Philadelphia Phillies (4-8) vs. Cincinnati Reds (4-7)
The 2023 Major League Baseball Season is rolling in the third week of the 2023 season when the Philadelphia Phillies take on the Cincinnati Reds in the National League clash at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Phillies enter as the favorites (-175) with the total set at 9.5.
This is the second contest of a four-game set. This analysis was written prior to the conclusion of the first game. These teams met in Philadelphia last weekend, where the Phillies took two of the three games with the fourth being postponed.
The Philadelphia Phillies dropped the final two games of their three-game set with the Miami Marlins, including a 3-2 loss on Wednesday. Philadelphia has lost three of their last four games and will likely be looking for a little payback. They took two of three from Cincinnati last weekend but lost on Sunday ruining the ring ceremony for the defending NL champs. Philadelphia is in fourth in the NL East and is 1-5 on the road.
The Phillies held a 2-1 lead until the eighth, but the bullpen could not hold it as Miami scored one in the eighth and one in the 10th to earn the victory. Zack Wheeler allowed a run in six innings to earn a no-decision. That the bullpen blew the lead is not surprising. This group has been terrible (6.65 ERA), recording just one save with posting a n abysmal 1.86 WHIP. Tijuan Walker will look to hold the Reds down but he has a 6.00 ERA in two starts.
He was wheelin' and he was dealin' pic.twitter.com/eMkqSCqAqL
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 12, 2023
Philadelphia scored 21 runs in the three games against Miami, but 15 of those came in one contest. The Phillies have been held to four runs or fewer in nine of the 12 games this month. Overall, the Phillies are fourth in team batting average (.282), but have driven in only 51 runs in 12 games, and 15 of those came in one game.