Reds vs. Phillies prediction and odds for Friday April 7 (Rain Delays Won't Cool off Reds' Bats)

The 2023 season has been a little stop and go for the Cincinnati Reds. They got underway with a series win against Pittsburgh, but their last two games have been postponed. Today, they’ll get back in action against the Philadelphia Phillies who are 1-5. 

It’s been a sluggish start for the defending National League champs, but with a day-off yesterday from the postponement and Zack Wheeler on the mound today, they have a good shot to shake it off and get back into the win column. The Reds also have the top of the rotation going with Hunter Greene starting. 

Let’s take a look at the odds for the Red and Phillies in Philadelphia today. 

Reds vs. Phillies odds, run line and total

Reds vs. Phillies prediction and pick

The first trip to the mound did not go too well for either of these starting pitchers. Wheeler went 4.1 in Texas and gave up five runs, four of them earned on seven hits.

He did have seven strikeouts and just one walk. He didn’t get a lot of help from his defense though, the discrepancy between ERA and FIP usually plays out more across a season, but his ERA is currently 8.31 with a FIP of 3.69. Greene gave up three earned in 3.1 innings pitched with five hits allowed and eight strikeouts. 

The strikeout numbers will likely continue to be very high for these pitchers and eventually that’s going to lead to better outings. I'm just not sure what they’ll be able to put together for this one. As a team, the Reds are fifth in OPS, .845 so far this year and they already have 10 home runs which is eighth in the league. 

The Phillies only have four long balls this year, but a .740 team OPS is about league average right now. Their lineup is not nearly as scary as it was last season without Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper for the time being, so I’m going to side with the hot bats of the Reds in this one. 

Pick: Reds +168

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change