The Cincinnati Reds are set to welcome the Houston Astros for a three-game series starting Friday, and it's shaping up to be a compelling matchup between two teams heading in very different directions.
The Reds (20-18) have been solid at home with a 10-8 record, and they've been especially tough when keeping the ball in the yard—boasting an 11-5 mark in games where they don't allow a home run. Meanwhile, the Astros (15-23) have struggled on the road at 6-13, but they bring the third-best team batting average in MLB (.261) to the series opener.
Friday's pitching duel features the Astros' Mike Burrows (1-4, 5.97 ERA) against the Reds' Nick Lodolo, who is making his season debut after spending time on the injured list. Burrows has been battling command issues with a 1.65 WHIP, but he's capable of racking up strikeouts with 36 in his outings so far. Lodolo's return could provide a much-needed spark for a Reds rotation that has been hit hard by injuries.
The betting line favors Cincinnati at -136, with the over/under set at 9.5 runs, suggesting fans should expect some offense.
For the Reds, all eyes will be on Elly De La Cruz, who is slashing .265 with 10 home runs and 28 RBIs, providing a constant threat in the lineup. Spencer Steer has also been hot lately, going 12-for-34 with a double and two homers in his last 10 games. On the Astros' side, Christian Walker has been a steady force, hitting .307 with nine doubles and nine homers. Isaac Paredes has been on a tear, collecting 13 hits in his last 35 at-bats, including two doubles and a home run.
Looking at recent form, the Reds have hit a rough patch, going 2-8 in their last 10 games while being outscored by 31 runs. Their pitching staff has struggled with a 7.06 ERA during that stretch. The Astros are 5-5 in their last 10, posting a .266 batting average and a 5.22 ERA, though they've been outscored by 11 runs.
Both teams are dealing with significant injury issues. The Reds are missing Eugenio Suarez (oblique) and several pitchers, including Hunter Greene (elbow) and Brandon Williamson (shoulder). The Astros' injury list is even more extensive, with key players like Carlos Correa (ankle), Yainer Diaz (abdominal), and Josh Hader (biceps) all sidelined. That's a lot of firepower to be without, and it could test the depth of both rosters.
This series offers a chance for the Reds to get back on track at home, while the Astros will be looking to build momentum despite the long list of absentees. Baseball fans should be in for an interesting weekend in Cincinnati.