Dodgers vs Reds Odds, Picks, and Probable Pitchers (Sep. 18)
By Paul Attfield in MLB Baseball
Published:
- The Dodgers are fighting for a division title, while the Reds are battling to get into the playoffs
- Cincinnati took a crucial 3-1 decision in Game 1 of this three-game series on Friday night
- Read on for a preview, full odds and a best bet for this pivotal Saturday matinee contest
The Los Angeles Dodgers (94-54, 42-31 away) visit the Cincinnati Reds (77-71, 39-33 home) for a matinee 2:10 p.m. ET game on Saturday, September 18th, for Game 2 of their three-game series.
The Reds drew first blood in the series with a 3-1 decision on Friday night, allowing them to stay just one game back of the St. Louis Cardinals in the second wild-card spot. The defeat meant that the Dodgers lost ground on the San Francisco Giants in the race for the NL West crown.
Dodgers vs Reds Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | -190 | -1.5 (-115) | Over 8.5 (-105) |
| Cincinnati Reds | +160 | +1.5 (-105) | Under 8.5 (-115) |
Odds as of September 17th at DraftKings
Probable Pitchers
Saturday’s contest will likely hinge on a high-caliber pitching duel between two all-star hurlers. The Dodgers will be confident of coming out on top with three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer taking the mound, just days after registering his 3,000th career strikeout.
3K career strikeouts for Max Scherzer 😤
The 19th player ever in MLB history 🔥
(via @Dodgers)pic.twitter.com/QLFNRo0OH7
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 12, 2021
Despite switching the East Coast to the West Coast on trade deadline day this year, the right-hander has maintained his otherworldly level of pitching excellence, and is currently on a 10-game winning streak entering this start. With a 14-4 record this year, Scherzer also enters the game as the NL leader in ERA (2.17), WHIP (0.82) and opponents’ batting average (.175).
Scherzer vs Gray Stats
| 14-4 | Record | 7-7 |
| 2.17 | ERA | 3.80 |
| 162.0 | Innings Pitched | 120.2 |
| 219 | SO | 141 |
| 33 | BB | 42 |
As good as Scherzer was with Washington, he’s been arguably even better with the Dodgers, going 6-0 with a 0.88 ERA in eight starts with Los Angeles.
Max Scherzer has a 0.88 ERA in 8 starts with the Dodgers with the team winning all of his starts.
No pitcher since earned runs became official in 1913 has ever had a lower ERA in their 1st 8 games pitched with a team, all starts. pic.twitter.com/mlvbECsksw
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 13, 2021
He’ll likely be looking to even the score with the Reds too, after Cincinnati picked up the win against him at Nationals Park back in May. Scherzer pitched well that game, giving up five hits and two runs in seven innings, but it wasn’t enough as Cincy picked up a 2-1 win.
That was one of the few times the Reds came out on top against Scherzer, with the eight-time all-star going 5-2 with a 2.09 ERA in eight starts against them.
Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers
| Reds Batters | Batting Average vs Max Scherzer |
|---|---|
| Tucker Barnhart | .250 |
| Asdrubal Cabrera | .111 |
| Nick Castellanos | .167 |
| Delino DeShields | .000 |
| Kyle Farmer | .333 |
| Jonathan India | .000 |
| Mike Moustakas | .333 |
| Tyler Stephenson | .000 |
| Eugenio Suarez | .182 |
| Joey Votto | .091 |
| Jesse Winker | .000 |
| Dodgers Batters | Batting Average vs Sonny Gray |
| Austin Barnes | .000 |
| Cody Bellinger | .500 |
| Mookie Betts | .167 |
| Gavin Lux | .000 |
| Max Muncy | .000 |
| Albert Pujols | .286 |
| Chris Taylor | .000 |
| Justin Turner | .333 |
| Trea Turner | .385 |
After seeing his five-game win streak come to an end against St. Louis last Sunday, Sonny Gray will attempt to rekindle that winning feeling here against the Dodgers. His 7-7 record and 3.80 ERA are some way off his all-star form of 2019, but he played well during that win streak, posting an ERA of 2.89 over an eight-start stretch, with an opposing batting average of just .175.
Just how good has Sonny Gray been lately?
👇 THIS good. 👇 pic.twitter.com/P0ZGHVOrVa
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) September 12, 2021
Gray has already faced the defending World Series champions once this year, giving up two earned runs across 5.1 innings of an eventual 8-0 loss. That April 28 outing was the second loss of his career against the Dodgers in three starts, with Gray getting the win in his first time against Los Angeles, when he pitched a complete-game shutout back in 2015.
Sonny Gray reflects on his tough-luck loss and his one mistake pitch in an otherwise stellar seven-inning performance. pic.twitter.com/DDs5al9Yy2
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) September 12, 2021
Reds On Top
Needing every win in its quest to return to the postseason for a second straight year, Cincinnati will be hoping to continue its recent mastery over the world champions, currently holding a 3-1 edge. However, season-series dominance has varied greatly year to year.
Although the teams didn’t compete against each other in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, the Dodgers owned a 5-1 edge in 2019. The year prior, however, the Reds took the series 6-1, while Los Angeles ran roughshod over Cincinnati 6-0 in 2017.
Dodgers vs Reds Prediction
Neither team is likely to take its foot off the accelerator in this contest, not that either starting pitcher would let them, mind. However, it is always hard to look past any team with Max Scherzer on the mound, particularly one that managed just one run the night before, despite boasting an offense that has scored an NL-best 744 runs.
Best bet: Dodgers -1.5 (-115)
Sports Writer
For the last 20 years, Paul Attfield has worked in sports media. Starting out in his native Britain with the likes of The Independent, he eventually switched continents, with his work appearing in the likes of the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and Yahoo Sports since.
