It's the rubber match of this series, as the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers split the first two games on Friday and Saturday. The Reds won the first game 6-5, then the Brewers rebounded with a 3-1 win on Saturday. It was a rare loss for the Reds on Saturday, as they had won seven of nine before that. The Brewers aren't doing as good, winning just five of their last ten. However, the Brewers will want to win here to avoid the Reds getting closer in the National League Central standings. The Reds narrowed the lead to seven games for the Brewers, as they are the hottest team in the division. It's a tight race for second in the division, with four teams within a game of each other. It's time to continue our MLB odds series with a Reds-Brewers prediction and pick.

Reds-Brewers Projected Starters 

Frankie Montas vs. Colin Rea

Frankie Montas (3-5) with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP.

Last Start: vs Cubs, 1.1 IP, 2 SO, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 ER

2024 Road Splits: (2-1) with a 4.81 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.

Colin Rea (5-2) with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.

Last Start: vs. Toronto, 7 IP, 4 SO, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 ER

2024 Home Splits: (3-1) with a 2.72 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP.

Here are the MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Reds-Brewers Odds

Cincinnati Reds: +1.5 (-190)

Moneyline: +105

Milwaukee Brewers: -1.5 (+155)

Moneyline: -125

Over: 9 (-105)

Under: 9 (-115)

How to Watch Reds vs. Brewers

Time: 2:10 PM ET/11:10 AM PT

TV: Bally Sports Network

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Reds Will Cover The Spread/Win

The Brewers need to rely on a good outing from Rea. If not, the Reds own the advantage in the bullpen. The Reds relievers have a 1.86 ERA over the last three outings, while the Brewers have a 3.82. The Reds have been excelling with their offense, averaging 6.2 runs/nine over their last ten games. The Brewers haven't been able to piece together any offense, as their on-base percentage and average aren't terrible, but average just 3.2 runs/nine.

Why The Brewers Will Cover The Spread/Win

Frankie Montas had a rough stretch through May, allowing 14 earned runs through four starts. He bounced back on the road in Colorado with a scoreless seven-inning outing, no small feat at Coors Field. It looked like Montas would turn his season around, but a home date with the Cubs in his last outing didn't go well for him. Colin Rea has the upper hand in this pitching matchup, as he allowed just four earned runs over his past four starts combined.

One area where the Brewers hold the hitting advantage is in the home/road splits. The Brewers have a .249 average and .319 on-base percentage with 4.5 runs/nine at American Family Field. The Reds aren't as good on the road, averaging just 4.7 runs/nine.

Final Reds-Brewers Prediction & Pick

The Reds may look like the better offensive team, but Colin Rea should do enough to outduel Frankie Montas in this matchup. The Reds have a better bullpen ERA, but some regression could be due when you look at the numbers. Cincinnati has a 1.86 ERA but a 1.19 WHIP over the last three games, while the Brewers have a 3.82 ERA with a 0.97 WHIP. The Brewers are eight games above .500 at home, while the Reds are a .500 team on the road. The Brewers need the series win to avoid letting the teams chasing them get any closer after losing some ground over the past couple of weeks.

Click here for more betting news and predictions

Final Reds-Brewers Prediction & Pick: Brewers ML (-125)