Cincinnati Reds vs Atlanta Braves Picks and Predictions September 17th 2024

Both the Braves and Reds are sending young pitchers to the mound on Tuesday, as Grant Holmes is starting for the Braves, and Brandon Williamson is starting for the Reds. Coming into the game, the Braves are 81-69, while the Reds are 73-78. This game is set to get started at 6:40 PM ET from Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

The over/under line is currently at 9 runs, and the Braves are favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -120 compared to the Reds at +102. Cincinnati has won two straight, while the Braves have lost two in a row. BSSO is carrying this game on TV.

Atlanta vs. Cincinnati Key Information

• Teams: Braves at Reds
• Where: Great American Ball Park Cincinnati
• Date: Tuesday, September 17th
• Betting Odds ATL -120 | CIN +102 O/U 9

The Braves Can Win If…

Right-hander Grant Holmes gets the start for the Braves today as he faces the Reds on the road. He has made 22 appearances this year and has a record of 2-1 with a 3.79 ERA. Out of his 22 appearances, Holmes has made one quality start and is averaging 8.89 strikeouts per nine innings. Looking back at his last outing, Holmes came out of the bullpen and didn’t allow a run in one inning of work. He finished with a no-decision in that outing. Before that, he had given up at least one earned run in three straight outings.

As a team, the Braves are averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 16th in the league. They have been a better offensive team on the road this season, averaging 4.6 runs per game. Atlanta has been a good home run hitting team this season and have the 6th best isolated power mark in the league. So far, they have a team batting average of .240, which is 15th in the MLB.

Marcell Ozuna has been the Braves’ top hitter this season, batting .302 with 37 home runs and 98 RBIs. He is also on a good stretch right now, going 9/20 in his last six games. Matt Olson is 2nd on the team with 25 homers but is batting just .238 for the season. Jorge Soler has also been hot of late, going 9/20 in his last six games and is currently on a six-game hitting streak.

• The Braves are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Braves are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Atlanta has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Braves have an average of 3.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Braves are 6-4
• Looking back across the Braves last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Atlanta has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Braves have averaged 5.2 runs per game on offense

The Reds Can Win If…

Brandon Williamson will be getting the start for the Reds today, and he has been solid in his first two outings of the season. He has gone 5 innings in each of his first two appearances, and in his last start, he struck out 5 and allowed 3 hits and 1 earned run.

Elly De La Cruz has been a consistent run producer for the Reds this season, as his 69 RBIs are 2nd on the team, and he is batting a solid .257. De La Cruz has also gone deep 24 times, which is the best mark on the team. Spencer Steer has 19 homers this season, but is batting just .232. However, he has gone 11/31 in his last nine games and is currently on a three-game hitting streak.

For the season, the Reds are averaging 4.4 runs per game and are also 14th in the league in home runs. As a team, they are batting just .233, which is 19th in the league, and have the 24th most strikeouts in the league.

• The Reds are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Reds are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Cincinnati has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Reds have an average of 4.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Reds are 5-5
• Looking back across the Reds last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Cincinnati has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Reds have averaged 3.4 runs per game on offense

Braves Face Reds in Must-Win Series to Keep NL Wild-Card Hopes Alive

The Atlanta Braves are feeling the heat as they continue their pursuit of the final National League wild-card spot. Kicking off a crucial three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night, the Braves (81-69) sit just one game behind the New York Mets in the wild-card standings. Following a 9-0 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, Atlanta needs a strong performance in Cincinnati to keep their postseason dreams alive.

Braves Look to Bounce Back After Tough Loss

After dropping the first three games of their season series against Cincinnati, the Braves will be looking for redemption and need every win to avoid losing further ground in the wild-card race. With just two weeks left in the regular season, the pressure is on for Atlanta to come out strong in this series.

The Braves’ rookie Grant Holmes (2-1, 3.79 ERA) will take the mound, making his first start since August 14. Holmes has primarily been used as a reliever, pitching 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief against the Reds earlier this month. This outing marks a critical start for Holmes, as Atlanta leans on him to deliver a much-needed performance.

Adding to their urgency, the Braves are anticipating the return of second baseman Ozzie Albies, who has been sidelined since July 21 due to a fractured wrist. Albies is set to begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday and could rejoin the team later this week. Though Albies may only bat right-handed due to lingering discomfort, his presence could provide a significant boost for Atlanta.

Cincinnati Playing Spoiler Role

While the Reds (73-78) are out of playoff contention, they have the opportunity to play spoiler and potentially clinch their first season series victory over Atlanta since 2019. Despite their struggles, Cincinnati has fared well against the Braves this year and will be looking to finish the season on a high note.

On the mound for the Reds will be Brandon Williamson (0-0, 2.08 ERA), who has impressed in limited appearances this season. Williamson is coming off a strong performance against the St. Louis Cardinals, where he allowed just one run over five innings. This will be his fourth appearance of the year and his first time facing Atlanta, giving the young left-hander a chance to further establish himself.

Cincinnati is using the final stretch of the season to evaluate its young talent, with key starters like Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft, Nick Lodolo, and Andrew Abbott all sidelined. Manager David Bell has been particularly pleased with Williamson’s development, noting the effectiveness of his fastball and cutter.

What’s at Stake

With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Braves are locked in a fierce battle for the final NL wild-card spot. Every game matters, and a strong showing in Cincinnati will be crucial for Atlanta as they try to claw their way into the postseason. The Braves’ pitching staff will be key to keeping the Reds’ offense in check, while their lineup will need to capitalize on opportunities at the plate.

For the Reds, spoiling the Braves’ playoff chances could be a motivating factor as they play out their season. Cincinnati’s young arms, including Williamson, will be eager to make their mark as they look toward the future.

With playoff implications on the line, this series promises to be an intense battle as the Braves aim to keep their postseason hopes alive.

The Lean

Today’s Braves and Reds matchup should feature plenty of offense, as this is our 2nd highest projected scoring game of the day. For an over/under pick, we would be leaning towards the over. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Braves to pick up the win. Atlanta’s offense is our highest projected in the league today in terms of hits, runs, and home runs. Grant Holmes is 3rd among today’s starters in projected innings pitched.