle is hoping to have LG Mike Iupati (foot) available after he missed most of training camp.

3. Cincinnati LT Cordy Glenn (concussion) remains in the protocol and his status is unclear.

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PITTSBURGH vs CINCINNATI
GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (26-26) at Cincinnati Reds (25-29)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 6:40 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
LINE:
PREDICTION: Pirates 7, Reds 3

Oddsmakers currently have the CINCINNATI listed as point favorites versus the PITTSBURGH, while the game’s total is sitting at .

The Pittsburgh Pirates appeared ready to put a 1-5 homestand behind them but quickly resorted to their recent losing ways. Pittsburgh attempts to prevent another skid when it visits the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday for the third contest of their four-game series.

The Pirates halted a three-game slide by winning the opener of Monday’s doubleheader – their fourth straight road victory – but were trounced 8-1 in the nightcap. Bryan Reynolds and Josh Bell, who respectively are riding six- and seven-game hitting streaks, recorded two hits apiece in the setback after the former drove in two runs and the latter belted a solo homer in Pittsburgh’s 8-5 triumph in the first game. Jose Iglesias highlighted a six-run first inning for Cincinnati in Monday’s second contest with his first career grand slam while Derek Dietrich and Yasiel Puig went back-to-back in the seventh as the Reds continued their trend of alternating wins and losses that has been in effect over their last 11 games. Puig has belted three homers in his last five contests and registered four two-hit performances in his last seven games.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jordan Lyles (5-1, 2.81 ERA) vs. Reds RH Lucas Sims (2018: 0-0, 7.47)

Lyles won his third consecutive start on Thursday despite yielding a season-high six runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings against Colorado. The 28-year-old native of South Carolina had given up one run in each of his previous three turns and more than two just once in eight outings prior to facing the Rockies. Lyles is 4-1 with a 4.12 ERA in 15 career games (eight starts) versus Cincinnati, including a no-decision in his season debut on April 4 in which he scattered three hits and three walks over five scoreless frames.

Sims is expected to be brought up from Triple-A Louisville to make his 11th major-league start and first since 2017 with Atlanta. The 25-year-old native of Georgia, who was a first-round pick of the Braves in the 2012 draft, was acquired in July as part of a package for Adam Duvall and allowed four runs over 5 1/3 innings in three relief appearances for the Reds. Sims has made nine starts for Louisville this year, going 3-0 with a 4.06 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds 1B Joey Votto is tied with Johnny Bench for fourth place on the franchise list with 381 doubles and even with Brandon Phillips for ninth in team history with 1,774 hits.

2. The Pirates purchased the contract of Alex McRae and recalled fellow RHPs Richard Rodriguez and Mitch Keller, who suffered the loss in his major-league debut on Monday, from Indianapolis and assigned RHPs Dovydas Neverauskas and Montana DuRapau to the Triple-A affiliate.

3. Cincinnati acquired RHP Tristan Archer from Milwaukee for cash and assigned him to Louisville while Pittsburgh obtained RHP Yefry Ramirez from Baltimore for a player to be named or cash and assigned him to Indianapolis.

PREDICTION: Pirates 7, Reds 3

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PITTSBURGH vs CINCINNATI
GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (25-25) at Cincinnati Reds (24-28)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 27 – 1:10 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
LINE: -215
PREDICTION: Reds 4, Pirates 3

Oddsmakers currently have the CINCINNATI listed as -215 point favorites versus the PITTSBURGH, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.

The Pittsburgh Pirates were on the fast track toward making some headway in the ultra-competitive National League Central before surrendering 48 runs to lose five of their last six games. The visiting Pirates aim to get back on track Monday when they play a doubleheader against the cellar-dwelling Cincinnati Reds, who have won nine of their last 15.

Adam Frazier homered and recorded his second multi-hit performance of the series in Sunday’s 11-6 setback to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 27-year-old also had a pair of two-hit efforts versus Cincinnati this season, highlighted by his solo homer in Pittsburgh’s 7-5 win on April 7. Nick Senzel was still in Triple-A during the first two series between the division rivals, although the 23-year-old enters this set riding high after recording career highs in hits (three) and runs scored (four) in the Reds’ 10-2 romp over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. Joey Votto posted multi-hit performances in all three games in the series versus the Cubs and is 9-for-22 during his five-game hitting streak.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Nick Kingham (1-1, 8.76 ERA) vs. Reds RH Luis Castillo (5-1, 2.38)

Kingham owns an 0-1 mark in his last two trips to the mound despite surrendering 13 runs and 19 hits, including six and nine, respectively, on Wednesday in a no-decision versus Colorado. The 27-year-old struck out two in two scoreless innings to pick up the win in a 2-0 victory against Cincinnati on April 4 before allowing two runs in two frames of a no-decision versus the Reds. Tucker Barnhart is 3-for-3 in a small sample size against Kingham, although the hurler has fared better against Eugenio Suarez (1-for-7) and Jose Peraza (1-for-7).

Castillo has enjoyed a stellar start to 2019 before authoring a dud on Wednesday, when he allowed four runs on five hits — including two homers — in a season-low 2 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old pitched well in his lone encounter with Pittsburgh this season, permitting one run on two hits in 5 2/3 innings of a no-decision on March 28. Castillo sports a 1-3 mark with a 3.58 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in six career starts versus the Pirates.

WALK-OFFS

1. Suarez is 8-for-17 with a homer, six RBIs and three runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.

2. Pittsburgh 1B Josh Bell is 14-for-35 with four homers, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored in his last nine contests

3. Monday’s doubleheader came as a result of the March 30 game being postponed due to rain.

PREDICTION: Reds 4, Pirates 3

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CINCINNATI vs MILWAUKEE
GAME: Cincinnati Reds (22-26) at Milwaukee Brewers (28-22)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 22 – 1:10 PM EST
WHERE: Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
LINE: 110
PREDICTION: Brewers 3, Reds 2

Oddsmakers currently have the MILWAUKEE listed as 110 point favorites versus the CINCINNATI, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

The Milwaukee Brewers host the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday with both clubs’ right fielders questionable to play. Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich, the reigning National League MVP, missed Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to Cincinnati that snapped the Brewers’ season-high six-game home winning streak with back spasms while Cincinnati’s Yasiel Puig sat out because of a shoulder injury.

Yelich (.325 batting average, 19 home runs, 41 RBIs) missed five games and parts of two others after sustaining a lower back injury April 28. Puig did not play Tuesday after injuring his right shoulder making a catch in foul territory during Sunday’s 8-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, telling reporters: “I hope I can play Wednesday or the first game in Chicago (on Friday). I’m going to throw (Tuesday) and see how it feels.” The Reds boast the lowest ERA in the NL at 3.34 after recording their seventh shutout of the season – the most in baseball. Milwaukee’s Zach Davies and Cincinnati’s Luis Castillo square off Wednesday in a matchup of right-handers with the second- and fourth-best ERAs in baseball.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Luis Castillo (5-1, 1.90 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Zach Davies (5-0, 1.54)

Castillo allowed two runs, two hits and one walk with six strikeouts across 5 1/3 innings of a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs last Thursday. The 26-year-old Dominican has yielded two or fewer runs in nine of his 10 starts and has 76 strikeouts along with 34 hits allowed over 61 2/3 innings this season. Castillo’s only loss was a 1-0 decision to Milwaukee on April 3, when he allowed one run, one hit and four walks while striking out nine in seven innings – dropping him to 2-2 with a 2.70 ERA in five career starts against the Brewers.

Davies permitted three runs (one earned), four hits and one walk while striking out five over six innings of an 11-3 victory at Philadelphia on Thursday. The 26-year-old Arizona native, who made only 13 starts in 2018 because of shoulder and back injuries, hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in an outing this season. Cincinnati’s Joey Votto is 10-for-25 with a home run and four walks versus Davies, who is 3-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 11 turns against the Reds.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cincinnati’s Phillip Ervin went 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored Tuesday while replacing Puig in right field, and is 2-for-4 in two games since being recalled from Triple-A Louisville.

2. Milwaukee 2B Keston Hiura went 2-for-4 on Tuesday and is 8-for-28 with four two-hit games in his first seven major league contests.

3. Votto is batting .342 with 18 home runs, 53 RBIs and 65 walks in 80 games at Miller Park after going 1-for-4 on Tuesday, raising his average to .209 this season.

PREDICTION: Brewers 3, Reds 2

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CINCINNATI vs MILWAUKEE
GAME: Cincinnati Reds (21-26) at Milwaukee Brewers (28-21)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 21 – 7:40 PM EST
WHERE: Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

TV: 7:40 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
LINE: -135
PREDICTION: Brewers 3, Reds 1

Oddsmakers currently have the MILWAUKEE listed as -135 point favorites versus the CINCINNATI, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.

The Milwaukee Brewers finished out a tough road trip with a victory on Sunday but had to work overtime and are looking forward to going home, where they own a 16-8 record. The Brewers kick off a five-game homestand when they host the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a two-game set on Tuesday.

Milwaukee took on playoff hopefuls Chicago, Philadelphia and Atlanta on the road trip and went into extra innings three times, finally pulling out a victory in extra frames when Ben Gamel led off the 10th with a home run against the Braves on Sunday. “To finish off a long, tough road trip with a win and kind of hold serve on the road, so to speak – 5-5 against three teams above .500 and a couple teams that are leading their division – that’s a good place to be,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters. The Reds, who dropped two of three at home to the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend and sit in last place in the National League Central, lost three straight one-run games at home to Milwaukee in the first week of the season. Cincinnati right-hander Sonny Gray will be looking for his first win on Tuesday while Brewers lefty Gio Gonzalez hopes to continue a solid stretch.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Sonny Gray (0-4, 4.30 ERA) vs. Brewers LH Gio Gonzalez (2-0, 1.69)

Gray failed to complete six innings in any of his last five starts and was reached for three runs on five hits – two homers – in five innings without factoring in the decision against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. The Vanderbilt product struck out seven without walking a batter against the Cubs after issuing five walks in 4 1/3 frames at Oakland in his previous turn. Gray spent the first six seasons of his career in the American League and is making his first career start at Milwaukee.

Gonzalez is having similar problems going deep into games but allowed two or fewer runs in each of his four starts since signing with the team in April. The Florida native has yet to complete six innings but held the Cubs and Phillies to a total of one run over 11 frames in his last two turns. Gonzalez went 2-1 in three starts against Cincinnati last season, including six scoreless innings on Sep. 19 after he was traded from Washington to Milwaukee.

WALK-OFFS

1. Brewers 3B Travis Shaw (wrist) is expected to begin a rehab assignment this week.

2. Cincinnati RF Yasiel Puig (shoulder) left Sunday’s game and is day-to-day.

3. Milwaukee rookie 2B Keston Hiura hit his first major league home run on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Brewers 3, Reds 1

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LA DODGERS vs CINCINNATI
GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (29-16) at Cincinnati Reds (20-24)
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 17 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
LINE: 120
PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Reds 3

Oddsmakers currently have the CINCINNATI listed as 120 point favorites versus the LA DODGERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.

The Los Angeles Dodgers typically have been synonymous with quality starting pitching through their franchise’s history, and this year’s club seems primed to add to that reputation with its recent efforts. The Dodgers’ rotation should have a chance to prove themselves yet again on Friday, when the team begins a three-game series against the host Cincinnati Reds and their middling offense.

Los Angeles is entering this series on the heels of a 7-2 homestand and won for the 14th time in 19 overall contests on Wednesday as it completed a two-game sweep of San Diego. The Dodgers’ starting pitchers have been on point throughout that latter stretch – going 10-1 with a 2.30 ERA and 122 strikeouts versus 17 walks across 121 1/3 innings, playing a key role in helping the club shut out the opposition four times in its last eight contests. Cincinnati also is riding high after downing the Chicago Cubs 4-2 in Thursday’s rubber match between the National League Central rivals, giving the team its second straight series victory. The Reds did not fare very well when they met the Dodgers in mid-April, however, averaging two runs while getting swept in Los Angeles.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Rich Hill (0-1, 4.20 ERA) vs. Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (2-1, 4.17)

Hill suffered his first loss of 2019 against Washington on April 9, giving up three runs after facing only four batters before coasting over his final 4 2/3 innings. His scheduled start was moved back a day in order to face the Reds’ predominantly left-handed lineup, as southpaws are batting only .154 against the 39-year-old through three turns. Eugenio Suarez is 2-for-3 with a homer versus Hill, who permitted three runs – two earned – over 5 2/3 frames in a loss to the Reds last season.

DeSclafani is unbeaten over his last six starts, although he has settled for four no-decisions in that span after yielding four runs and eight hits in four innings at San Francisco on Saturday. The native of New Jersey has done his best work against right-handed hitters this season, holding them to a .174 average. Left-handed batters Joc Pederson (4-for-9, two homers, three RBIs) and Corey Seager (2-for-4) have enjoyed facing DeSclafani, who is 1-4 with a 4.11 ERA in five career starts versus Los Angeles.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers’ winning percentage at Great American Ball Park (.600) is the second-best mark of any NL opponent.

2. Suarez went 5-for-8 with a homer, a double and five RBIs over the final two games against the Cubs and has recorded multiple hits in six of his last seven contests.

3. Los Angeles OF Cody Bellinger leads the majors with a .401 batting average and is hitting .438 with runners in scoring position.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Reds 3

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