Reds vs. Nationals prediction and odds for Thursday, July 6

If Elly De La Cruz didn’t cork his bat then maybe Dave Martinez will want to check his birth certificate next.

In the 2nd inning, the Nats had the umpires check Elly De La Cruz’s bat to make sure it was legal

In the 5th inning he homered and told them to check it again@StoolBaseball pic.twitter.com/FhrHpwsd74
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) July 6, 2023

The Cincinnati Reds pounded the Washington Nationals 9-2 yesterday and are going for the four-game sweep this afternoon in DC. The Reds have won four straight and are in first in the NL Central at 48-39. The Nationals are 34-52, last in the East.

For the finale, the Reds will send Brandon Williamson to the mound against Mackenzie Gore. Williamson is 1-2 with a 5.56 ERA in nine starts this year while Gore is 4-7 with a 4.48 ERA in his 17 starts for Washington.

Despite being on the losing end of the first three, the Nationals are favorites today.

Reds vs. Nationals odds, run line and total

Reds vs. Nationals prediction and pick

Elly De La Cruz might not be the one doing damage against the lefty Gore today. He only has a .469 OPS against lefties this season, but the rest of his teammates will pick him up. The Reds are fifth in team OPS against lefties as a whole and Spencer Steer, Nick Senzel and Matt McLain each have an OPS over 1.000. Gore will have his work cut out for him in this matchup.

The Nationals are also better with the bats against a lefty, so they should score more than the two runs they put up yesterday against Cincinnati. Despite Williamson’s inflated ERA the Reds are still 6-3 in his starts. Lane Thomas is definitely an offensive threat against Williamson with his seven home runs and 1.116 OPS against lefties for the Nationals, but I’ll side with Cincy’s lineup against just about any team in baseball.

The Reds are 21-6 over the past 30 days and only the Braves have a better record over that time. For Cincy to be an underdog against the last place Nats today feels like a gift and one that’s far too good to pass up. Mackenzie Gore is good, but he’s not that good.

Give me the Reds as underdogs.

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Reds vs. Nationals odds, run line and total

Reds vs. Nationals prediction and pick

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