Red hot Cincinnati Reds travel to cool San Diego for three-game series

With the All-Star break right around the corner, Major League Baseball features a few interesting match-ups this week such as a three-game series between the Reds (43-38, 24-20 away) visiting the Padres (35-47, 20-23 home).

Cincinnati comes into San Diego with a six-game winning streak and former Padres pitcher Mat Latos (1-0, 2.89 ERA) towing the rubber. Latos has surrendered only two runs with 14 strikeouts over 13 innings in his two career starts as an opponent at Petco Park.

Red Manager Bryan Price said, “We know he is a guy that is able to reach 96, 97, in the years past, but I think it is part of the process in building up arm strength after the surgery.”

Helping out Latas will be third baseman Todd Frazier, who in his last 14 games is hitting .344 with three homers and 11 RBIs, as well as streaking Reds Outfielder Jay Bruce.

Bruce said of Latas, “It’s almost like getting somebody in a trade, not having him all year and have him come back and pitch well so far since he’s been back. It’s something we definitely welcome and look forward to as a team.”

As for the Padres, the team has struggled so far this season, as well as of late scoring only four runs and hitting .130 during its last four games. Pitching for San Diego is Jesse Hahn (3-1, 2.38), who currently has a three-game winning streak.

Considering the Reds’ firepower and Padres’ power outage, the under at 6.5 is something to consider. While the Reds are 21-22-1 o/u in away games, the Padres are 14-27-2 o/u at home.