Cincinnati Reds (60-51) vs. Cleveland Indians (53-55)
August 9, 2021 6:10 pm EDT
The Line: Cleveland Indians +135 / Cincinnati Reds -182; Over/Under: -8.5
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The Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians meet Monday in MLB action from Progressive Field. This will be a one-off makeup game stemming from a postponement back in May. Cincinnati is coming off a weekend series versus the Pirates. The Reds won the first three games in that set, then on Sunday Cincinnati eked out another win. As for the Indians, they played the Tigers over the weekend. Cleveland split the first pair in that series, then on Sunday the Indians bagged a two-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Cincinnati had a successful series versus the Pirates over the weekend, winning the first three games 7-4, 10-0 and 11-3. In the Sunday finale the Reds posted all their runs in the fourth inning on the way to a 3-2 victory. Tyler Mahle put up 7.0 frames with two earned on six hits and 10 Ks.
For the starter job in the Monday game, the Reds will send out Luis Castillo. Over his 127.2 innings this year Castillo has 123 hits, 67 runs (58 earned), 13 homers allowed, 54 walks, 128 Ks and a 4.09 ERA.
Over on the Indians’ side, they beat the Tigers 6-1 Friday but fell 2-1 in the Saturday game. In the Sunday rubber match, Cleveland took the series with a 7-5 victory. Starter Zach Plesac managed 4.0 innings with four earned on two hits and three walks.
Starting Monday’s game for the Indians will be Sam Hentges. This year Hentges is 1-4 with a 7.86 ERA and 45 strikeouts.
The Reds are 11-4 in their last 15 Monday games and 5-2 in their last seven interleague road games versus a right-handed starter. The over is 5-0-1 in the Reds’ last six in game one of a series and 9-1 in their last 10 Monday games.
Meanwhile, the Indians are 4-1 in their last five interleague home games and 5-2 in the last seven Monday games. Cleveland is 2-5 in their last seven in game one of a series and 7-19 in their last 26 versus a team with a winning record.
PICK: I’m going to stick with the Reds. Castillo has been on a nice roll lately, giving up more than one earned just once in his last six starts (three versus the Cubs on July 29). Over his last four, Castillo has a total of just five earned on 23 hits and nine walks in 25.0 innings of work. If Castillo can keep it going Cincinnati should be in good shape for a win in the later innings.
