Guardians vs. Reds prediction and odds for Tuesday, August 15 (McLain powers Reds to series opening win)

The Cincinnati Reds had a much needed day off yesterday after splitting a day/night doubleheader and playing 19 innings in Pittsburgh on Sunday. Now, they’re back home to face their in-state rivals, the Cleveland Guardians for two games. Cincy is 62-58 and third in the NL Central while the Guardians are second in the AL Central at 57-62. 

For the first of this interleague mini-series, the Guardians will hand the ball to lefty Logan Allen who is 5-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 17 starts this season. The Reds will counter with Graham Ashcraft is 6-7 with a 4.95 ERA in his 22 starts. 

Let’s get into the odds for the battle of Ohio in Cincy. 

Guardians vs. Reds odds, run line and total

Guardians vs. Reds prediction and pick

This is a very important matchup for one of the Reds budding young stars. Matt McLain was slumping heading into the weekend series in Pittsburgh, but he had some success at PNC Park. Now, he can really dominate against Logan Allen because McLain leads the Reds with a 1.009 OPS against left-handed pitching this year. 

If McLain gets going again then this Cincinnati offense will really start to hit its stride even though Elly De La Cruz has struggled against lefties and only has four extra base hits from the right side this season. 

Since the start of July the Reds are 20th in the MLB with an OPS of .707 against lefties, but for the season they’re slightly better at .745. Players like Kevin Newman who were contributing in platoon roles have fallen off slightly, but Spencer Steer and Matt McLain will carry the Reds offensively in this one, and they should be fine just as long as they get any type of pitching from Ashcraft. 

Ashcraft has been bad this year, but last time out he pitched seven innings of one-run ball against the Marlins. The Reds looked like a desperate team in Pittsburgh and took a much needed series win. I see that continuing tonight and I think the Reds take the first of two against Cleveland. 

Follow all Josh Yourish’s bets HERE

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change

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