The second half of the 2021 MLB season gets fully underway on Friday with 17 games on the MLB betting board, including an NL Central battle between the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds.
The Brewers will try to increase their four-game division lead on the Reds as they head to Great American Ball Park for a three-game series.
Here are our best free Brewers vs. Reds picks and predictions for Friday, June 16, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Brewers vs Reds game info
• Location: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
• Date: Friday, July 16, 2021
• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports Wisconsin
Brewers vs Reds odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
Compare MLB odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
MLB sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonTwinSpires opened this contest a pick 'em and is out to Cincinnati -130 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Brewers are drawing 54 percent of moneyline bets, while the Reds are landing 70 percent of moneyline cash. "We saw some respected play on the Reds," TwinSpires trading analyst Zachary Lucas said. The total made a hefty leap from 8 to 9.5, with ticket count and money both in the 3/1 range on the Over.
Check out the full line movement for this gameBrewers vs Reds betting preview
Starting pitchers
Adrian Houser (5-5, 3.74 ERA): The Brewers took their sweet time announcing their starter for this game, but now it appears to be Houser, whose last appearance came against the Reds last Thursday. He allowed five hits and three runs (none earned) in 4 1-3 innings in that contest.
The right-hander has a 1.38 WHIP with an opponent batting average of .253 in 16 starts this season.
Tyler Mahle (7-3, 3.68 ERA): The 26-year-old is putting together a strong season, pitching to a 1.19 WHIP and .220 opponent batting average while striking out 118 batters in 95 1-3 innings.
In his last outing, he allowed four hits and three runs against the Brewers. He also started against the Brewers exactly a month ago and pitched an absolute gem, surrendering one run and fanning 12 batters in a 2-1 Reds victory.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Brewers: Kolten Wong 2B (Out), Lorenzo Cain CF (Out), Daniel Vogelbach 1B (Out), Travis Shaw 3B (Out).
Reds: Nick Senzel CF (Out), Mike Moustakas 2B (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Reds are 11-1 in their last 12 games as a home favorite. Find more MLB betting trends for Brewers vs. Reds
Moneyline pick
The Brewers are atop the NL Central with a 53-39 record but entered the All-Star break having lost six of their previous eight games, including three in a row at home to the Reds.
With those victories, Cincinnati has gone 9-2 in its last 11 games and is now 48-42 and within striking distance of Milwaukee.
Cincinnati's batters have some of the biggest differentials in home/road splits this year. The Reds have an OPS of .690 and plate 4.19 runs per game on the road. But at Great American Ballpark, they have been monsters at the plate, ranking fourth in the majors with an OPS of .805 and averaging 5.53 runs per game.
The Brewers haven't been hitting well anywhere, ranking 23rd in the majors with an OPS of .691 while former NL MVP Christian Yelich has struggled at the dish for the second year in a row.
The Brewers have been one of baseball's biggest surprises this season but much of their success has been due to an outstanding rotation led by Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta. Without those two on the mound, they are much more beatable and Houser has a career 5.25 ERA against the Reds, including a 5.96 ERA in five starts in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati will send Tyler Mahle to the mound. He's thrown the ball well this season and the Reds have gone 10-4 in his last 14 starts. Back Cincy at home.
PREDICTION: ML Cincinnati (-125)
Over/Under pick
The Brewers are fresh off three-straight losses to the Reds because their lineup couldn't get anything going, scoring a total of four runs in those three contests.
The Reds have been surprisingly effective at the plate this season but they are averaging a modest 4.25 runs per game over the last 30 days.
Under trends abound for both squads, with the Brewers going below the total in seven straight games and the Reds going 16-5 to the Under in their previous 21 contests.
With the Under also cashing in six straight games in the head-to-head, back it again on Friday night.
PREDICTION: Under 9 (+100)
Brewers vs Reds betting card
- ML Cincinnati (-125)
- Under 9 (+100)
Picks made on 7/16/2021 at 1 p.m. ET
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