Milwaukee Brewers vs. Cincinnati Reds Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/19/2022

Time: 1:40 p.m. ET

Venue: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH

Where to watch: Bally Sports Wisconsin, Bally Sports Ohio

DraftKings: Brewers -135, Reds +115

BetMGM: Even

Caesars: Brewers -130, Reds +110

Brewers: 37-30

Reds: 23-41

After further evaluation of the Milwaukee Brewers and trying to figure out exactly where do I stand with this team, I have come to the realization that Milwaukee there's a team that might be the most infuriating and ridiculous group that we have seen in quite awhile. Because I look at everything that is transpired over these last couple of games and I wonder what in the world it is going to take for Milwaukee to actually show this kind of consistency. And I get it, the Cincinnati Reds are not the greatest litmus test to put in front of as it pertains to evaluating this group.

But the Brewers have taken the first two of this weekend series over Cincinnati and surprisingly enough I am spending more time trying to figure out why Milwaukee has taken this long to put up this kind of consistent offensive awareness, while at the same time trying to understand if there's any correlation between Milwaukee need for anything if it were to pertain to them making a big run toward the end of the season.

"It's been a while," Brewers manager Craig Counsell. "We played good baseball today. That's what you have to do to win in this league. We earned a win."

The Brewers jumped out to a 4-0 lead through three innings in their 7-3 win over the Reds on Saturday. Rowdy Tellez had an RBI double in the top of the first inning, Willy Adames hit a two run home run in the top of the third, and from then on it was just a complete one sided route. The Reds did cut into the lead but they were already down 6 to 1 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Again, it's not like we all expected Cincinnati to find a way to start winning a consistent number of games and then eventually catch up to the rest of the National League central. But this was also a Cincinnati team that has played very well over the course of the last month, and any situation that called for them to completely fold offensively would have been disingenuous and irresponsible all at the same time.

"I thought, in the first three innings, he was really good," Counsell said. "He was getting some strange swings. Part of his success is he doesn't strike a lot guys out."

I think I found myself more surprised than Milwaukee was able to get to Cincinnati rookie pitcher Graham Ashcraft as much as they did. Ashcraft suffered his first loss this season after lasting just five innings and striking a four, like giving up six earned runs on eight hits.

"I thought Ashcraft was pretty good," Reds manager David Bell said. "That's a good lineup. He gave us a chance to win the game. There were a couple pitches. He's not going to be perfect, but he's been really good since he's been here. He is very confident. He is right on track."

Part of me would like to believe that Cincinnati will come back and actually take a game in this series, but at the same time I can't in good conscience go against a Brewers team that is supposed to be much better than this it has certainly shown the capabilities of playing better than this on most nights. Milwaukee is probably due for one more offensive outburst and I think in this one they find a way to get it. Brewers win 7-2

Brewers are 7-13 this season when the total is between 8.5 and 10.

Brewers are 4-11 in June this month.

Brewers are 26-18 the past three seasons as a road dog between +100 and +150.

Brewers:
Christian Yelich (L) LF
Willy Adames (R) SS
Rowdy Tellez (L) 1B
Andrew McCutchen (R) DH
Hunter Renfroe (R) RF
Omar Narvaez (L) C
Tyrone Taylor (R) CF
Jace Peterson (L) 3B
Keston Hiura (R) 2B
SP - Adrian Houser

Reds:
Jonathan India (R) 2B
Brandon Drury (R) 3B
Tommy Pham (R) LF
Kyle Farmer (R) DH
Matt Reynolds (R) SS
Nick Senzel (R) CF
Mike Moustakas (L) 1B
Albert Almora Jr. (R) RF
Aramis Garcia (R) C
SP - Mike Minor