Cincinnati Reds vs Oakland Athletics Picks and Predictions August 29th 2024

A’s seek fourth straight win, series sweep vs. reeling Reds

Thursday’s Reds vs. Athletics interleague matchup features a Reds club that is 63-70 compared to the Athletics, who are 58-75. This one is being played at 5:10 PM ET from Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, and the Reds are favored on the money line (-134). The money line odds for an Athletics win are sitting at +114.

Julian Aguiar will be starting for the Reds, while the Athletics are sending J.T. Ginn to the mound. Aguiar is looking to help the Reds snap a three-game losing streak, while the Athletics have won three straight. This game will be televised on BSOH.

Oakland vs. Cincinnati Key Information

• Teams: Athletics at Reds
• Where: Great American Ball Park Cincinnati
• Date: Thursday, August 29th
• Betting Odds CIN -134 | OAK +114 O/U 10

The Athletics Can Win If…

J.T. Ginn is making his first start of the season for the Athletics, and he will be on the road against the Reds. Ginn has made two appearances out of the bullpen so far, and in his most recent outing, he went 1 2/3 innings, giving up 1 run on 2 hits.

Heading into today’s game, the Athletics offense is averaging 4 runs per game, which is 25th in the league. They are also near the bottom of the league in team batting average and on-base percentage. However, they do have the 7th most home runs in the league and are 11th in isolated power. As a team, they are averaging 9 strikeouts per game.

Over his last seven games, Lawrence Butler has gone 10/28 with three home runs and seven RBIs. For the season, he is batting just .221. Brent Rooker is the team’s leading home run hitter, with 31, and is also 8th in the league in RBIs. His batting average for the season is .285.

• The Athletics are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Athletics are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Oakland has an over/under record of 3-7 in their last ten games.
• The Athletics have an average of 5.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Athletics are 7-3
• Looking back across the Athletics last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Oakland has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Athletics have averaged 4.6 runs per game on offense

The Reds Can Win If…

Julian Aguiar will be making his first start of the season at home against the Athletics. In his first two outings, he has a win and a no-decision, and he has given up 2 earned runs in each start. Aguiar has 4 strikeouts in each of his first two starts.

Elly De La Cruz has been one of the Reds’ most consistent hitters this season, batting .264 with a team-high 22 home runs and 59 RBIs. He has also been hot of late, going 11/30 in his last seven games with one home run and six RBIs. Tyler Stephenson is also on a hot streak, with a 12-game hitting streak and going 10/22 in his last six games.

As a team, the Reds are averaging 4.5 runs per game and are 12th in the league in home runs. However, they are batting just .232 as a team and are 20th in on-base percentage. Currently, the Reds have four players with at least 20 home runs.

• The Reds are 3-7 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Reds are 1-4 vs. the run line.
• Cincinnati has an over/under record of 6-2-2 in their last ten games.
• The Reds have an average of 5.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Reds are 4-6
• Looking back across the Reds last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Cincinnati has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Reds have averaged 4.5 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For a money-line pick, we are leaning towards the Reds to come out on top as the home favorite. And with how we are projecting these offenses to perform, we are leaning towards taking the over. This game has the 2nd highest combined runs projection and 4th highest hits projection. The Reds have the 2nd best home runs projection. Looking at today’s starters, Julian Aguiar has the 5th best strikeout projection compared to J.T. Ginn, who has the lowest projection.

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The Oakland Athletics are poised to extend their winning streak to four games as they face off against the struggling Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, aiming for a clean sweep in their three-game series at Great American Ball Park.

Athletics’ Resurgence on Display

Oakland’s recent surge has been fueled by timely hitting and resilience. After securing two narrow one-run victories, the Athletics showcased their offensive firepower in a 9-6 win on Wednesday night. This game saw Seth Brown deliver a standout performance with two home runs, including a crucial three-run shot in the eighth inning that sealed the win.

Manager Mark Kotsay praised his team’s grit, particularly in the eighth inning where they responded swiftly after losing a five-run lead. “That inning there, we haven’t had an inning like that very often this season,” Kotsay said. “To answer back in that fashion, it just shows the character of the group right now.”

Offensive Revival Fuels Oakland’s Winning Streak

The Athletics’ offense has been a significant factor in their recent success. Over the last three games, they have scored 18 runs, a sharp contrast to the 20 runs they managed in the previous eight games combined. Lawrence Butler set the tone on Wednesday with a leadoff home run, while Brent Rooker added to the tally with his career-high 31st homer of the season.

However, Oakland’s victory was bittersweet as they had to contend with the loss of outfielder Miguel Andujar, who will undergo season-ending surgery for a core muscle injury. Kotsay acknowledged the impact of Andujar’s absence, noting that he had been instrumental in the team’s recent success.

Reds’ Struggles Continue Despite Individual Efforts

On the other side, the Cincinnati Reds are in the midst of a challenging stretch, having lost nine of their last 12 games. Despite this slump, catcher Tyler Stephenson has been a bright spot, extending his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI double that sparked a six-run seventh inning on Wednesday. Will Benson followed with a three-run homer that briefly gave the Reds a 6-5 lead, but their bullpen was unable to hold the advantage.

Reds manager David Bell acknowledged the effort but lamented the team’s inability to close out the game. “We put together a really nice inning with two outs. Come all the way back and take the lead, and their offense was able to turn it around against us,” Bell said.

Spotlight on Rookie Pitchers in Series Finale

Thursday’s series finale will feature a matchup of two young right-handers making their third MLB appearances. Oakland will send J.T. Ginn to the mound for his first major league start. The 25-year-old has shown promise in relief, posting a 2.45 ERA in limited action.

Cincinnati will counter with Julian Aguiar, a 23-year-old rookie who has impressed in his first two starts. Aguiar, named the Reds’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2023, earned his first major league win last Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing just two runs over six strong innings.

Aguiar is determined to make his mark, saying, “My mentality wasn’t to come up here and think, ‘I’m going to be here for a week.’ It was, ‘Come take a spot.'”

Looking Ahead

The Athletics will look to continue their winning ways and complete the sweep, bolstered by their recent offensive surge and the promising debut of J.T. Ginn as a starter. Meanwhile, the Reds will be eager to end their skid and salvage the final game of the series behind their young pitcher, Julian Aguiar.

This matchup between two rebuilding teams offers a glimpse into the future, as both clubs evaluate young talent and look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.