Reds vs. Brewers: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

The Reds welcome Milwaukee to town in desperate need of a win.

Reds Country, the old saying goes, “You have to laugh to keep from crying.” If that’s to be believed, there’s been plenty of laughter around the Queen City this week. What’s transpired so far this week at Great American Ball Park has been an unequivocal disaster for the Cincinnati Reds.

We mentioned this homestand would be a good barometer for the Reds (19-23) in our preview leading up to the, thankfully, just-completed series against the San Francisco Giants. If the last four days are any indication, it could be a long summer along the Banks of the Ohio River.

San Francisco didn’t just sweep the Reds; they humiliated them. After being outscored 33-9 over the past four days, the Redlegs have been left reeling and find themselves 5.5 games back in the National League Central, dropping seven of their last 10 contests.

What’s even more disturbing is this is the second time the Redlegs have been swept at home this season, and it’s not even Memorial Day. Frankly, Cincinnati should avoid playing anyone in the Mountain and Pacific time zones.

Following yesterday’s debacle, the Reds are 6-14 versus the National League West, including a 2-11 mark against the Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Mercifully, the Redlegs will not have to see either one again during the 2021 campaign.

Milwaukee (21-22) will have little sympathy for the Reds. The Beer Makers have dropped six of their last 10 and sit four games back in the division. Even though we’re nearly two months into the 2021 season, this will be the first meeting between the Brewers and Reds this year.

Since 2012 Cincinnati owns a 43-37 advantage over the Brewers at Great American Ball Park; however, the last three years have seen Milwaukee enjoying their time in the Queen City. Once Christian Yelich arrived in Milwaukee in 2018, the Brewers have taken 15-of-23 from the Redlegs on their home turf. Coincidence? I think not.