- When: Wednesday, July 24th at 6:05 PM ET
- Who: Cincinnati Reds vs Atlanta Braves
- Starting Pitchers: Nick Martinez and Chris Sale
- Where: Truist Field in Atlanta, GA
After breaking a four-game losing streak on Monday night, the Cincinnati Reds (48-53) aim for consecutive wins against the Atlanta Braves (54-45) on Wednesday night.
However, the Reds face a formidable challenge, as the Braves will send veteran left-hander and 2024 National League All-Star Chris Sale to the mound.
Before continuing, please check out our MLB Betting Guide, which will help you prepare for any MLB props you may be interested in.
Game Preview
The Reds rank 14th in the majors in runs scored but have struggled with a .239 team batting average, placing them 27th. They are 22nd in on-base percentage and 17th in slugging.
| Moneyline |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds | +149 | +150 | +155 |
| Atlanta Braves | -163 | -165 | -170 |
Spencer Steer has been a standout player for the Reds, hitting .239 with a .331 on-base percentage, 15 home runs, 61 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, and 51 runs scored.
Jeiomer Candelario has also contributed, batting .233 with 16 home runs and 45 RBIs. Elly De La Cruz has been a force on the base paths, batting .255 with a .347 on-base percentage, 17 home runs, 44 RBIs, 48 stolen bases, and 65 runs scored.
Jonathan India leads the team with a .275 batting average and a .379 on-base percentage.
Since the All-Star break, Austin Slater has been driving in runs, though he's hitting just .167 with three RBIs and a run scored. Since the break, Jake Fraley has been hot, batting .400 with two RBIs.
May we interest you in another Elly De La Cruz fun fact?
Last night, he hit his 80th career XBH. Through 198 MLB games, he has 80 XBH, 83 BB and 84 SB.
Elly becomes the only player since 1900 with 80+ XBH, 80+ BB and 80+ SB over his first 200 games. pic.twitter.com/IBU7aMcSvZ
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 23, 2024
Elly De La Cruz has continued to contribute, hitting .250 with a .357 on-base percentage, along with a stolen base and a run scored. Overall, the Reds have struggled since the break, hitting just .190 with three home runs and 11 runs scored.
Current Reds players have limited experience against Chris Sale, totaling just 23 career at-bats. This experience hasn't been positive, as they have a collective .130 batting average without driving in a run.
Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson are both 1-for-2 against Sale with a double, while Austin Wynns is 1-for-5.
The Braves rank 20th in the majors in runs scored, 16th in batting average, 24th in on-base percentage, and 10th in slugging.
Ozzie Albies has been a key player for the team, hitting .258 with eight home runs and 46 RBIs. Unfortunately, he is out of the lineup due to an injury.
However, the Braves still have strong hitters. Marcell Ozuna is batting .308 with a .383 on-base percentage, 28 home runs, and 79 RBIs, and has scored 60 times.
MARCELL OZUNA IS THE FIRST PLAYER IN ATLANTA BRAVES HISTORY WITH 25+ HOME RUNS AND 75+ RBI BEFORE THE ALL-STAR BREAK‼️🐐 pic.twitter.com/iRe7yer0nc
— Kevin Keneely (@KevinKeneely1) July 13, 2024
Matt Olson is hitting .222 with a .300 on-base percentage, 13 home runs, 44 RBIs, and 41 runs scored. Austin Riley has also been a solid contributor, batting .258 with 13 home runs, 40 RBIs, and 49 runs scored.
Since the All-Star break, Eddie Rosario has been performing well, hitting .364 with a .417 on-base percentage, two home runs, three RBIs, and two runs scored.
Marcell Ozuna continues to be hot, batting .455 with two home runs, two RBIs, and two runs scored since the break.
Travis d'Arnaud is also in good form, hitting .571 with a .625 on-base percentage and one run scored, although he hasn't driven in any runs.
Chris Sale has been dominant this season, leading the majors in wins and ranking tied for fifth in ERA, tied for fifth in strikeouts, and fifth in WHIP. He has a 5-1 record in his last six starts and hasn't allowed more than two runs in any game.
In the one loss, he gave up a solo home run in a 1-0 game, which was a unique situation following a doubleheader and a travel day to face the White Sox. Additionally, the Reds have struggled offensively since the All-Star break.
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Total Runs
At Truist Park, the trend leans heavily towards under, with two unders for every over that hits.
The Braves have a 32-16-2 record for the under at home during the 2024 season, and today, they have their ace, Chris Sale, on the mound. While the total is set at 7.5, I strongly favor the under here.
Chris Sale has revitalized his career this season after dealing with injuries during his time in Boston.
He's been successful by staying healthy and showcasing what might be the best slider in baseball right now, earning a perfect 100 score in run value.
Sale's matchup against the Reds looks favorable. The Reds have struggled against sliders from left-handed pitchers, batting just .150 on the year compared to a league average of .214. Cincinnati has been even worse against this pitch in July, hitting just .125.
At age 35, Chris Sale is having his best season since his 20s. 🤔
Outside of health, what's been working for him with the @Braves this year? 🪓
A thread 🧵
— Adam Naliwajko (@AdamNaliwajko) July 22, 2024
I fully expect Sale to dominate the Reds' lineup today. If he can pitch 7 innings, as he has done nine times this year, the under is well-positioned.
The Braves' offense has not been as potent as in past years, ranking 13th in OPS for the season.
Over the past 10 games, they've struggled even more, with a .673 OPS, a .224 batting average, and an average of just 3.4 runs per game.
Combining a ballpark that favors lower-scoring games, an ace with a dominating slider against a team that struggles against that pitch, and a mediocre offense that has been underperforming lately, you have a strong case for betting the under.
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