Phillies vs Reds – MLB Tuesday Betting Odds

One of baseball’s surprising teams will do battle with one of its most disappointing in Tuesday night’s MLB betting odds. That’s when the first place Cincinnati Reds, take on the struggling two-time National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

Philadelphia Phillies (40-34 SU, 37-37 R/L, 34-39-1 O/U) at Cincinnati Reds (43-34 SU, 41-36 R/L, 38-32-7 O/U)

Tuesday, June 29: 7:10 p.m.

MLB Betting Odds:

Philadelphia: +1 ½, -175, +105
(Joe Blanton-R)

Cincinnati: -1 ½, +155, -125
(Mike Leake-R)

For some reason that is beyond any logical explanation, the Phillies struggled for most of the past four weeks, but have bounced back to win five of their last seven heading into Tuesday night. The Philadelphia offense has been a bit disappointing as they’ve dealt with an injury to leader Jimmy Rollins, and just flat poor hitting from others. The one man carrying them though is first baseman Ryan Howard. The former MVP is just starting to heat up in these summer months, as right now he is leading this team in home runs (15) and RBI (55). His .296 batting average is second only to Placido Polanco.

As for Cincinnati, the Reds have surprised many this season, as through 74 games, they find themselves in first place in the NL Central. They’ve done it with a balanced lineup that features two of the National League’s best average hitters in Joey Votto (.312) and Brandon Phillips (.309), as well as the power provided by Scott Rolen. Rolen is having a spectacular bounce back year after injuries plagued him in 2009 leading the Reds with 17 home runs and 51 RBI.

On the mound for Cincinnati will be one of the surprising youngsters in all of baseball, Mike Leake. For all the talk about Stephen Strasburg in Washington, it has been Leake who has been baseball’s best rookie pitcher this year, as his record stands at 5-1 with a sparkling 2.92 ERA. Leake bounced back from two rough starts last Monday, by throwing six innings of one run ball against the A’s.

Philadelphia will counter with the struggling Joe Blanton. There’s really no nice way to put it if you’re a Phillies fan, Blanton just hasn’t lived up to expectations. His record stands at 3-5, and his 6.53 is the worst of any starter on this staff.

And it is because of Blanton and his struggles that the Reds should be your Tuesday night baseball bet.

Although the Phillies lineup has been hitting much better of late, there’s little this offense can do when Blanton puts them in a hole. In four of Blanton’s last eight starts he’s given up at least five earned runs, and hasn’t held an opponent under three during that stretch as well. It doesn’t matter who is on your offense, when you’re playing from behind it’s always going to be a struggle.

Leake on the other hand has been consistent, and consistently good in his rookie season. Look for him to pitch deep into this game and make way to a solid Cincinnati bullpen, leading to a comfortable money line victory.

Take the Reds Tuesday night in your baseball bet.

Aaron’s Pick: Cincinnati -125