The Cincinnati Reds and the San Diego Padres meet Monday in MLB action from Petco Park. The Reds are coming off a weekend series versus the A’s. Cincinnati won the first two installments of that set, then on Sunday the Reds lost in a walk-off. As for San Diego, they played the Giants in their last series, losing Saturday in a high-scoring game. On Sunday the Padres won by two runs. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds managed to beat the Athletics 11-7 on Friday, then took a 3-2 victory in the Saturday game two. On Sunday Cincinnati lost 5-4 on an Estuary Ruiz single in the bottom of the ninth. Starting pitcher Nick Lodolo lasted 5.0 innings with three earned on five hits alongside seven Ks.
Starting pitcher for Monday’s game will be Luke Weaver. In his two starts this year Weaver is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA and 16 Ks in 11.2 innings. Weaver is 24-37 in his career with a 4.87 ERA over 117 games (83 starts).
San Diego Padres
Over on the Padres’ side, they won a wild 16-11 outcome against the Giants in the first game of the weekend in Mexico City. On Sunday San Diego came back from a 4-0 deficit for a 6-4 victory. Yu Darvish went 6.0 frames in the start with nine Ks and four earned on nine hits.
For the starter job in the Monday game the Padres are going with Blake Snell. So far in five starts Snell is 0-4 with a 5.48 ERA and 26 strikeouts over 23.0 innings. In his career, Snell is 57-50 with a 3.47 ERA in 164 starts.
The Reds are 4-1 in their last five Monday games and 4-1 in their last five in game one of a series. Cincinnati is 19-42 in their last 61 versus the NL West.
Meanwhile, the Padres are 2-5 in their last seven in game one of a series and the under is 13-6-1 in their last 20 Monday games. The over is 3-1-1 in San Diego’s last five versus a team with a losing record.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably stay with the Padres in this one. Weaver has been struggling a bit over his first two starts of the year. He’s got 10 combined earned runs on 12 hits and four walks over 11.2 total innings. San Diego should have some offensive opportunities if Weaver can’t get off to a good start. On Sunday the Padres took a while to get going but eventually pulled off 10 team hits in the comeback victory. Luis Garcia and Josh Hader combined for 3.0 innings, no hits, no walks and no earned in a great bullpen outing, and Darvish recovered from a rough start. Another quality pitching showing like that and San Diego will be in great shape.