Upcoming Match-ups

Braves vs Reds Odds, Picks & Predictions (June 23)

Chris Amberley

by Chris Amberley in MLB Baseball

Updated Jun 22, 2023 · 7:00 PM PDT

Ronald Acuna Jr. rips an RBI hit versus the Reds
Apr 11, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) hits an RBI single against the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
  • The Braves vs Reds odds list Atlanta as -150 road favorites on Friday
  • AJ Smith-Shawver (1-0, 4.34 ERA) starts for Atlanta, while Cincinnati will give the ball to Luke Weaver (1-2, 6.47 ERA)
  • Keep reading for the latest Braves vs Reds odds, picks and predictions below

Two of the hottest teams in baseball open up a three-game set in Cincinnati on Friday. The Reds (40-35, 20-18 home) enter play with an MLB-best 11-game winning streak, while the Braves (48-26, 24-11 away) have reeled off eight victories in a row.

Online sportsbooks are siding with the 2021 champs in this matchup, opening the Braves as the road chalk in the MLB odds.

Braves vs Reds Odds

Team Moneyline Runline Total
Atlanta Braves -150 -1.5 (+105) O 10.5 (-120)
Cincinnati Reds +130 +1.5 (-125) U 10.5 (+100)

Atlanta is currently a -150 moneyline favorite, in a game with a total of 10.5. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 pm ET at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH, with 59 degree temperatures and a 90% chance of rain on deck.

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Odds as of June 22 at Bet365. Claim a Bet365 bonus code to bet on Friday’s MLB action or see where Bet365 is legal in the US

Atlanta vs Cincinnati Probable Pitchers

You might think 11 straight wins and first place in the NL Central would catapult the Reds up the board in the World Series odds, but it hasn’t. Cincinnati remains an extreme long shot to win the title, boasting a +15000 price tag to do so.

The Braves hot stretch on the other hand, has only made online sportsbooks fall more in love with them. Atlanta is currently the favorite to win it all at +360, followed by Tampa Bay at +475.

Brian Snitker’s club will give the ball to rookie AJ Smith-Shawver versus the Reds, who’s been very impressive in his first two starts.

The 20-year-old has allowed only three earned runs over 12.1 innings, scattering nine hits, while striking out 11. This marks just the second season Smith-Shawver has focused exclusively on pitching, as he was a big-time college QB recruit as well coming out of high school.

https://twitter.com/HotIceBarstool/status/1669527906224046082

After a rocky 2022 in the minors, Smith-Shawver was phenomenal in A+, Double-A and Triple-A this year earning a promotion. He boasted a 1.09 ERA across all three levels, boasting a fastball that touches 98mph and a nasty slider that lands in the low-90’s.

Smith-Shawver vs Weaver Stats

AJ Smith-Shawver
VS
Luke Weaver
1-0 Record 1-2
2.03 ERA 6.47
0.98 WHIP 1.54
.188 OBA .302
2.8 SO/W Ratio 2.9

Cincinnati will counter with Luke Weaver, who’s been the weak link of the staff this season. The journeyman is on his fourth team already at age 29, and is on pace for one of his worst campaigns.

His 6.47 ERA through 11 starts is the third highest of his nine-year career, while his .566 opponent slugging percentage is the worst of his MLB tenure. Weaver has yielded 21 hits and 15 runs so far in only 13.1 June innings, and has a rough history against the Atlanta regulars in the MLB starting lineups.

The Braves bats own a lifetime .530 slugging percentage against Weaver, and an .826 OPS. Atlanta is currently MLB’s third highest scoring lineup, and have been scorching hot over the last 14 days.

Braves vs Reds Predictions

During that stretch, the Braves are averaging over seven runs per game, leading MLB in average, slugging and OPS. They’ve belted 23 home runs, three more than anyone else, led by five from Eddie Rosario, four from Matt Olson, and the three apiece for NL MVP odds frontrunner Ronald Acuna Jr, Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II.

The ladder is slashing .447/.436/.737, which isn’t too shabby for a team’s number nine hitter. That’s what makes Atlanta so tough to pitch to, because there isn’t a single hole in the lineup.

As you can see it’s easy to fall in love with the Braves in this spot, but let’s not sleep on what the Reds are doing. They are in the midst of their longest winning streak since 1957, sweeping three straight series and winning five consecutive series overall.

Braves vs Reds 2023 H2H Results

Date Away Team Home Team Result
April 12 Reds Braves ATL, 5-4
April 11 Reds Braves ATL, 7-6
April 10 Reds Braves ATL, 5-4

Jonathan India has been providing the power with four homers during their streak, while NL ROY odds candidate and rookie sensation Elly De La Cruz has been nearly impossible to contain on the base paths.

De La Cruz has scored 10 runs and swiped five bags during Cincy’s run, while posting a .317 average and .378 OBP. The Reds are averaging over six runs per outing in the past two weeks, and we’ll need to continue to produce offensively, especially with Weaver on the bump.

Cincinnati’s pitching hasn’t been nearly as effective lately, yielding five runs per game and posting a K/9 rate of only 7.75. They’re averaging 1.25 home runs allowed per outing, and a troubling home run per fly ball rate of 10.5%. Expect that to come back to haunt them against this loaded Atlanta lineup.

Pick: Over 10.5 Runs (-120), Cincinnati Reds +1.5 (-125)

 

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