Reds vs Brewers Odds, Picks, and Betting Lines (August 26)

• Oddsmakers are calling the Milwaukee Brewers-Cincinnati Reds National League afternoon game slated for Thursday, August 26 a toss up
• Both Cincinnati and Milwaukee are given the same -110 odds to win the game
• Entering play Wednesday, the Brewers had won four in a row from the Reds but Cinci had won six of the past 11 meetings

Oddsmakers aren’t prepared to give an edge to either team entering Thursday’s final game of a three-game set between the Cincinnati Reds (69-59, 33-30 away) and Milwaukee Brewers (78-49, 38-28 home). Both clubs are being given -110 odds to win this one.

Thursday’s first pitch is slated for 2:10pm ET at American Family Field. Rain is in the forecast, along with 5 mph wind and a temperature of 81 degrees.

Reds vs Brewers Odds

Odds as of August 25th at DraftKings.

On the surface, recent numbers would suggest that the Milwaukee Brewers hold an edge over the Cincinnati Reds. However, dig back into the past a little bit deeper and that’s hardly the case.

Prior to Wednesday’s game between these National League Central Division rivals, Milwaukee owned four consecutive victories over Cincinnati. However, through the past 11 games it was the Reds who maintained a slight 6-5 advantage over the Brew Crew.

Milwaukee was holding a healthy 8.5-game lead over the Reds atop the NL Central following their 7-4 come-from-behind win over Cinci on Tuesday. The Reds blew a 4-1 lead in that game, as the Brewers scored a combined six runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Cincinnati continued to cling to a one-game lead over the San Diego Padres for the second NL Wild-Card playoff spot.

Gray vs Anderson

The even-steven approach of the bookmakers carries over to the pitching mound in this matchup.  Although Cincinnati’s Sonny Gray is a right-hander and Milwaukee’s Brett Anderson is a lefty, they are statistical twins in a couple of ways.  Both Gray and Anderson sport an ERA of 4.15. Anderson shows a 1.31 WHIP, one tick lower than Gray’s 1.32.

Gray is unbeaten in his last three decisions but he’s 1-3 against the NL Central. He’s faced Milwaukee three times this season and is 0-1. The Cinci righty allowed three earned runs over six innings during a 4-3 loss on May 22.

On June 8, Gray was working on a two-hit shutout with five strikeouts through three innings. Warming up for the fourth inning, Gray suffered a right groin strain that put him out until July 2. Gray was tagged with an 8-0 loss on July 18, allowing five earned runs in 4.2 innings.

Milwaukee southpaw Anderson is winless in his last two decisions. He’s 2-6 since April 23. Anderson has faced the Reds three times this season and is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA.

He opposed Gray in that May 22 game but didn’t get the win. Anderson worked five innings, allowing two earned runs.  On June 9, he took a 7-3 loss.  Anderson allowed five runs, four earned, in three innings. He faced the Reds again on June 15, a 2-1 loss. Anderson twirled a one-hit shutout for seven innings, fanning nine but got no verdict.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

Brewers shortstop Willy Adames is 4-for-7 against Gray with a homer and two RBI. Centerfielder Jackie Bradley Jr is 5-for-15 (.333) with nine RBI. Third baseman Luis Urias is 4-for-9 (.444) with a solo homer. Outfielder Lorenzo Cain is 7-for-19 (.368) with an RBI.

Reds right fielder Nick Castellanos is 8-for-24 (.333) with a homer and four RBI off of Anderson. Third baseman Mike Moustakas is 4-for-9 (.444) with an RBI. Third baseman Eugenio Suarez is just 3-for-15 (.200) but that includes a pair of homers and four RBI.

Reds vs Brewers Pick

Cincinnati has struggled all season against southpaw starters. The team batting average slumps to .231 against lefties, compared to .258 vs right-handers. Slugging (.450-.381) and on-base percentages (.339-.314) also dip significantly.

They’ve hit 142 of their 176 homers off of righties.

Pick: Milwaukee Brewers moneyline (-110)