The Reds just got back to Cincinnati off a successful six-game road trip where they went 5-1. They had Thursday off, and they met the Tigers and Framber Valdez today. Rain is expected today with temperatures at 74┬░ and the wind blowing out to left field at 9 mph. Valdez has been excellent in his last two starts, while Andrew Abbott is looking for last year's groove. Buy low, sell high. The bet is on Abbott finding himself aided by the best bullpen in baseball.
Seems a fair price as the Reds ... you know listening (guess reading) in Discord everyone likes underdogs. And I think Cincy +115 is a solid shot and probably a popular play Friday. But this is a quite cheap +1.5 price so why not take a one-run loss out of the equation? The Reds are 6-0 in one-run games, though. I miss the no-man-on-second days when a +1.5 ticket was nearly an auto-cash in extras. Definitely not that now. The Tigers played Thursday and the Reds didn't. So there's a bullpen advantage. We are getting this cheap because Reds starter Andrew Abbott has not been very good. But he was terrific his first three seasons and will see a tired Tigers bunch.
McGonigle went 2-for-3 with a walk, a two-run home run and two additional runs scored in Thursday's 11-0 win over the Mariners.
Valdez (7-7) earned the win Thursday over the Mariners, allowing five hits and two walks over seven scoreless innings. He struck out five.
Dingler went 3-for-6 with a home run, an additional run scored and three total RBI in Thursday's 11-0 win over the Mariners.
De La Cruz went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Athletics.
Stewart went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Athletics.
Bleday went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Thursday's 6-5 win over the Athletics. He was also caught stealing.
The Tigers signed Zavala to a minor-league contract with an assignment to Triple-A Toledo, Emily Waldon of Baseball America Reports.
Burke secured the save against the Athletics on Thursday, allowing two runs on two hits and no walks in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
Abbott (6-7) earned the win against the Athletics on Thursday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks in 6.2 innings. He struck out four.
The Reds claimed Solesky off waivers from the Rays on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Louisville.
