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

The Reds take their eight-game road-winning streak to San Diego.

Who’s the hottest team in the National League, Reds Country? That’s right, it’s your Cincinnati Reds. Following a sweep at home of the Colorado Rockies, the Redlegs took their show on the road and swept three straight from the first-place Milwaukee Brewers to pull within just two games of the top spot in the NL Central Division.

Winners of eight of their last 10 contests, the Reds (35-31) have opened the month of June scorching by going 11-3 and placing themselves firmly in the hunt for the division lead. Whether it’s at the plate or on the pitcher’s mound, the Cincinnati Reds are taking care of business.

Since June 1st, the Reds are leading the senior circuit with a .349 OBP and a .786 OPS mark. Additionally, they are second in the league in doubles (31), walks (54), and third with a .254 batting average.

What once was a weakness has become a strength over the past 15 days as the once volatile pitching staff has settled down considerably. The nine home runs they’ve allowed are the fewest in the NL while holding opponents to a paltry .210 average, good enough for third-best among National League staffs.

Speaking of sweeps, the San Diego Padres (38-32) are coming off one themselves; however, they were on the receiving end of a beatdown from the lowly Colorado Rockies. The Friars are currently in a tailspin, having dropped eight of their last 10 contests.

Over the last decade, the Redlegs have only captured the season series twice from the Padres and are 11-15 at Petco Park during that timeframe. Nevertheless, Cincinnati took three of four from the Padres in their last visit to San Diego in April of 2019.