The Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers open a three-game series at American Family Field in Wisconsin on Friday night. Milwaukee has to treat August and September as an extension of the postseason. They are in a duel with the St. Louis Cardinals for leading claims in the NL Central.
The Brewers and Cardinals are currently in a tie for the top spot in the division at 57-48. It was expected to be tight months ago at this point in the season. And here we are in early August, with these two owning the same record.
The Cardinals have a tough series this weekend against the New York Yankees. They’re coming off a sweep of the Cubs yesterday, while the Brewers are reeling following four straight losses.
A wild ending to the series. pic.twitter.com/8y1f3qNCVP
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 4, 2022
Milwaukee is coming off a gut-wrenching loss on Thursday at PNC Park. They couldn’t get it done in extra innings, as the Brewers fell down by a score of 5-4. The Brewers scored a run in the top of the 10th, with the Bucs responding to win.
The Brewers were walked off a day earlier, 8-7, so it’s been a tough couple of days in Pittsburgh. The good news for the Brewers is that they’re in a tie for the NL Central.
The Reds have been good in spots, but too inconsistent in 2022. They carry a record of 42-62 and 14.5 games back in the NL Central. Cincinnati is coming off a 3-0 loss to the Marlins on Wednesday. This ended a nice four-game winning streak for the Reds.
Head below for our free Reds vs. Brewers prediction on August 5, 2022.
Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers Live Betting Odds:
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds | -1.5 (-115) | +175 | Over 9 (-110) |
| Milwaukee Brewers | -1.5 (-105) | -215 | Under 9 (-110) |
| Team Data | Cicninnati Reds | Milwaukee Brewers |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 42-62 | 57-48 |
| Away/Home Record | 18-30 | 26-20 |
| Batting Average | .240 | .241 |
| Batting Average Away/Home | .221 | .239 |
| Runs Per 9 | 4.39 | 4.71 |
| Team ERA | 5.02 | 3.89 |
| Team ERA Away/Home | 5.08 | 3.75 |
Reds vs. Brewers Prediction:
The Reds have been fine in stretches this season. As we just witnessed, the Reds win four straight games. However, before that run against the Orioles and Marlins, they lost three of four attempts.
They are showing improvement and could be competitive in two or three years. Robert Dugger hopes to be involved in those plans after a trade from the Rays to the Reds.
This is the fourth team that Dugger is on since entering the majors in 2019 with the Marlins. Through 26 games in his career, Dugger has an ERA of 6.97 and a 1.67 WHIP.
In two performances with the Reds, Dugger has notched an ERA of 4.05 and a 1.50 WHIP in 6.2 innings. An ERA of 4.05 is fine, but a 1.50 WHIP doesn’t suggest that Dugger is ready to be a reliable starter.
Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers Betting Trends:
Reds
- Record (Last 10): 6-4
- 4-9 overall in their previous 13 games versus the NL Central
- 3-12 overall in their previous 15 games versus the Brewers
- 1-5 overall in their previous six games at Milwaukee
- 21-45 overall in their previous 66 games versus a team with a winning record
- UNDER is 4-0 in their previous four games
Brewers
- Record (Last 10): 5-5
- 5-1 overall in their previous six games at home
- 20-8 overall in their previous 28 first game of a series
- 4-0 overall in their previous four games at home following a road trip of at least seven games
- 4-1 overall in their previous five games on a Friday
- 12-3 overall in their previous 15 games versus the Reds
The Brewers are back home where they should feel more comfortable. This is especially true for lefty Eric Lauer. He must prefer pitching at American Family Field.
Overall, Lauer owns a 3.75 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 19 starts. He’s been sharp with 2 or fewer runs in four of his previous five attempts. In his latest performance, Lauer conceded 4 hits and 1 earned run in 5 innings against the Boston Red Sox in a 9-4 win.
Despite the recent struggles for the Brewers, they are throttling righties at a .296 clip in their last five games. I’m not convinced Dugger can handle this lineup. Back home after a lengthy road trip, look for the Brewers to get off to a fast start. Expect the Brewers to clear the Reds by at least 2 runs.
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