Padres vs Reds Odds, and Picks (June 30)

• The Padres lost to the Pirates, 5-4, on Thursday.
• Cincinnati defeated the Orioles in extra innings, 11-7.
• The Reds are 344-304 in their all-time history against San Diego.

The Padres (37-44) and the Reds (43-38) take each other on in an NL clash. Cincinnati reclaimed the top spot in their division, while the Padres remain in 4th place. Both teams enter with real playoff aspirations.

How to Watch

• Bally Sports

Preview

San Diego continues to slide, having now lost 8 of their last 10 games. They currently hold a 5-game losing streak, after being swept by the struggling Pirates earlier in the week. It’s been a disappointing season for a Padres team that had hoped to improve on last year’s success, with World Series hopes on the line. Now eight games out of 3rd place in the NL West, San Diego has some big decisions to make during the break.

The Reds lost 3 games in a row after their 11-game winning streak was snapped, but they quickly rebounded with two solid wins in Baltimore. They hold a very narrow lead over the Brewers for the lead of the NL Central division. Cincinnati still has some work to do to claim a postseason spot, but this wave of success with their very young lineup is a great indication for their future. This series is another good test.

Prediction

This is a bit of a difficult game to project. My immediate belief is that the Reds are set up to win here. They have home-field advantage, and have won 13 of their last 16 games, while the Padres have lost 8 of the last 10. That being said, Cincinnati will have to overcome a struggling Graham Ashcraft (7.17 ERA). Against Seth Lugo (4.01 ERA), the Reds may actually be at a disadvantage. I see the Padres getting the win here.

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