Cincinnati Reds (19-25) vs. LA Dodgers (29-17)
May 18, 2024 9:10 pm EDT
The Line: LA Dodgers -225 / Cincinnati Reds +202; Over/Under: +8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Cincinnati Reds and LA Dodgers meet Saturday in MLB game 3 action at Dodger Stadium. Here’s a LA Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction.
Cincinnati Reds Betting Preview
The Cincinnati Reds are 19-26 on the season after losses to the Giants and Diamondbacks. The Cincinnati Reds have scored 11 runs in their last 3 games and 4 or more runs in 6 of their last 9 games. The Cincinnati Reds have split their last 6 games when scoring 4 or more runs. Elly De La Cruz leads the Cincinnati Reds with 43 hits and 22 RBI, while Spencer Steer and Jeimer Candelario have combined for 69 hits and 47 RBI.
LA Dodgers Betting Preview
The LA Dodgers are 30-17 on the year after wins over the Padres and Giants. The LA Dodgers have scored 10 runs in their last 3 games and 4 or more runs in 4 of their last 8 games. The LA Dodgers have won 16 straight games when scoring 4 or more runs. Shohei Ohtani leads the LA Dodgers with 64 hits and 32 RBI, while Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have combined for 112 hits and 53 RBI.
Cincinnati Reds vs LA Dodgers Pitching Matchup
Graham Ashcraft gets the ball for the Cincinnati Reds, and he is 3-2 with a 4.12 ERA and 35 strikeouts this season. Ashcraft has allowed 18 hits and 6 earned runs in his last 15 innings. The Reds have lost Ashcraft’s last 4 starts, and he has a 2.25 ERA on the road through 28 innings. Ashcraft is 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA and 3 strikeouts in his career against the LA Dodgers.
Walker Buehler gets the ball for the LA Dodgers, and he is 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA and 6 strikeouts this season. Buehler is making his third start over the last 2 years. Buehler has a 3.07 ERA and 1.04 WHIP through 645.2 career MLB innings. Buehler is 1-3 with a 3.22 ERA and 42 strikeouts in his career against the Cincinnati Reds.
Why the Los Angeles Dodgers will win
- The Dodgers have won each of their last seven night games at Dodger Stadium following a win.
- The Reds have lost 13 of their last 16 games.
- The Dodgers have covered the run line in seven of their last eight home games after playing the previous day.
- The Reds have failed to cover the run line in four of their last five games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Reds have lost the first inning in each of their last six Saturday road games against National League opponents.
Los Angeles Dodgers Player Prop Facts
- Mookie Betts has hit a home run in three of the Dodgers’ last four night games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Mookie Betts has scored at least one run in each of his last seven appearances against the Reds.
- Gavin Lux has recorded at least one total base in each of his last nine appearances in night games against NL Central teams that held a losing record.
- Gavin Lux has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances in night games against NL Central teams that held a losing record.
- Walker Buehler has recorded six or more strikeouts in 11 of his last 12 home appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Teoscar Hernandez has recorded at least one Single in each of his last five appearances against the Reds after playing the previous day.
- Max Muncy has recorded at least one RBI in three of his last four appearances in night games against NL teams that held a losing record.
- Shohei Ohtani ranks T1st in the league in Home Runs (13) this season.
Cincinnati Reds Player Prop Facts
- Spencer Steer has recorded an RBI in four of the Reds’ last five road games against the Dodgers.
- Elly De La Cruz has scored at least one run in four of the Reds’ last five games at Dodger Stadium.
- Graham Ashcraft has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last four appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
- Jonathan India has recorded at least one total base in each of his last eight appearances in night games against NL West teams that held a winning record.
- Jonathan India has recorded at least one hit in each of his last eight appearances in night games against NL West teams that held a winning record.
- Graham Ashcraft has recorded a win in three of his four previous appearances in night games against NL West teams that held a winning record.
- Jonathan India has recorded at least one Single in each of his last eight appearances in night games against NL West teams that held a winning record.
- Jeimer Candelario has recorded a Double in three of the Reds’ last four road games against NL West opponents.
- TJ Friedl has hit a home run in three of his last nine appearances in night games.
- Elly De La Cruz ranks 1st in the league in Steals (30) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Los Angeles Dodgers rank 1st in the league for runs scored this season (246).
- The Los Angeles Dodgers rank 1st in the league for hits this season (417).
- The Cincinnati Reds rank 1st in the league for steals this season (79).
- The Cincinnati Reds rank 28th in the league for batting average this season (.220).
LA Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction
I’m not running to the window to lay this sort of juice with Walker Buehler, who is still working his way back into the scene after missing all of last season. However, the Cincinnati Reds continue to disappoint and its not like Graham Ashcraft is lighting the world on fire. This is a spot where you throw out the pitching matchup and just trust the Dodgers because they’re the better team and at home. Of course, I lay the RL with the Dodgers to shave down the price.
