The Athletics show up in Cincinnati on a 5-game losing streak that's included a 1-13 no-show and an 0-11 embarrassment, while the Reds just took 3 of 4 from the Pirates and are telling the trade market their best players aren't going anywhere.
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ATHCIN
ATHCIN
OverUnder
Best BetReds
The Reds are the easy lean here even with Hunter Greene struggling, because the Athletics are cratering in a way that goes beyond a bad week. A 5-game skid that includes two double-digit blowout losses says this isn't a competitive club right now, and Oakland still hasn't settled on a starter for this one. Back Cincinnati at home off 3 wins in its last 5.
Athletics
+Ginn back off IL adds a fresh rotation arm
+Kurtz snapped an 0-for-25 skid with a homer
−Lost 5 straight, including 1-13 and 0-11 blowouts
−Kurtz, Wilson both banged up and limited
−Rooker, Leiter, Severino out long-term
Reds
+Won 3 of last 5, took series from Pittsburgh
+Kept De La Cruz despite trade interest
−Greene carrying a 6.83 ERA this season
−Steer, Dunn, Lodolo all out or rehabbing
−Reds still under .500 at 53-58
Hunter Greene gets the ball for the Reds on Thursday, August 6, and he's still hunting for the form that made him an All-Star snub in the first place. The Athletics haven't named a starter yet, which tracks for a rotation that's been running on fumes since J.T. Ginn only just got activated off the 15-day IL.
Cincinnati's lineup got some clarity over the weekend when the front office made clear Elly De La Cruz isn't going anywhere despite Boston sniffing around, even as Hunter Greene himself keeps popping up in trade rumors with the deadline in the rearview mirror. That's a strange spot for a team to play from, but a fresh bullpen arm in Tony Santillan working back from an oblique issue is a real subplot to watch as Cincinnati tries to stay respectable down the stretch.
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ATH Athletics
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Oakland, meanwhile, is banged up everywhere it hurts most. Nick Kurtz is playing through a thumb problem that's sapped his power, and Jacob Wilson's knee has kept him glued to DH duty when he's in the lineup at all. Neither situation screams confidence heading into a getaway game against a Reds club that's actually won 3 of its last 5.
Athletics
Cincinnati Reds
Recent form.
The losing streak is the real story here. Oakland hasn't just been losing, it's been getting run off the field, dropping games 1-13 and 0-11 to Detroit in the span of two days. That's not a slump, that's a team with holes at every level, and the injury report backs it up: Zack Gelof, Shea Langeliers, Brent Rooker and Mark Leiter Jr. are all done or basically done for the year.
Athletics
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Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Cincinnati Reds
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Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Injury report — info via ESPN.
Cincinnati has its own wounded list, with Spencer Steer and Blake Dunn both out and Nick Lodolo still building back on a rehab assignment. But the Reds are at least stacking series wins while they wait, and a home crowd on a Thursday getaway day against a reeling opponent is about as good a spot as this roster is going to find.
