MLB Predictions: Are the Reds a good bet to beat the Marlins? 7/21/17
Are the Reds a good bet to beat the Marlins tonight at 7:10PM ET when the teams open a new series in Cincinnati?
The Matchup: Marlins vs. Reds, 7:10PM ET, Great American Ball Park
Miami enters play tonight with a 42-51 record and a 20-25 mark on the road. The Marlins have dropped six of their last 10 games entering play tonight.
As for their opponent, Cincinnati is 15 games under .500 at 40-55 on the season and 24-26 at home in 2017. The Reds have also struggled of late, dropping seven of their last 10 games overall.
According to oddsmakers, Cincinnati is -110 money line favorites to win tonight at home. That makes Miami a +100 money line underdog. As for the total, the number opened at 9.5 but has been bet up to 10.
The Pitching Matchup: Jose Urena (MIA) vs. Homer Bailey (CIN)
Urena took the loss in the Marlins’ 7-1 loss to the Dodgers on July 15. He allowed five runs on seven hits over just three innings of work. For the season, Urena is 7-4 and owns a 3.93 ERA.
Bailey, meanwhile, is coming off a loss as well. In a 14-4 thumping versus the Nationals on July 16, Bailey allowed eight earned runs on eight hits over just four innings. That snapped a two-game winning streak for Bailey, who is 2-3 with a 10.12 ERA over 21 1/3 innings in 2017.
Our Prediction
The Marlins are 1-5 in their last six games overall and 0-6 in their last six games after allowing five runs or more in their previous game. Miami is also 10-25 in its last 35 games in Cincinnati.
As for the Reds, they’ve won four of htier last five home games versus an opponent that owns a losing record. Despite his struggles, the team is also 23-11 in Bailey’s last 34 home starts versus a team with a losing record.
Friday MLB Prediction: Cincinnati Reds -110
