Cincinnati Reds vs Milwaukee Brewers Prediction: Reds will close the margins

On Friday, Major League Baseball action will take place at Great American Ball Park between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds. Just recently, the Brewers finished a series against the Blue Jays. On Thursday, Milwaukee lost by two runs after splitting the first two games. The Red Sox's series with Cincinnati has concluded. Cincinnati lost the series finale by six runs after winning the first two games. 

The Reds won both games against the Red Sox, 9-8 on Tuesday and 5-4 on Wednesday. During the conclusion of the game on Thursday, Cincinnati gave up eight runs, including six in the eighth inning. The starting pitcher, Hunter Greene, went 6.0 innings, allowing one earned run on two hits and three walks. The Reds have a record of 18-40 in their previous 58 games against right-handed starters and a record of 3-8 in their last 11 games played on Friday. In the first game of their previous seven series, Cincinnati had a record of 5-2.

The Blue Jays defeated the Brewers by a score of 7-2 in the first game of this week's series, but they came back to win game two by a score of 4-2 in their favor. On Thursday, Milwaukee lost by a score of 3-1 in the series' deciding game. During his 6.0 innings of work, starting pitcher Freddy Peralta allowed three runs, three of which were earned, on six hits and two walks. The Brewers have a record of 4-10 in their previous 14 games played away from home, including a 2-5 record against left-handed starting pitchers in their most recent seven road games. In their previous five games to start a series, Milwaukee had a record of 0-5 (losing all five).

In this game, I'll bet on the Brewers, but the line is too high for me to take any chances. Burnes, however, will require a strong beginning. After struggling against Houston on May 22 (5.0 innings, five earned in a loss), Burnes pitched well against the Giants in his most recent start, allowing only one run across 7.0 innings. On Thursday, Milwaukee's pitching staff did an excellent job despite giving up three runs in the first inning. The Brewers' offense will need to step up if they want to win this game, though.