Cincinnati Reds (3-3) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (2-5)
April 9, 2023 1:05 pm EDT
The Line: Philadelphia Phillies -196 / Cincinnati Reds +150; Over/Under: +8
(Get latest betting odds)
The Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies meet Sunday in MLB action from Citizens Bank Park. This will be the finale in a three-game weekend series. The Phillies took a three-run win in the Friday opener, then on Saturday Philly kept it going with a close walk-off victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds were out-hit 10-6 in the Friday game, limping to a 5-2 loss despite a 2-2 tie in the seventh. On Saturday, Cincinnati had a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth but the bullpen couldn’t hold it in a 3-2 loss. Starter Nick Lodolo managed 7.0 clean frames with three hits and two walks alongside 12 Ks.
As starter for the Sunday finale, the Reds will send out Graham Ashcraft. In his first start of the year Ashcraft put up 7.0 innings with one earned on four hits and a walk. He’s 6-6 in his MLB career with a 4.66 ERA in 20 starts.
Philadephia Phillies
Over on the Philadelphia side, they scored twice in the seventh inning on Friday on the way to the victory. In the Saturday game the Phillies got a walk-off single from Byron Stott to cap the comeback win. Bailey Falter went 5.0 innings in the start with one earned on four hits alongside two Ks.
Taijuan Walker will take the mound for Philly on Sunday. In his first outing this season Walker lasted 4.1 innings with four earned on four hits and three walks in a loss. Walker is 54-51 in his career with a 3.91 ERA in 168 games (164 starts).
The Reds are 12-4 in their last 16 Sunday games and 9-23 in their last 32 overall. Cincinnati is 1-6 in their last seven in game three of a series.
Meanwhile, the Phillies are 15-5 in their last 20 versus the NL Central and 35-17 in their last 52 at home. Philly is 3-7 in their last 10 Sunday games.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll try the Reds in this one. Ashcraft posted a great outing in his first start April 2 versus the Pirates, going 7.0 innings in a victory. The Reds won that one 3-1, so if Ashcraft is on point again then a few runs should go a long way. As for Walker, he had a rough outing in his 2023 debut but should look better here. On Saturday Cincinnati had a pretty solid handle on things for most of the game; the ninth inning was an unfortunate setback, however. That said, I think the Reds have a decent shot at a bounce-back effort to stop the sweep in Sunday’s game.
