Strider is the headliner but the line is honest about why — his last start in Boston was a grinder (5 IP, 3 ER, 5 K, 3 BB, 87 pitches) and he's walked 15 in 26 innings on the year. The stuff is back, the command is still catching up. Against a Reds lineup that has scored 5 runs in 2 days, that's a problem he can probably outpitch.
Lodolo, on the other hand, was excellent his last time out against the Mets — 6 IP, 1 ER, 7 K, 0 walks on 98 pitches. The issue is what surrounds that start: a 5.57 ERA and a Reds team that has been running out a backup-heavy roster. Cincinnati is still without Hunter Greene, Rhett Lowder, Jose Trevino, and Ke'Bryan Hayes, and the bullpen got thinner when Pierce Johnson landed on the 15-day IL this week.
- Day-To-DayBlake Burkhalter (RP) — Triple-A Gwinnett placed Burkhalter on the 7-day injured list March 27 with back spasms, Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILDrake Baldwin (C) — Baldwin (oblique) doesn't yet have a timeline for his return, MLB.com reports.05/26
- 10-Day-ILKyle Farmer (DH) — Farmer went 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in Sunday's rout of the Guardians.05/18
- 10-Day-ILSean Murphy (C) — Manager Walk Weiss said Tuesday that Murphy (finger) is expected to be sidelined at least eight weeks, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.05/12
- suspensionJurickson Profar (LF) — Profar will miss the full 2026 season after the appeal of his 162-game PED suspension was denied Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILSpencer Schwellenbach (SP) — Schwellenbach (elbow) has begun throwing on flat ground, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.05/26
- 60-Day-ILAJ Smith-Shawver (SP) — Manager Walt Weiss said Friday that Smith-Shawver (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions, and the next step in his rehab is to face live hitters, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.05/22
- 60-Day-ILHurston Waldrep (SP) — Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said May 13 that Waldrep (elbow) has felt fine since he began throwing bullpen sessions earlier in the month, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.05/21
- 60-Day-ILJoe Jimenez (RP) — Atlanta manager Walt Weiss revealed Wednesday that Jimenez underwent another surgery on his left knee 3-to-4 weeks ago, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.05/13
- 60-Day-ILDanny Young (RP) — Atlanta transferred Young (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJoey Wentz (RP) — Atlanta placed Wentz (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
- Day-To-DayDane Myers (CF) — Myers went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during the Reds' 7-4 loss to the Guardians on Saturday.05/30
- Day-To-DayConnor Burns (C) — no05/08
- Day-To-DayJosh Staumont (RP) — The Twins reinstated Staumont (calf) from the 15-day injured list Friday and optioned him to Triple-A St. Paul, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILJose Trevino (C) — Trevino (hamstring) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday, MLB.com reports.05/27
- 10-Day-ILKe'Bryan Hayes (3B) — Hayes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.05/22
- 15-Day-ILPierce Johnson (RP) — Johnson threw a scoreless seventh inning in Tuesday's win over the Phillies to pick up his fourth hold of the season. He struck out two while allowing a walk.05/30
- 15-Day-ILRhett Lowder (SP) — Lowder (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.05/27
- 15-Day-ILEmilio Pagan (RP) — Pagan (hamstring) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday to check on his healing, MLB.com reports.05/27
- OutCarson Spiers (SP) — The Reds re-signed Spiers (elbow) to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Monday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILGraham Ashcraft (RP) — Ashcraft allowed four runs on one hit and three walks without retiring a batter in the eighth inning of Friday's 7-6 win over Cleveland.05/29
- 60-Day-ILHunter Greene (SP) — Greene (elbow) threw a successful bullpen session Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.05/26
- 60-Day-ILBrandon Williamson (SP) — The Reds transferred Williamson (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08
The total sits at 8.5 with the over juiced to -116, which feels about right for a midday game in a bandbox with one shaky starter. If you're betting Atlanta, the moneyline at -132 is the cleanest play — the -1.5 has paid both games but Strider's pitch count has been an adventure all year. Reds need a Lodolo gem and an early lead, otherwise this is a sweep waiting to happen.