Cincinnati Reds vs Atlanta Braves Picks and Predictions September 19th 2024

Thursday’s Braves vs. Reds matchup has a first pitch set for 1:10 PM ET from Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The forecast looks good for the game, with temperatures in the mid to upper 60s and partly cloudy skies.

Chris Sale gets the start for the Braves, and he is facing off against Julian Aguiar. Atlanta is 82-70 and 3rd in the NL East, while the Reds are 4th in the NL Central with a record of 74-79. The over/under line is currently 8.5 runs, and the Braves are heavy money line favorites, with their odds sitting at -206 compared to the Reds at +173. The game can be seen on BSSO.

Atlanta vs. Cincinnati Key Information

Chris Sale gets the start for the Braves today and comes in with a record of 17-3 and an ERA of 2.35. So far this season, he has made 28 starts, and opponents are batting .210 off the left-hander. Sale has made 18 quality starts this year and is averaging 11.42 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, Sale went six innings, giving up one earned run and picking up the win. Before that, he had gone three straight starts without giving up an earned run. Sale has been especially tough at home, going 10-0 with a 2.75 ERA compared to 7-3 with a 2.42 ERA on the road.

Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson have been the top power hitters for the Braves this season, with Ozuna’s 38 homers leading the team and Olson’s 26 homers coming in as the 2nd most on the team. Ozuna also comes into the game with a team-high 100 RBIs, which is 9th best in the MLB. Ozuna has been very good at the plate this season, batting .306, and his on-base percentage of .382 is also the best mark on the team. Over his last eight games, Michael Harris II has gone 11/36 with four homers.

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Overall, the Braves are averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 16th in the league. Their home run total of 193 is the 6th best mark in the league, and they are also near the top of the league in isolated power. As a team, they are batting .241, and their team on-base percentage is .307.

Reds starter Julian Aguiar has made six starts this year and has a record of 2-0 with an ERA of 4.88. His WHIP for the season is 1.23. Aguiar’s last outing came on September 13th against the Twins, where he picked up the win. In that start, he went 6 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs, four walks, and two home runs. Looking back further, he has made two straight starts without giving up a homer. Opponents are batting .224 off Aguiar this season.

Elly De La Cruz comes into the game with a three-game hitting streak, and he has been one of the Reds’ top hitters this season, batting .257 with a team-leading 24 home runs. His 69 RBIs are also the 2nd most on the team. Spencer Steer and Jeimer Candelario are also tied for 2nd on the team with 20 homers, but Steer is batting just .231, and Candelario is hitting just .225.

As a team, the Reds are averaging 4.4 runs per game, which is 15th in the league. They are also 15th in home runs and have the league’s 18th best batting average. Cincinnati’s offense has been swinging the bats well of late, as TJ Friedl has gone 9/19 in his last five games with two homers and six RBIs.

For an over/under pick, our lean would be on the over, as this is projected to be the 2nd lowest-scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Reds to pick up the win. Atlanta’s offense has the 4th worst team hits projection, and Julian Aguiar has the 5th lowest earned runs projection among today’s starters.

Braves Look to Secure Series Victory Over Reds to Bolster Playoff Hopes

The Atlanta Braves are heading into the final game of their three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds with one goal in mind: improving their chances in the playoff race. After a dominant 7-1 win on Wednesday, Atlanta aims to keep the momentum going as they eye a potential wild-card spot in the National League.

Veteran designated hitter Marcell Ozuna played a pivotal role in Wednesday’s victory, coming through with a big night at the plate. His two doubles and home run propelled the Braves, as they look to finish the series on a high note.

Marcell Ozuna’s Resurgence Fuels Braves’ Push

Marcell Ozuna’s season has been a tale of two halves. Through the first two months of the 2023 season, Ozuna was struggling, batting just .213 with 11 home runs and 22 RBIs. However, the veteran slugger has since found his stride, delivering clutch performances at the plate as the season progressed.

Ozuna’s two-run homer on Wednesday marked his first in 27 games, bringing his season total to 38. He now stands just two homers away from his second consecutive 40-homer, 100-RBI season.

Reflecting on his turnaround, Ozuna said, “It means a lot. After last year, the rough start, this year started the way that I wanted and I’ve kept it going all year. It’s been amazing and special for me.”

Ozuna’s return to form has been a significant factor in Atlanta’s offense, and manager Brian Snitker was quick to praise the veteran’s perseverance.

“It’s been awesome. He’s probably gonna be another 40 and 100 guy. Nobody would’ve thought that from where he started last year. I’m proud of the man, what he’s done and how he’s hung in there, and I know his teammates really appreciate him, too,” Snitker said.

With Ozuna leading the charge offensively, the Braves find themselves just two games behind the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks for the final two National League wild-card spots. For Atlanta, every game is crucial as they attempt to close the gap and secure a place in the postseason.

Braves Focus on Winning, Not the Standings

Despite the playoff race tightening up, Ozuna and the Braves aren’t letting the pressure of the standings affect their focus.

“The standings, we don’t worry about it,” Ozuna said after Wednesday’s win. “As a player, we don’t worry about it. We just go out there and have fun and win the game. If we don’t win the game, we’re not gonna catch them.”

This relaxed but determined attitude has helped the Braves keep their sights set on winning each game, rather than being consumed by the standings. With just over a week remaining in the regular season, their approach could be key in determining whether they make a postseason push.

Reds Eliminated but Continuing to Fight

On the other side of the field, the Cincinnati Reds saw their playoff hopes officially come to an end with Wednesday’s loss. Entering the season with high hopes, the Reds’ campaign has been derailed by injuries and suspensions, leaving them short of their goals.

Key players like Matt McLain, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and TJ Friedl have all dealt with significant time on the injured list, while third baseman Noelvi Marte’s 80-game suspension for violating MLB’s performance-enhancing substance policy further hurt the team’s depth.

In addition to their offensive struggles, the Reds’ pitching staff has been decimated, with four of their top five starting pitchers currently sidelined with injuries. This combination of setbacks left Cincinnati unable to build momentum, despite a promising 14-10 start to the season.

“It doesn’t change anything for us,” Reds manager David Bell said after their elimination. “Obviously, that’s the goal, and that’s the only thing that matters. But at this point, it doesn’t. We’ll continue to play hard like we have all year.”

While the Reds may not be playing for a playoff spot anymore, Bell’s squad remains committed to finishing the season strong, and they will continue to push forward in their remaining games.

Chris Sale Takes the Mound for Braves

As Atlanta looks to close out the series with a win, they’ll send their ace left-hander Chris Sale to the mound. Sale, who has been in dominant form this season, is a top contender for the National League Cy Young Award, boasting a 17-3 record with a 2.35 ERA.

Sale has been on a tear, winning seven consecutive decisions over his past 13 starts. He hasn’t lost a game since June 27, when the Braves were shut out by the Chicago White Sox.

The eight-time All-Star will be making only his second career appearance against the Reds. His last outing against Cincinnati came on June 1, 2023, while he was still with the Boston Red Sox. In that game, Sale allowed one run on five hits but was forced to leave early with a shoulder injury, which kept him sidelined for over two months.

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With Sale on the mound, the Braves are in good hands as they look to secure another win and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Julian Aguiar Looks to Build on Solid Start for Reds

Opposing Sale will be Cincinnati rookie right-hander Julian Aguiar, who will be making the seventh start of his debut season. Aguiar has shown flashes of promise, posting a 2-0 record with a 4.88 ERA. In his most recent start against the Minnesota Twins, Aguiar allowed three runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings, earning a road win.

Aguiar will face the Braves for the first time in his young career, and he’ll be looking to build on his last outing as he aims to slow down Atlanta’s hot bats.

While Aguiar’s performance this season has been inconsistent, his ability to go deep into games will be an asset for a Reds team that has struggled to find reliable arms in their injury-depleted rotation.

Final Game Holds Importance for Braves’ Playoff Chase

As the Braves take the field for the series finale, they’ll be playing for much more than just another win. With the playoff race heating up, every victory is crucial for Atlanta’s hopes of securing a wild-card spot.

Behind the dominant presence of Chris Sale and the resurgent bat of Marcell Ozuna, the Braves are well-positioned to take this series and keep the pressure on the Mets and Diamondbacks.

For the Reds, the game represents an opportunity to play spoiler and continue building towards next season. With young players like Julian Aguiar gaining valuable experience, Cincinnati will look to finish their season on a high note despite being out of playoff contention.

As both teams take the field, expect an intense and competitive matchup, as the Braves aim to take one step closer to October.