Atlanta Braves vs Cincinnati Reds Picks and Predictions September 9th 2024

Carlos Rodon and the Yankees will host the Royals on Monday, with the game set to start at 7:05 PM ET from Yankee Stadium in New York. The forecast for the game calls for temperatures in the mid to upper 70s and partly cloudy skies. YES is carrying the game on TV, and the Yankees are the heavy favorite on the money line at -182. The Royals are +154, and their four-game winning streak will be on the line. They are 2nd in the AL Central, while the Yankees are 1st in the AL East.

The over/under line is sitting at 8.5 runs, and the Royals will be looking to Brady Singer to keep their win streak alive. The Yankees are starting Carlos Rodon.

Kansas City vs. New York Key Information

• Teams: Royals at Yankees
• Where: Yankee Stadium, New York
• Date: Monday, September 9th
• Betting Odds NYY -182 | KC +154 O/U 8.5

The Royals Can Win If…

Brady Singer is looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Guardians, as he gave up two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of work. He ended up taking the loss in that game. Against the Yankees today, Singer will be looking to pitch more like he did on August 18th vs. the Reds, where he pitched six scoreless innings and picked up the win. Singer’s ERA for the season is 3.35, along with a record of 9-10. Out of his 28 starts, he has turned in 12 quality starts and is averaging 8.53 strikeouts per nine innings.

For the season, the Royals are averaging 4.7 runs per game, which is 9th in the league. They have been even better at home, averaging 5 runs per game. As a team, they are batting a collective .253, which is 7th in the league, and are also one of the league’s best teams at avoiding strikeouts. The Royals’ team on-base percentage is just 26th in the league.

Bobby Witt Jr. has been one of the league’s best hitters this season, with a batting average of .336 and 30 home runs, which is 12th in the MLB. However, he has struggled a bit over his last 10 games, hitting just .184. Salvador Perez is also near the top of the league in RBIs, as he is 8th in the league with 95 RBIs.

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• The Royals are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Royals are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Kansas City has an over/under record of 2-7-1 in their last ten games.
• The Royals have an average of 3.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Royals are 5-5
• Looking back across the Royals last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Kansas City has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Royals have averaged 5.4 runs per game on offense

The Yankees Can Win If…

Carlos Rodón gets the start for the Yankees today and comes in with a record of 14-9 and an ERA of 4.20. So far, he has made 28 starts and 14 of them have been quality starts. Rodón has a WHIP of 1.22 and is averaging 10.16 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, Rodón finished with a no-decision, going six innings and giving up one earned run on 11 strikeouts. Before that, he had lost two straight starts. The left-hander has been much better at home, coming in with a record of 8-2 and 3.68 ERA compared to 6-7 with a 5.56 ERA on the road.

For the season, the Yankees are the top home run hitting team in the league and are 2nd in runs scored, averaging 5 runs per game. Not only are they near the top of the league in runs scored, but they also have the league’s top OPS and are 2nd in on-base percentage. As a team, they are batting .251, which is 8th in the league.

Heading into the game, the Yankees have two of the league’s top home run hitters in Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. Judge leads the league with 51 homers and is batting .321, while Soto is batting .291 with 38 homers. Gleyber Torres is on a nine-game hitting streak and is 10/28 in his last seven games.

• The Yankees are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Yankees are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• New York has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Yankees have an average of 3.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Yankees are 4-6
• Looking back across the Yankees last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• New York has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Yankees have averaged 3.5 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, as this is projected to be the 5th highest-scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight-up, we have our lean on the Royals to pick up the win. Kansas City has the 7th highest team run projection, and Brady Singer is 3rd in our projections in innings pitched. On the other side, Carlos Rodón is 6th in our projections in strikeouts.

Reds Look to Upset Braves After Helping Atlanta’s Playoff Push

After giving the Atlanta Braves a boost in their playoff race, the Cincinnati Reds are ready to face them head-on in a makeup game on Monday in Atlanta. Fresh off a solid 3-1 win against the New York Mets, which snapped their nine-game winning streak, the Reds inadvertently helped Atlanta close the gap in the National League wild-card race. Meanwhile, the Braves pulled off a nail-biting 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in 11 innings, bringing them neck and neck with the Mets for the final wild-card spot.

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Key Matchup and Playoff Stakes

The Braves, with a record of 78-65, are putting their trust in veteran pitcher Charlie Morton (8-7, 4.24 ERA). Morton’s been solid recently, posting a 3.25 ERA over his last five starts. Although he struggled a bit in his last outing against the Rockies, his knack for delivering timely strikeouts makes him a reliable choice. Morton’s history against the Reds is a mixed bag—he’s got an 8-8 career record with a 4.15 ERA against Cincinnati but hasn’t faced them this season yet.

On the flip side, the Reds (69-75) are sending Nick Martinez (7-6, 3.67 ERA) to the mound. Martinez, a versatile pitcher who’s excelled as both a starter and reliever, has been in great form. In his most recent start, he gave up just one earned run while striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings against the Astros. His 3.86 career ERA against the Braves shows he’s capable of keeping their hitters at bay.

For Atlanta, every game counts as they battle for that playoff spot. Braves manager Brian Snitker emphasized the pressure after Sunday’s emotional win, calling it “one of the most exhausting games” of his career.

Injury Concerns for Both Teams

The Reds have hit a rough patch with injuries. Key reliever Sam Moll is out with a shoulder injury, a blow to Cincinnati’s bullpen considering Moll’s impressive 3.35 ERA over 48 appearances this season. In his place, right-hander Casey Legumina will step in, though his 10.50 ERA raises some eyebrows about the bullpen’s stability.

Cincinnati’s lineup also took a hit with second baseman Jonathan India leaving Sunday’s game due to discomfort in his left elbow. On a brighter note, T.J. Friedl, who had a bit of a health scare on Saturday, was back on the field as a pinch hitter, which helps stabilize the Reds’ outfield depth.

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Game Outlook

Both teams are riding momentum into this matchup, but the stakes are higher for the Braves as they push to secure their playoff spot. With Morton on a steady run and the Reds dealing with bullpen issues, Atlanta looks to have the upper hand. However, the Reds have shown they can be unpredictable and dangerous, as they proved in their recent upset against the Mets.

If Morton can stay consistent and the Braves keep their offensive rhythm going, they could take a significant step closer to clinching that playoff spot. On the other hand, the Reds, playing with less pressure, will aim to throw a wrench in Atlanta’s plans and continue their role as spoilers in this high-stakes game.