by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Aug 19, 2021
Game time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Venue: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
Where to watch: Bally Sports Florida, Bally Sports Ohio
Season-to-date (entering Thursday)
Marlins: 51-70 (Last place, NL East)
Reds: 65-57 (2nd place, NL Central)
Recent form
Marlins: 4-6 in last 10
Reds: 4-6 in last 10
Projected lineup
Marlins:
Miguel Rojas (R) SS
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 2B
Jesus Aguilar (R) 1B
Jesus Sanchez (L) RF
Lewis Brinson (R) LF
Isan Diaz (L) 3B
Alex Jackson (R) C
Bryan De La Cruz (R) CF
Elieser Hernandez (R) P
Reds:
Jonathan India (R) 2B
Joey Votto (L) 1B
Nick Castellanos (R) RF
Mike Moustakas (L) 3B
Aristides Aquino (R) LF
Tyler Naquin (L) CF
Jose Barrero (R) SS
Tucker Barnhart (L) C
Sonny Gray (R) P
Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Reds -210, Marlins +175
BetMGM: Reds -200, Marlins +165
PointsBet: Reds -215, Marlins +170
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Marlins - Reds preview
The Miami Marlins and Cincinnati Reds will play Game 2 of their four-game series Friday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
The series began Thursday with both teams having deflated feelings. The Reds lost some serious ground in the National League Central by losing two of three this week to the Chicago Cubs, which also ended Chicago’s 12-game losing streak.
Not only that, but the Reds’ offense has quieted down the last two games, scoring two runs combined. Tyler Mahle pitched five innings, but allowed five runs through two of them in Cincinnati’s 7-1 loss on Wednesday. Tyler Naquin and rookie shortstop Jose Barrero combined for four of the Reds’ six hits in the loss.
Sonny Gray will take the mound for the Reds, as they look to continue their climb toward a playoff spot. The good news is due to the San Diego Padres’ continuous slide, the Reds are only 1.5 games back of the second NL Wild Card spot. They would’ve likely preferred to catch up to San Diego by now, and would’ve done so had they not slipped up against the Cubs, but a brand new series shows the Reds are not out of this yet. It’s a new dawn, and it’s a new day.
We’re still a ways away from it being a new dawn for the Marlins. Miami is coming into this series after being swept by the first-place Atlanta Braves, who have developed a stronghold on the National League East; something that hasn’t been done in what seems like forever.
The Marlins nearly made the best comeback of the season Wednesday, scoring six runs in the ninth with the winning run at the plate, but ultimately losing 11-9 to Atlanta. National League MVP Freddie Freeman hit for the cycle for the second time in his career, but the Marlins couldn’t capitalize elsewhere of the two-RBI nights from Jesus Sanchez and Jesus Aguilar.
Miami will send right-hander Elieser Hernandez to the mound for the fourth start of the season. The 26-year-old Hernandez does not have a number on his record, but has a 2.84 ERA through 12.2 innings pitched. He allowed one earned run through 5.1 innings in his last start Sunday against the Cubs, which resulted in a win.
Betting trends
The Reds are 8-1 when they’re a favorite ranging from -175 to -250.
Cincinnati is 6-5 when Gray starts as a favorite of -110 or higher.
The Marlins have not been an enviable underdog. At the base of +100 or higher, Miami is a lowly 29-52 this season.
Prediction
We can’t imagine the Reds are too happy with how things ended these past two games. At the end of the day, they have to be pleased knowing they’re still in the thick of things in the playoff race. Reds win 7-2.
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
