Cincinnati Reds vs Milwaukee Brewers Picks and Predictions August 31st 2024

First pitch for Saturday’s Reds vs. Brewers matchup is set for 7:15 PM ET from Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The Reds are looking to snap a two-game losing streak and are 64-72 overall, while the Brewers have won four straight and are 79-56.

Milwaukee is currently favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -128 compared to the Reds at +108. The over/under line is currently at 9 runs, and FOX will be televising this NL Central matchup.

Right-hander Frankie Montas gets the start for the Brewers today as he faces the Reds on the road. Montas has made 24 starts this season and has a record of 6-9 with an ERA of 4.64. In his 24 appearances, he has turned in seven quality starts. Montas’ ERA on the road is 6.26, along with a record of 5-4. At home, he is 1-5 with a 5.38 ERA. Montas’ most recent outing was on August 25th, where he took the loss, giving up four earned runs in six innings of work. Before that, he had won two straight starts.

For the season, the Brewers are averaging 4.9 runs per game, which is 5th in the league. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.1 runs per contest. Overall, they are the 5th best hitting team in the league, with a team batting average of .254. Milwaukee also does a good job of avoiding strikeouts and are 2nd in the league in walks.

Willy Adames has been on a tear of late, going 10/29 in his last seven games with four homers and seven RBIs. He is also on an eight-game hitting streak. Adames is the Brewers’ top home run hitter for the season, and his 92 RBIs are 8th in the league. William Contreras is also having a strong season, batting .286 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs.

Cincinnati is starting right-hander Fernando Cruz today vs. the Brewers, and he comes into the game with a record of 3-8 and ERA of 5.17. Cruz has made 62 appearances this season and just one start. In his lone start, he went three innings, giving up one earned run, and finished with a no-decision. Looking back at his last three outings, Cruz has finished with a no-decision in each one. He has a total of seven home runs allowed this year and is averaging 4.69 walks per nine innings compared to 13.74 strikeouts.

Elly De La Cruz comes into today’s game as the Reds’ top home run hitter, as his 22 homers is 14th in the league and the top mark on the team. He is also 2nd on the team in RBIs, with 61. De La Cruz has been hot of late, hitting .308 over his last nine games. Tyler Stephenson and Will Benson have also been swinging the bat well, with Stephenson hitting .423 over his last seven games, and Benson has two homers in his last six games while batting .333.

As a team, the Reds are averaging 4.5 runs per game, which is 15th in the MLB. They have been a better offensive team on the road this season, averaging 4.6 runs per game. Overall, they are batting just .232, which is 19th in the league.

Brewers Eye NL Central Title as They Face Reds After Doubleheader Sweep

The Milwaukee Brewers are zeroing in on another National League Central title as they gear up to face the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night in the third game of their four-game series. The Brewers are riding high after a grueling but rewarding doubleheader sweep of the Reds on Friday, where they pulled off a 5-4 win in extra innings in the first game and a commanding 14-0 victory in the nightcap.

Brewers’ Doubleheader Dominance

Friday’s doubleheader was a true test of the Brewers’ resilience, with the team battling through sweltering 90-degree heat and high humidity to emerge victorious in both games. In the opener, Milwaukee leaned heavily on their bullpen, using five relievers to secure a 5-4, 10-inning victory. Bryan Hudson, Joel Payamps, Jared Koenig, and Trevor Megill all delivered scoreless innings before closer Devin Williams came in during the 10th to shut down the Reds and notch his seventh save in eight chances since returning from a stress fracture in his back.

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy’s aggressive bullpen strategy paid off, a decision fully backed by his players.

The second game saw the Brewers’ offense explode, hitting four home runs, including two in a massive 10-run ninth inning, to complete the doubleheader sweep with a 14-0 rout. These back-to-back wins have only strengthened the Brewers’ momentum as they continue their march toward another division title.

Frankie Montas to Start for Brewers

On Saturday, the Brewers will send right-hander Frankie Montas (6-9, 4.64 ERA) to the mound. Montas, who used to pitch for the Reds, has been solid since joining Milwaukee, posting a 2-1 record with a 3.33 ERA in five starts since being traded from Cincinnati on July 30. In his last outing against Oakland, Montas pitched six innings, allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in a 4-3 loss.

Saturday’s start will be Montas’ 25th of the season and his first-ever appearance against his former team, the Reds.

Reds Struggling Amid Rotation Chaos

The Reds, who have lost four of their last five games on this 10-game homestand and seven of their last nine overall, are in a tough spot, dealing with injuries and uncertainty in their pitching rotation. Manager David Bell has had to make last-minute decisions on starting pitchers due to the team’s ongoing injury issues. Although no official announcement was made following Friday night’s blowout loss, right-hander Fernando Cruz (3-8, 5.17 ERA) is expected to start for Cincinnati on Saturday.

The Reds’ struggles have been worsened by injuries, including the loss of infielder Santiago Espinal, who exited Friday’s game with a deep bruise after fouling a ball off his right leg. Although X-rays came back negative, Espinal is considered day-to-day.

Maile even had to pitch in a mop-up role during the ninth inning of Friday’s nightcap, giving up six runs on six hits while getting the final two outs.

Injury Concerns for Both Teams

Both teams are dealing with the fallout from Friday’s doubleheader. The Brewers chose to keep star rookie outfielder Jackson Chourio out of the second game as a precaution after he turned his right ankle trying to beat out a ground ball in the first game. His status will be closely monitored as Saturday’s game approaches.

Match Outlook

As the Brewers aim to continue their dominance and move closer to clinching the NL Central title, the Reds are desperate to turn their fortunes around despite ongoing injuries and pitching challenges. Saturday’s game is crucial for both teams, with the Brewers looking to maintain their momentum and the Reds hoping to salvage their homestand.

For a money-line pick, we are leaning towards the Reds to come out on top at home vs. the Brewers. We are also leaning towards these two teams going over the over/under line of 9 runs. This game is projected to have the 2nd highest combined run total and 3rd highest hits total. Cincinnati starter Fernando Cruz has the highest innings pitched projection in the league today.