Atlanta sits at 39-19 and has won 3 of its last 5. The Reds are 29-27 and just watched Michael Harris II go 3-for-5 with 3 RBI in the opener while Blake Dunn was robbing homers in right just to keep things vaguely respectable. The market reflects all of it — Pérez and the Braves are -138 on the moneyline, the run line is Atlanta -1.5, and the total sits at 9.5.
Cincinnati's bigger problem isn't even tonight's starter — it's the guys behind him. Graham Ashcraft is on the 60-day IL after a meltdown against Cleveland, Emilio Pagán is hurt, Hunter Greene and Rhett Lowder are both shelved, and Jose Trevino is going for an MRI on his hamstring. The Reds rotation and bullpen are duct tape and prayers right now, and Pérez has been one of the steadier arms in the National League this spring.
- Day-To-DayBlake Burkhalter (RP) — Triple-A Gwinnett placed Burkhalter on the 7-day injured list March 27 with back spasms, Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILDrake Baldwin (C) — Baldwin (oblique) doesn't yet have a timeline for his return, MLB.com reports.05/26
- 10-Day-ILKyle Farmer (DH) — Farmer went 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored and two RBI in Sunday's rout of the Guardians.05/18
- 10-Day-ILSean Murphy (C) — Manager Walk Weiss said Tuesday that Murphy (finger) is expected to be sidelined at least eight weeks, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.05/12
- suspensionJurickson Profar (LF) — Profar will miss the full 2026 season after the appeal of his 162-game PED suspension was denied Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILSpencer Schwellenbach (SP) — Schwellenbach (elbow) has begun throwing on flat ground, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.05/26
- 60-Day-ILAJ Smith-Shawver (SP) — Manager Walt Weiss said Friday that Smith-Shawver (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions, and the next step in his rehab is to face live hitters, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.05/22
- 60-Day-ILHurston Waldrep (SP) — Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said May 13 that Waldrep (elbow) has felt fine since he began throwing bullpen sessions earlier in the month, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.05/21
- 60-Day-ILJoe Jimenez (RP) — Atlanta manager Walt Weiss revealed Wednesday that Jimenez underwent another surgery on his left knee 3-to-4 weeks ago, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.05/13
- 60-Day-ILDanny Young (RP) — Atlanta transferred Young (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJoey Wentz (RP) — Atlanta placed Wentz (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
- Day-To-DayConnor Burns (C) — no05/08
- Day-To-DayJosh Staumont (RP) — The Twins reinstated Staumont (calf) from the 15-day injured list Friday and optioned him to Triple-A St. Paul, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILJose Trevino (C) — Trevino (hamstring) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday, MLB.com reports.05/27
- 10-Day-ILKe'Bryan Hayes (3B) — Hayes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.05/22
- 15-Day-ILRhett Lowder (SP) — Lowder (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.05/27
- 15-Day-ILEmilio Pagan (RP) — Pagan (hamstring) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday to check on his healing, MLB.com reports.05/27
- OutCarson Spiers (SP) — The Reds re-signed Spiers (elbow) to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Monday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILGraham Ashcraft (RP) — Ashcraft allowed four runs on one hit and three walks without retiring a batter in the eighth inning of Friday's 7-6 win over Cleveland.05/29
- 60-Day-ILHunter Greene (SP) — Greene (elbow) threw a successful bullpen session Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.05/26
- 60-Day-ILBrandon Williamson (SP) — The Reds transferred Williamson (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08
Atlanta's not exactly whole either — Sean Murphy is out at least 8 weeks with a finger injury, Spencer Schwellenbach and AJ Smith-Shawver are both still rehabbing elbows, and Jurickson Profar is gone for the year on a PED suspension. They've just hit through it. If Pérez gives them 6 quiet innings, this thing should follow the same script as Friday night.
Pick: lean Braves on the run line, but the smart money might be the over. Singer's been a launching pad, the Reds bullpen behind him is the one that just gave up 8 to this same lineup, and 9.5 looks soft in a ballpark that plays this small. Either way, Cincinnati needs Singer to find something he hasn't had in 2 months.