MLB · Tue, Jun 9 · 9:40 PM

Reds at Padres

O/U 7.5 · RL Reds -1.5 · Petco Park

Gary's pick

Reds ML-130

CONF 72%

Result

WCashedFinal 5-3

The read

Under the evening lights of Petco Park, the struggling Cincinnati Reds look to their electric rookie ace to salvage their series against a San Diego Padres team searching for consistency. This matchup presents a massive starting pitching chasm that makes the Reds an incredibly attractive value at -130 on the moneyline. Chase Burns has been pitching at a Cy Young-caliber level, carrying a stellar 7-1 record with a 2.05 ERA and a microscopic 0.95 WHIP. Over his last five starts, Burns has been nearly untouchable, recording a 1.84 ERA with 35 strikeouts across 29.1 innings. Conversely, Lucas Giolito is clearly still finding his footing post-surgery, struggling with a 4.86 ERA and a highly concerning 1.74 WHIP. Giolito has walked 13 batters over his last 16.2 innings and failed to get through the fourth inning in either of his last two starts.

This lack of starter length poses a massive threat to a San Diego bullpen that is severely taxed. While the Padres boast high-end relief talent, their top-tier high-leverage arms—including Mason Miller and Jason Adam—were heavily worked in yesterday's game, throwing 19 and 18 pitches respectively. If Giolito gets knocked out early, San Diego will be forced to expose their weaker middle-relief depth. Furthermore, Giolito is suffering from a catastrophic platoon split, allowing a massive .364 average and .512 OBP to left-handed hitters this season. The Reds are perfectly structured to exploit this weakness, featuring two highly productive left-handed bats in JJ Bleday, who carries a .999 OPS and 8 home runs against right-handers, and Nathaniel Lowe, who is hitting .314 with runners on. They should establish early traffic and push Giolito out of the game.

The most compelling case against Cincinnati is their current five-game losing streak, their defensive shortcomings (ranking 27th in Defensive Runs Saved with -11), and the recent loss of star shortstop Elly De La Cruz to a hamstring strain. However, the market has overadjusted to these factors, giving us an artificially cheap price on a team sending one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball to the mound. Burns is the ultimate stopper; his ability to pitch deep into games (completing 6.0+ innings in four of his last five starts) shields Cincinnati’s thin bullpen and neutralizes a Padres lineup that is already missing key bats like Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth. Back the Reds to break their skid behind their young superstar.

Injuries noted

Padres: [NEW] Miguel Andujar (DH) — Hamstring: Andujar (hamstring) isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds. (Jun 9 — 0d ago) [NEW] Xander Bogaerts (SS) — Personal: Bogaerts went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk against Washington in a loss Saturday. (Jun 9 — 0d ago) [NEW] Matt Waldron (SP) — Forearm (Right): Waldron (forearm) is scheduled to throw two innings of a bullpen session Tuesday and is on track to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso this Sunday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. (Jun 8 — 1d ago) [NEW] German Marquez (SP) — Forearm (Right): Marquez (forearm) tossed four scoreless innings for Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, allowing one hit and issuing one walk while striking out two batters. (Jun 8 — 1d ago) [NEW] Jake Cronenworth (2B) — Concussion (Not Specified): Cronenworth (concussion) has been participating in light baseball activities and is "ramping up," per MLB.com. (Jun 8 — 1d ago) [KNOWN] Ramon Laureano (LF) — Hip (Right): Laureano underwent surgery Friday to repair his torn right labrum, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. (Jun 5 — 4d ago) [KNOWN] Jeremiah Estrada (RP) — Knee (Right): Estrada (2-2) picked up the loss after giving up the eventual game-winning run in a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday. (Jun 5 — 4d ago) [KNOWN] Nick Pivetta (Starting Pitcher) — Forearm (Right): The Padres transferred Pivetta (forearm) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday. (Jun 2 — 7d ago) [KNOWN] Luis Campusano (C) — Toe (Left): Campusano (toe) has been catching bullpens and is swinging pain-free, per MLB.com. (May 31 — 9d ago) Reds: [NEW] Jose Trevino (C) — Hamstring (Left): Trevino (hamstring) will make one final rehab appearance for Triple-A Louisville before being activated Friday, MLB.com reports. (Jun 9 — 0d ago) [NEW] Emilio Pagan (RP) — Hamstring (Left): Pagan (hamstring) will be re-assessed for strength deficit on Monday, MLB.com reports. (Jun 8 — 1d ago) [NEW] Pierce Johnson (RP) — Elbow (Right): Johnson (elbow) is expected to toss a bullpen session Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports. (Jun 7 — 2d ago) [NEW] Elly De La Cruz (SS) — Hamstring (Right): De La Cruz (hamstring) had his scheduled MRI moved up three days to this coming Friday, June 12, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. (Jun 6 — 3d ago) [NEW] Hunter Greene (Starting Pitcher) — Elbow (Right): Reds manager Terry Francona told reporters Saturday that Greene (elbow) could return from the 60-day injured list prior to the All-Star break, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports. (Jun 6 — 3d ago) [KNOWN] Graham Ashcraft (RP) — Elbow (Right): Ashcraft (elbow) received a platelet-rich plasma injection Tuesday, MLB.com reports. (Jun 3 — 6d ago) [KNOWN] Ke'Bryan Hayes (3B) — Back: Hayes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies. (May 22 — 18d ago) [KNOWN] Brandon Williamson (Starting Pitcher) — Shoulder (Left): The Reds transferred Williamson (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday. (May 8 — 32d ago)

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