Barstool Bush
Predictions

Cleveland Guardians at Cincinnati Reds

By Bush StaffUpdated 23d ago·1 min read
Cleveland GuardiansCLE(55-54)
Cincinnati RedsCIN(50-56)
6—1
FINAL
123456789RHE
CLE
0000402006120
CIN
000001000162

Joey Cantillo got the ball for Cleveland at 7:10 PM ET looking to bounce back from a rough turn against Tampa Bay, while Brady Singer took the mound for Cincinnati off one of his better starts of the year against Seattle.

Show fees
FINAL
Spread
ML
Total
Guardians(55-54)
LWPLL
6
Reds(50-56)
WLPWL
1
Best BetReds +113
Postgame

The bear case won out as the shorthanded Reds lineup managed one run in a 6-1 loss.

Pregame

The Reds were priced as home underdogs after entering the day 50-56, but Singer had quietly turned in one of his stronger starts of the season last time out. The pick banked on Cincinnati's rotation stabilizing at home even with the lineup stretched thin by injuries.

The Reds came in banged up in ways that don't show up on a scoreboard. Matt McLain and Spencer Steer are both out with lower-body injuries, Nick Lodolo is still working back from a finger issue, and the bullpen has been without Tony Santillan for weeks. That's a lot of holes for Terry Francona to paper over against a Cleveland lineup that had already shown it could erupt in bunches.

Cleveland Guardians
Joey Cantillo
(8-7)·3.91 ERA
Jul 24 @ Rays
L
3.2IP
5ER
4K
1BB
74P
07/29 Lineup
Cincinnati Reds
Brady Singer
(5-11)·4.66 ERA
Jul 22 @ Mariners
W
6.2IP
3ER
6K
1BB
101P
07/29 Lineup

It played out that way again Wednesday. The Guardians were held scoreless through four innings before a four-run fifth blew the game open, and they tacked on two more in the seventh to put it away for good.

Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland Guardians
(55-54)
Jul 28L@ Reds0-2
Jul 28W@ Reds6-5
Jul 27P@ Reds0-0
Jul 26L@ Rays0-1
Jul 25L@ Rays0-3
Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
(50-56)
Jul 28Wvs Guardians2-0
Jul 28Lvs Guardians5-6
Jul 27Pvs Guardians0-0
Jul 26W@ Cardinals5-3
Jul 25L@ Cardinals0-7

This was a series that swung hard both directions. Cleveland arrived having dropped five straight, then snapped that skid Tuesday with a Kyle Manzardo grand slam in game one of a doubleheader before Cincinnati answered with a 2-0 win in the nightcap on a highlight-reel catch in center. Wednesday's finale went the Guardians' way and gave them the series.

Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland Guardians
(1)
  • 15-Day-ILShawn Armstrong (RP) — The Guardians reinstated Armstrong (groin) from the 15-day injured list Monday.07/25
Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
(7)
  • 10-Day-ILMatt McLain (2B) — Reds manager Terry Francona said Monday that McLain (calf) will stay with Triple-A Louisville on a rehab assignment to begin the week, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.07/27
  • 10-Day-ILSpencer Steer (1B) — Steer will wear a splint for the next two weeks after being diagnosed with a partial tear of the tendon sheath in his right wrist, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.07/27
  • 10-Day-ILBlake Dunn (CF) — Dunn (elbow) suffered a setback prior to being sent on a rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.07/25
  • 15-Day-ILNick Lodolo (SP) — Lodolo (finger) threw a bullpen session Sunday, MLB.com reports.07/28
  • 15-Day-ILTony Santillan (RP) — Santillan (oblique) threw out to 75 feet Friday and experienced no discomfort, MLB.com reports.07/25
  • 60-Day-ILBrandon Williamson (SP) — Williamson (shoulder) is scheduled to face hitters Wednesday, MLB.com reports.07/21
  • 60-Day-ILGraham Ashcraft (RP) — Ashcraft (elbow) is on a throwing program, which will have him throw from 105 feet beginning July 20 at the Reds' training facility in Arizona, MLB.com reports.07/18

Cincinnati's injury list reads like a full rotation and lineup card at this point, and it's the kind of thing that erodes a team over a long stretch rather than in any one game. Singer pitched well enough to keep it competitive, but the Reds committed two errors and managed just one run of support all night.

Both clubs sit in the wrong half of .500 with nothing but pride on the line the rest of this series week, but Cleveland leaves Cincinnati having stopped the bleeding after last week's five-game slide.

Sources

MLBCleveland GuardiansCincinnati RedsPolymarketKalshiJoey CantilloBrady Singer