Cincinnati Reds vs Houston Astros Picks and Predictions September 5th 2024

Thursday’s interleague matchup between the Astros and Reds is set for 1:10 PM ET from Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The Reds have won three straight and are 67-73 overall, while the Astros are 75-64 and are currently on a two-game losing streak. Hunter Brown will start for the Astros, while the Reds are sending Rhett Lowder to the mound.

The over/under line is currently at 9 runs, and the Astros are favored on the money line, with their payout sitting at -152. The Reds are +129 at the moment. This game will be televised on MLBN.

Hunter Brown gets the start for the Astros today as he faces the Reds on the road. He has made 26 starts this year and has a record of 11-7 with an ERA of 3.55. Brown’s WHIP for the season is 1.29, and opponents are batting .234 off the right-hander this year. In his 26 starts, Brown has turned in 16 quality starts and is averaging 9.49 strikeouts per nine innings. The last time he pitched, Brown finished with a no-decision, going 6 2/3 innings and giving up two earned runs on four hits. He did not allow a homer in that outing.

Yordan Alvarez has been on a tear of late for the Astros, going 13/34 (.382) over his last nine games with five homers and six RBIs. For the season, he is batting .311 with 30 homers, which is the best mark on the team and 11th in the MLB. Alvarez is also 2nd on the team in RBIs with 73. Catcher Yainer Diaz leads the Astros in RBIs with 78 and is batting .298 for the season.

As a team, the Astros are 3rd in batting average and are averaging 4.6 runs per game. They are also one of the best home run-hitting teams in the league, coming in 10th in the league. Houston’s offense is also one of the best at avoiding strikeouts, but they are 25th in the league in walks.

Rhett Lowder and the Reds are taking on the Astros at home. Lowder is making his second start of the season, and in his first outing, he took a loss vs. the Brewers. In that game, he went 4 innings, giving up 1 earned run and striking out 6 batters.

Elly De La Cruz comes into the game as the Reds’ top home run hitter this season, and he is also 2nd on the team in RBIs. De La Cruz is batting .265 for the season and has an OBP of .347. He has also been hot of late, going 7/21 in his last six games. Spencer Steer leads the Reds in RBIs and is 12th in the league in that category, but he is hitting just .234 for the season.

As a team, the Reds are averaging 4.5 runs per game and are 11th in home runs. They are also 17th in batting average and have a collective OBP of just .308, which is 14th in the league. Cincinnati has several players coming into the game on a hitting streak, with Amed Rosario and TJ Friedl both at four games.

Reds Look to Extend Dominance Over Astros in Series Finale

The Cincinnati Reds are heading into Thursday afternoon’s game with the goal of continuing their unexpected dominance over the Houston Astros. After a decisive 12-5 victory on Wednesday, which included a jaw-dropping nine-run first inning, the Reds are aiming for their ninth straight win against Houston, a streak that dates all the way back to 2016.

Despite the Astros’ recent success, which includes two World Series titles, the Reds have been a tough matchup for them. Cincinnati is seeking its third consecutive sweep of a three-game series over Houston, having already accomplished the feat in both 2019 and earlier this year in 2023.

Reds’ Recent Success Against the Astros

In recent years, the Reds and Astros have had very different journeys. While the Astros have made five deep postseason runs, including two World Series victories, the Reds have struggled, making the playoffs just once since 2013 and getting swept by the Braves in the 2020 Wild Card Series. Despite these contrasts, Cincinnati has consistently had Houston’s number, winning eight straight games against the Astros. Now, they’re looking to make it nine on Thursday.

Wednesday’s game was a perfect example of the Reds’ dominance. Cincinnati exploded with nine runs in the first inning, the most they’ve scored in a single inning since 2019. The charge was led by Jonathan India, who smashed a 432-foot leadoff homer, his 11th career leadoff blast. This puts India second in Reds history for leadoff homers, trailing only the legendary Pete Rose with 18.

Elly De La Cruz Continues to Shine

One of the brightest spots in the Reds’ season has been the performance of young phenom Elly De La Cruz. On Wednesday, De La Cruz delivered yet another stellar outing, racking up three hits, two doubles, three runs scored, two RBIs, and a stolen base. His all-around skillset and game-changing ability have quickly made him a fan favorite in Cincinnati and a key reason for the Reds’ success.

Reds manager David Bell couldn’t help but praise De La Cruz’s relentless work ethic and consistency. “The most impressive part of Elly’s game is how hard he plays every night,” Bell said. “He’s motivated, and you can see his love for the game. It’s really special to watch him grow into such a key player for us.”

Astros’ Struggles and Injury Woes

Wednesday was a rough day for the Astros, especially for rookie pitcher Spencer Arrighetti, who gave up nine runs in the first inning alone. However, it wasn’t all bad news for Houston. Star third baseman Alex Bregman made his return to the lineup after missing five games due to elbow inflammation. In his first game back, Bregman went 1-for-2 with a double and scored a run before being pulled with the game out of reach.

Astros manager Joe Espada was optimistic about Bregman’s return, saying, “He didn’t play for five days, but he came back strong with a double to right field. That’s a great sign for us moving forward.”

The Astros are also hoping for the return of outfielder Kyle Tucker, who has been sidelined since early June with a shin fracture. Tucker has been participating in pregame workouts and could be back in the lineup as early as Thursday or over the weekend when the Astros take on the Diamondbacks.

Pitching Matchup: Hunter Brown vs. Rhett Lowder

The series finale on Thursday features a very intriguing pitching matchup. The Astros will send right-hander Hunter Brown (11-7, 3.55 ERA) to the mound. After a rocky start to the season, Brown has been lights out, going 11-3 with a 2.40 ERA over his last 20 starts. Since June 1, he’s been one of the best pitchers in the American League, leading in ERA (2.12), tying for first in wins (10), and ranking third in opponent OPS (.580). This will be Brown’s first career start against the Reds, making it a new challenge for him.

Opposing Brown is Reds’ top pitching prospect Rhett Lowder, who will make his second career start. In his debut last Friday, Lowder impressed by giving up just one run over four innings while striking out six. Unfortunately, the Reds’ bullpen imploded in the ninth inning, resulting in a 14-0 loss to the Brewers, but Lowder’s performance was a bright spot.

On Thursday, Lowder will aim to build on his promising debut and give the Reds a solid start as they look to secure another sweep of the Astros.

Can the Reds Complete Another Sweep?

The Astros have long been seen as one of the most dominant teams in baseball, but the Reds have consistently come out on top in their head-to-head battles. Cincinnati’s ability to capitalize on their opportunities, combined with breakout performances from stars like Jonathan India and Elly De La Cruz, has been the key to their dominance over Houston.

For the Astros, Thursday presents a chance to end the Reds’ win

For a straight-up pick in this Astros vs. Reds matchup, we are leaning toward the Reds to come out on top at home. As for how we would play the over/under line, we would go with the over, as this is projected to be the 2nd highest-scoring game of the day, and this one has the highest total hits projection. Cincinnati’s offense is our top projected unit across the board, and for today’s starters, Hunter Brown has the 2nd best strikeout projection among today’s starters.