The Phillies avoided a 100-loss season last year by one game while the Reds finished just a game better than Philadelphia. Both teams went into an all-out rebuilding and both are wondering if they’ve bottomed out.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
Don’t expect either the Phillies or Reds to contend for anything but last place in their respective division this season. The Phils were the only team preventing the Braves from being in the basement of the NL East last season, and they have finished at the bottom in each of the past two seasons.
Still, things are actually looking up in Philadelphia because the team has finally embraced and committed to an actual rebuild. There are a few pieces at the big league level right now, notably Maikel Franco and Odubel Herreera. But the real hope is developing in the minors and the Phils are looking to survive 2016 with an eye toward 2017. They are following in the steps of the Houston Astros, who after three straight 100-plus loss seasons, have developed a nucleus of young stars that have vaulted them into the role of favorite in the American League.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Aaron Nola lived up to the hype in an impressive rookie season last year going 6-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 13 starts after his call up in late July. The prized prospect enters 2016 as the hope of the franchise on the mound and is becoming the face of the young Phillies squad.
Nola is poised and his mound presence and composure were more veteran-like. He tossed at least six innings in seven of his starts and fanned 68 in 77.2 innings with only 19 walks. Nola did surrender 11 big flies, however, an area that could use some improvement.
Brandon Finnegan has four big league starts on his resume but will be a starter full time for the first time in his short career. He bounced between the majors and high minors, pitching in relief with Kansas City and both starting and relieving when sent down. It was only when the Reds acquired him in the Johnny Cueto deal that his development had any predictability.
He finished last season with four starts for the Reds, his first shot at starting in the majors. He posted a 4.71 ERA in those outings and the spot in the rotation is his to lose.
LIVE BETTING
There are plenty of questions surrounding the pitching staffs of both teams, mainly who will be the closer. The Reds dealt Aroldis Chapman to the Yankees during the offseason while the Phils dealt Ken Giles to the Astros. J.J. Hoover will get the first chance to fill the role vacated by Chapman as he served as the primary setup man. Hoover got seven save opportunities last season when Chapman wasn’t available and blew six of them, underscoring the difference between pitching the eighth and the ninth innings with a game on the line. The Phillies are taking a different approach, electing to start the season with a bullpen by committee with no player tabbed to fill the closer role. It’s likely we’ll see manager Pete Mackanin use his entire pen and work matchups with three left-handers available.
QUICK PICK
The Phillies are going to be offensively-challenged this season with only Franco and Herrera bona fide major league hitters in the lineup. That puts added pressure on the pitching staff to keep the team in games, and fortunately, the Phils have a good one on the bump in this one. Nola was as advertised in his cameo last season and will only get better. The Reds haven’t dumped all their name-players yet. They still have Jay Bruce, Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips on the roster, so the likelihood of some offense is in place. Nola will be sharp in his outing, but the bullpen will struggle.
Cincinnati 4, Philadelphia 3
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time moneylines, player props and inning totals. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Philadelphia Phillies versus the Cincinnati Reds will commence Wednesday, April 6, 2016, at 7:10 p.m. ET at Great American Ball Park. The matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
