The Los Angeles Dodgers notably pulled Clayton Kershaw after seven perfect innings on Wednesday, and they were rightfully bashed for that move.
However, they've won two games in a row and can move to 4-2 on the season when it hosts the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.
Will the Dodgers win a third straight game when they take the field for this late-night meeting with a mediocre Reds squad? Check out our Reds vs. Dodgers MLB picks and predictions to find out.
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Reds vs Dodgers odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
After opening as a -230 home favorite, the Dodgers are now up to as high as -295 on two sportsbooks. The best price you’ll find on them is -260, which is still pretty hefty.
The total, which opened at 8.5 in this game, hasn’t done much moving. Although, you do have to pay a bit of a price to take the Over right now.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until kickoff and be sure to check out the full MLB odds before placing your bets.
Reds vs Dodgers predictions
Picks made on 4/14/2022 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Reds vs Dodgers game info
• Location: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
• Date: Thursday, April 14, 2022
• First pitch: 10:10 p.m. ET
• TV: SportsNet LA, Bally Sports Ohio
Reds vs Dodgers betting preview
Starting pitchers
Luis Cessa (0-0, 0.00 ERA): Cessa has already appeared in two games as a reliever this season and has pitched a total of 2 2-3 scoreless innings for the Reds. The righty was always very versatile for the Yankees, as he was capable of helping the team out in a number of ways — including as a starter. If needed, Cessa could serve as a legitimate starter in this game, but it seems like he’ll be more of an opener for Reiver Sanmartin.
Walker Buehler (0-0, 3.60 ERA): In Buehler’s first start of the year, the righty gave up two earned runs in five innings of work against the Colorado Rockies. That game was played at Coors Field, so that’s actually a really good start when you factor in the conditions there. Buehler, who finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting in 2021, is one of the best pitchers in baseball. He’ll be looking forward to facing this Cincinnati offense on Thursday.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Reds: Tommy Pham OF (Questionable).
Dodgers: Will Smith C (Questionable).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Dodgers are 39-12 in their last 51 games as home favorites. Find more MLB betting trends for Reds vs. Dodgers.
Reds vs Dodgers picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Run line analysis
The Dodgers are such heavy favorites in this game that you can find them as favorites of 2 or 2.5 on the run line, and they’re not worth taking on the money line unless you’re throwing them into your parlays as a final leg. With that said, the best you can find on this game is the Dodgers -1.5 with some juiced odds.
Of course, it’s always somewhat enticing to be on an underdog as big as the Reds, but the combination of Cessa/Sanmartin just isn’t going to cut it against this Dodgers lineup.
Last year, Los Angeles scored more runs than all but five teams against right-handed pitching so the Dodgers will enjoy their looks against Cessa. The team actually got better against righties, as Freddie Freeman — the team's big offseason acquisition — hit .317 with 24 homers and 63 RBIs against them last year.
They should also be able to hit Sanmartin in this game, as they weren’t much worse when facing southpaws in 2021. If Sanmartin ends up being the guy that pitches a majority of this game for Cincinnati, guys like Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, and Chris Taylor will all be threats to do some damage.
It’s just unfair the type of advantage the Dodgers have on a nightly basis, as they have the best lineup in baseball and then have the luxury of throwing a guy like Buehler out there.
Last year, the 27-year-old was 11-2 with a 2.05 ERA in 19 starts at Dodgers Stadium. If the aces turns in a stellar performance against this Reds lineup, the Dodgers will only need five or six runs to help better on this run line.
Prediction: Dodgers -1.5 (-126 at FanDuel)
Over/Under analysis
Last year, Buehler gave up eight earned runs in 12.1 innings of work against this Reds team, so Cincinnati does have some guys that have had success against him in the past — with Kyle Farmer being the most notable, as he is 4 for 8 with three doubles and three RBIs in their brief head-to-head history.
Some of the players that have done the most damage against Buehler are, however, gone from this Reds lineup. Still, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that Buehler could be vulnerable in some spots, and the Dodgers bullpen is also capable of giving something up later in the game.
If the Reds score even two or three runs in this game, you’d have to love your chances of this Over hitting. Los Angeles has scored seven runs in back-to-back games entering tonight's contest and we’re due for a game in which this group scores 10 or more.
Cessa can certainly get hit around and Sanmartin is very inexperienced, meaning this could be the game for that type of offensive explosion.
Prediction: Over 8.5 (-110 at FanDuel)
Best bet
It’s downright shocking to see Betts at plus-money to get over 1.5 total bases in a game in which he should predominantly see a left-handed pitcher.
In his career, Betts is batting .292 with 40 homers, 64 doubles, and eight triples in 939 at-bats against southpaws. Don’t be surprised if Betts easily hits this Over, as a double or better would win it in one swing of the bat. He would also win it with a multi-hit game, something he did just last night.
Pick: Mookie Betts Over 1.5 total bases (+120)
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