Arizona looks to RHP Taylor Widner (1-0) as the Diamondbacks face the Reds who are 8-2 (as of Wednesday) at home this season. Cincinnati calls on RHP Jeff Hoffman (2-1) who will try to keep the Reds atop the NL Central. This should be a close one between two solid starters but I like the Reds with their hot battery to bang out a couple of runs and get to the D-backs struggling bullpen – I like the Reds to win
Arizona got a taste of baseball in the Midwest on Tuesday as the game was suspended in the 8th for snow. The two teams will finish play Wednesday before starting their scheduled game Wednesday night making for a busy week for the 2 teams – sometimes in MLB you just try to hit what mother nature throws at you. Thursday Red’s manager David Bell will call on Jeff Hoffman who’s 2.93 ERA has earned him two home wins on the season. If Hoffman can hold the Diamondbacks down Bell can turn things over to his bullpen which has been very reliable thus far going 4-2. On the back end the Reds have Amir Garrett who has been able to shut opponents down this season and has 2 saves in his stint as closer. Offensively the Reds are doing everything right so far in the ‘21 campaign. As of Wednesday Cincinnati ranks in the top three in all major offensive categories in MLB; 1st in HR with 25, 2nd in Runs 95, 2nd slugging % at .464, 3rd BA .261 and 3rd in OBP at .464. Good to know if you’re placing a bet with NJ online sportsbooks. RF Tyler Naquin has been impressive tied in 2nd in MLB with 6HR and 15 RBI. The MLB rumor mill is always a delight and currently has Diamondbacks manager Torey Louvollo a favorite to be fired early this season. At 6-10 with his D-backs in danger of falling into last place in the NL West the outlook isn’t bright for Louvollo. The good news for the D-backs, and their manager, is that their young RHP Taylor Widener ,who is 1-0 this season, will start Thursday against the Reds. Widener leads D-backs starters with a 1.59 ERA in 3 starts and has pitched well in three games since being made a starter in ‘21. His 17 innings pitched in his 3 starts points to him being able eat innings which is something the D-backs need as the bullpen has struggled. Louvollo has moved Riley Smith to the pen and with closer Joakim Soria still out until at least April 23rd (calf) the Arizona bullpen has been thin and unstable so far this season. Offensively the Diamondbacks have rent-a-slugger Asdrubal Cabrera platooning between 1st and 3B with Edwardo Escobar, who moves between 3B and 2B. Escobar leads the team with 6HR and a .933 OPS. This is a tough game to call but the way I see it playing out, Hoffman should be able to keep the D-backs line-up from scoring early and I think the Reds can solve the Widener puzzle to squeak out a couple of runs and get to the struggling Arizona bullpen and earn a win. My pick is the Reds to win a close one.
