It might be a series in mid-April, but this weekend’s Cleveland Indians-Cincinnati Reds matchup is one of those showdowns that could ultimately decide how each team finishes when the season wraps up. The Indians (7-5 SU, 3-9 O/U) sit second in the AL Central as they prepare to visit a rival Reds team (7-5 SU, 8-4 O/U) that resides atop the NL Central through 12 games.
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Cleveland opened Friday’s all-Ohio encounter as a -108 favorite, but the odds have since shifted all the way to Cincinnati -120 (with Cleveland dropping to +110). The total, on the other hand, has remained steady at 9.
Starting Pitchers Analysis
Indians hurler Logan Allen (1-1, 2.70 ERA) looks to give Cleveland a strong outing for the third time in as many starts. Allen went just five innings in his first two turns, but limited the Royals and Tigers to a combined three runs on seven hits. Control issues have been a bit of a concern for the 23-year-old left-hander, who has eight strikeouts against five walks in his 10 innings of work.
Reds counterpart Jeff Hoffman (1-1, 3.86 ERA) has had mixed results over his first two outings, holding St. Louis to a run on three hits over five innings in a 12-1 win before getting tagged for three runs in just 4.1 innings of an 8-3 loss to Arizona. Current members of the Indians roster have posted a meager .157/.273/.229 slash line against Hoffman in his career.
Cleveland News & Notes
Pitching told the story in a split of their four-game series with the Chicago White Sox, with the Indians allowing 12 runs in their two losses and just two in their two victories.
Things are less optimistic when it comes to the lineup, which comes in batting .198 with a .275 OBP through 12 games. That has kept Cleveland’s daily fantasy salaries down, making them strong choices Friday.
Cincinnati News & Notes
The Reds have a third baseman who is firmly in the conversation for Rookie of the Year honors, even though we’re still in the early days of the season.
Jonathan India has impressed in his first taste of major-league action, slashing .333/.395/.417 with 11 RBIs in his first 11 games. His DFS salary hasn’t risen to match his production, so consider rostering him in all formats.
Betting Pick: OVER 9 (-110)
The Indians should be able to feast on a pitcher with a career 1.8 HR/9 rate, while the Reds have boasted one of the more impressive offenses in the majors so far. Add in the ballpark factor, and this one could be a slugfest.
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