First place in the NL West is on the line as the Los Angeles Dodgers travel to Great American Ballpark to take on the Cincinnati Reds. Join us for our MLB odds series as our Dodgers-Reds prediction and pick will be made.

 

After losing two of three to the Guardians at home over the weekend, LA now is in danger of falling to second place in the hectic National League West. With the San Diego Padres' stellar play of late, the importance 0f winning this game is critical for the boys in blue. Taking the mound this evening for Los Angeles will be the nearly perfect righty Tony Gonsolin, who has compiled a flawless 8-0 record with an elite 1.42 ERA.

The last-place Reds enter play after dropping their last four contests and will seek to get back on track this Tuesday evening. With a record of 23-43, Cincinnati will desperately call upon RHP Tyler Mahle to try to turn their season around, as the right-handed twirler is 32-5 with a 4.46 ERA.

Here are the Dodgers-Reds MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Dodgers-Reds Odds

Los Angeles Dodgers: -1.5 (-122)

Cincinnati Reds: +1.5 (+102)

Over: 9 (-122)

Under: 9 (+100)

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Why The Dodgers Could Cover the Spread

The Dodgers may have lost five out of their last eight and are 8-11 in their previous 19 contests, but this squad certainly has the makings to go on another run at a World Series title. This series against the Reds could be coming at a perfect time for LA as facing off versus one of the worst teams in the NL record-wise could be just what the doctor ordered.

While the batting average at the plate has slightly dipped to a .247 mark, now good for 13th in the majors, this Dodgers offensive onslaught still belongs in the upper class of hitting teams in the league. Los Angeles has an uncanny ability to get 0n-base in any way possible, as the Dodgers have the second-best on-base percentage in all of baseball with a .328 percentage. This has benefitted LA greatly when it comes to run production, as 326 men have crossed the plate throughout the course of the Dodgers' 2022 campaign.

With the offense able to wreak havoc at any given point, the biggest name that could leave the largest impact on this one resides from the rubber. Tony Gonsolin has been one of baseball's premier pitchers as the month of June progresses, as the Dodgers hurler has yet to be defeated when he suits up for a start. In his last outing, Gonsolin was absolutely phenomenal, as he only surrendered a single hit over the course of six innings pitched in the shutout victory over the crosstown rival Angels a week ago. Gonsolin should be largely responsible for a win-covering spread on Tuesday, as the 28-year-old has only allowed seven runs in 30 innings tossed out on the road.

Why The Reds Could Cover the Spread

In a world that is ever-changing in each second of every day, the Reds have at least stayed consistent in continuing to be a disappointing franchise. Yes, Cincinnati may have been riding high after an NL Wild Card appearance during 2020, but this is still an organization that has been to the postseason only 16 times during its 116 years of existence. Fast forward nearly two years later, and it appears that the Reds will once again be watching the playoffs from their living room sofas come October time.

Regardless, even with entering this series on a losing streak and squaring up with a team in the Dodgers that are much better than them on paper, Cincinnati could still cover the spread on Tuesday. For starters, the Reds have received spectacular play from their third-baseman in Brandon Drury, who has quietly put together a productive season with a .268 average, 14 home runs, and 35 runs batted in. While this is a team that doesn't necessarily hit a ton of home runs, they still have generated a respectable 237 runs on the season, which is tied for 17th most in the majors.

If Cincinnati has any plans to make it a game on Tuesday, the offense will have to come through in clutch moments at the plate and keep the Dodgers guessing when it is their turn with the bats in their hands. With the second-worst team ERA at 5.22 in baseball, Mahle needs to record a quality start in order for a disastrous Reds bullpen to come in and spoil this matchup in front of the home crowd.

Final Dodgers-Reds Prediction & Pick

While the Reds are capable of making this a game, don't use too much brain power in deciding who to choose here. Yes, the Dodgers are struggling, but the difference in talent between these two squads is baffling. Not to mention, but the chances that Cincinnati will perform well against a pitcher like Gonsolin is slim to none.

Final Dodgers-Reds Pick: Dodgers -1.5 (-122)