Cincinnati Reds vs Atlanta Braves Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/08/2022

Game Time: 7:20 pm ET, Friday, April 8, 2022

Venue:  Truist Park, Atlanta, GA 

Where to Watch:  BSSO

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Reds +155, Braves -180; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Reds +165, Braves -185; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Reds +150, Braves -185; Over/Under:  9 runs

 

Cincinnati Reds:  0-0 (NL Central)

Atlanta Braves:  0-0 (NL East)

 

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Cincinnati Reds:  0-0 last 10

Atlanta Braves:  0-0 last 10

 

 

 

The Reds are coming into this game with a 0-0 record overall but this will be their 2nd game of the regular season and 2nd game of their 4-game series against the Braves here. Their season opener is on Thursday night prior to this game being played on Friday night. Tyler Mahle was the starting pitcher for their game on Thursday while Reiver Sanmartin will be on the mound for them on Friday in this game. He was 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA last season and he has only pitched in 4 innings this season in Spring training. He only allowed 1 hit and 1 run in those 4 innings with no earned runs and 2 strikeouts. He has only started in 2 games in his career but he pitched well in both of those games. The Reds still do not have the strongest batting lineup but they did make some improvements in the offseason and they are a lot better off than they were last season. Last season, they were averaging 8.3 hits per game, 4.9 runs scored per game, and 8.8 strikeouts per game.

 

The Braves are coming into this game with a 0-0 record overall but this will be their 2nd game of the regular season and 2nd game of their 4-game series against the Reds here. Their home opener is on Thursday night prior to this game being played on Friday night. Max Fried was the starting pitcher for their game on Thursday while Charlie Morton will be on the mound for them on Friday in this game. He was 14-6 with a 3.34 ERA last season and he has only pitched in 4.2 innings this season in Spring training. He did not allow a run or a hit in those 4.2 innings and he also had 5 Ks as well. He was great in his last 4 starts, all 4 of those starts coming in last year's playoffs but he did not allow more than 2 runs in any of those games he pitched in. The Braves had some good hitters last season but their pitching staff was their real prize and even though they have lost some pieces in their lineup this offseason, they have also picked up some replacements as well. Last season, they were averaging 8.1 hits per game, 4.9 runs scored per game, and 9 strikeouts per game.

 

The Braves are coming into this game as the defending World Series Champions. They had a great season and they did lose some good pieces afterward but they found some players to fill in those voids and they still have a very quality team from their hitters to their pitchers. Their starting rotation is their biggest strength and they have a clear advantage here going up against a pitcher playing in only his 2nd season with very limited starts in his first year. The Reds have not really been a strong hitting team either and they did add some good pieces to their lineup in the offseason, but none that will help boost their batting average and get more hits. The Reds are going to struggle against these elite pitchers from the Braves here. The Braves are going to win this game.

 

Reds Braves Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Friday, April 8, 2022 (7:20 pm ET start time) is Braves 3 Reds 1.

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Cincinnati Reds: 17-17 (+7.1u) on the moneyline as an underdog of +125 to +175. 20-15 (+5.4u) on the moneyline against NL East opponents. 18-6 OVER in April games.

Atlanta Braves: 29-22 (-11.9u) on the moneyline as a home favorite of -150 or more. 21-24 (-13.4u) on the moneyline at home when the total is 9 to 9.5. 22-12 OVER as a home favorite of -150 to -200.

 

 

Cincinnati Reds:  J. Barrero (SS) Late April - Wrist injury. J. Dunn (SP) Out indefinitely - Shoulder injury. M. Schrock (2B) Mid June - Calf injury.

Atlanta Braves:  G. Heredia (CF) Prob Thurs - Head injury. I. Anderson (SP) Prob Sun - Toe injury. C. Morton (SP) Prob Fri - Calf injury.

 

 

 

“It was a focus, an initiative, on our hitting side to find ways to prepare against left-handers. We went the whole year, really, without facing them much, so we kind of got away from training different ways to prepare for left-handers. And then we tried to do it on the fly when we faced like 12 out of 15 and then we struggled.” - David Bell on improving his team against lefties.

 

 

"I was telling one of the guys, it's probably going to be a lot like the World Series was." - Brian Snitker on the unveiling of their 2021 World Series banner.

 

 

 

Colin Moran

Tyler Naquin

Nick Senzel

Tommy Pham

Kyle Farmer

Mike Moustakas

Jonathan India

Joey Votto

Tyler Stephenson

 

Marcell Ozuna

Adam Duvall

Ronald Acuna Jr. 

Eddie Rosario

Dansby Swanson

Austin Riley

Ozzie Albies

Matt Olson

Travis d'Arnaud

 

 

Batting Average:  N/A

Hits:  N/A

Home Runs:  N/A

RBI:  N/A

Stolen Bases:  N/A

Wins:  N/A

Saves:  N/A

ERA:  N/A

 

Batting Average:  N/A

Hits:  N/A

Home Runs:  N/A

RBI:  N/A

Stolen Bases:  N/A

Wins:  N/A

Saves:  N/A

ERA:  N/A

 

Managers:

Cincinnati Reds: David Bell (4th season)

Atlanta Braves: Brian Snitker (7th season)