Cincinnati Reds @ Baltimore Orioles - April 19, 2025

As a seasoned bettor, I’ve seen the ebb and flow of teams throughout the MLB season, and this interleague matchup between the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles is shaping up to be intriguing. Both teams are looking for momentum after their recent performances, but there’s a clear edge for one side in my eyes.

First off, we have Hunter Greene on the mound for the Reds. This kid has been nothing short of impressive with a record of 2-1 and an eye-popping 3.0 ERA. When he takes the ball, you can expect him to bring his A-game every time. He’s been averaging about 7.8 strikeouts per game, which speaks volumes about his ability to dominate hitters. The confidence that comes with such stats can’t be underestimated—when a pitcher is feeling it, so does the team behind him.

Then there’s Brandon Young for the Orioles. Now he’s still searching for that first win with a current record of 0-0 and a not-so-great 4.7 ERA. While he may not have given up any runs yet this season (hello to small sample size), I’ve got my eye on those strikeout numbers: only around 6.9 per game doesn’t really inspire confidence against a Reds lineup that has shown they can hit when needed.

The Reds’ batting stats show they’ve averaged just over 4 runs per game but bear in mind their .204 batting average means they’re not exactly lighting it up offensively either. Yet they managed to deliver a solid performance last time out against these very Orioles, putting up eight runs in their last encounter on April 18th.

In contrast, while Baltimore ranks slightly higher in run production at around 4.6 per game, their .230 batting average reveals inconsistency at the plate—something that could be exploited by Greene’s pitching prowess tonight.

Recent trends also favor Cincinnati; they’ve gone 5-2 both straight-up and against the spread in their last seven games while Baltimore has struggled lately with just two covers in their last eight outings and three covers at home out of thirteen games played there.

Now let’s talk betting lines—oddsmakers opened up with Cincinnati as -110 favorites against Baltimore today—which I find quite reasonable given the circumstances surrounding both starters’ performances thus far this season.

As for the total set at over/under of 8.5? I’m leaning towards taking the OVER here; considering both teams have shown some offensive potential recently (Baltimore’s last match ended at eleven total runs), it wouldn’t surprise me if we see another high-scoring affair tonight.

So what do I predict? The Reds come out swinging behind Greene’s strong arm and take down these struggling Orioles while securing an OVER outcome as well! Just remember folks, whether you’re placing bets or watching from home—keep your lucky charms close!