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

A red-hot Reds’ ball club faces its most challenging week of the season.

Give the Cincinnati Reds (32-31) credit. When the opportunity presented itself to rack up some wins against an inferior Colorado Rockies club, the Redlegs took full advantage by sweeping their second consecutive weekend series.

Winners of eight of their last 10 contests, Cincinnati will now face the only club to hang losses on them during that stretch, the Milwaukee Brewers. The Reds’ first visit to American Family Field (formerly Miller Park) in 2021 finds them sitting in third place in the National League Central, five games behind the Beer Makers.

Interestingly, American Family Field seems like a sanctuary for the Redlegs compared to the pitfall Great American Ball Park has become when facing the Brewers. Cincinnati has not dropped a series in Milwaukee since September of the 2018 campaign. The last Reds’ pitcher to take a defeat in a series-deciding game in the Cream City was Matt Harvey. In other words, it’s been a while.

As hot as the Reds have been lately, the Milwaukee Brewers (38-27) have been even better. The Brew Crew have won nine of their last 10 games, with the lone defeat at the hands of the Redlegs last Wednesday at GABP. Manager Craig Counsell has his Brewers rolling. Over their last 20 games, the Beer Makers are a remarkable 16-4. However, something will have to give this week in Milwaukee.

The Brewers are 20-15 at home and are 17-10 overall versus divisional foes. On the other hand, the Reds are 16-15 away from the Queen City while compiling an impressive 16-12 record against their NL Central rivals.

One characteristic both clubs share is the ability to win close games. Milwaukee is 10-6 in one-run contests, while despite having a horrendous bullpen, Cincinnati has been victorious nine times in 15 opportunities in similar games.