Cincinnati Reds vs Arizona Diamondbacks MLB Picks, Odds, Predictions 4/20/21
2021-04-20 18:40:00 EDT
The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Cincinnati Reds meet in MLB action from the Great American Ballpark on Tuesday.
The Arizona Diamondbacks will be out to build on a 5-2 win over the Washington Nationals in their last matchup. Tim Locastro leads the Diamondbacks with .269 batting average and a .345 OBP while Eduardo Escobar shares the team lead with Locastro with 14 hits with team-highs of 6 home runs and 11 RBIs. Escobar also has the dubious distinction of leading Arizona with 13 strikeouts while David Peralta had a pair of triples and Ketel Marte has a team-high 4 doubles this season. Zac Gallen will start here and is 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 8 strikeouts this season. This will be Gallen’s second career start against Cincinnati.
The Cincinnati Reds will look to bounce back from a 6-3 loss to Cleveland last time out. Nick Castellanos leads the Reds with a .295 batting average and 18 hits with a total of 5 home runs and 10 RBIs while Mike Moustakas has a .404 OBP and 4 doubles. Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez each have 4 doubles as well. Tyler Naquin leads the Reds with 6 home runs and 15 RBIs as well this season. Luis Castillo is expected to get the nod on the mound here and is 1-1 with a 7.04 ERA and 12 strikeouts this season. In his career, Castillo is 2-4 with a 4.25 ERA and 41 strikeouts against Arizona.
Arizona is 4-1 in their last 5 games against the NL Central and 7-3 in their last 10 series opening matchups while the under is 4-1 in their last 5 games as a road underdog. Cincinnati is 6-2 in their last 8 home games and 8-3 in their last 11 series opening matchups while the under is 4-1 in their last 5 games following a loss. The under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings between these two teams.
This is a tough one to call as both starters are good. But Gallen may be the better arm with the least reliable offense behind him while Cincinnati’s good at home, but Castillo has a swollen ERA. I think if Arizona’s going to steal a game, it’s this one, so I’ll lean Arizona’s way here.
