Written by :
Published on :
The Reds vs. Yankees line had New York as a -165 favorite today at Sportsbook.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Yankees -165 & 9 over -125
After splitting to games in Queens with the Mets, the Cincinnati Reds will jump across town to the Bronx on Friday night to begin interleague play with a three-game set against the slumping Yankees, losers of three straight games.
After three perfect innings to start the game, Andy Pettitte ultimately struggled in his first start since returning to baseball, allowing four runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings. The almost 40-year-old Yankee lefty is 4-3 with a 3.64 ERA against the Reds in his career, but has been hittable with Cincinnati batters hitting .303 and saddling Pettitte with a 1.60 WHIP in these 10 starts. He takes the hill against former Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo, who the Yankees have always enjoyed seeing in the past to the tune of a 5.45 ERA in eight career appearances. But Arroyo has been an extremely efficient pitcher this year with just five walks and 33 strikeouts in his seven starts, leading him to a 2-1 record and 3.25 ERA. Furthermore, Arroyo has been at his best on the road this season with both of his wins away from home and a 1.64 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and a .177 opponents’ batting average. Facing the Yankees and Pettitte, who has yet to prove he is back to form, Arroyo should be the play.
Even though the Reds relievers did not come through on Thursday, blowing a lead to the Mets, they have one of baseball’s best bullpens supporting Arroyo. Cincinnati relievers have a 2.62 ERA with an impressive 136 strikeouts and just 46 walks in 113.1 innings. Furthermore, 2010 NL MVP Joey Votto’s bat is starting to come alive with a three-home run game last week and another long ball Thursday night. The bandbox in the Bronx should be very friendly to this left-handed hitter. And although Arroyo has a 6.99 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in seven career starts (including playoffs) against New York, he hasn’t faced the Yankees since 2005. Play on the Reds to win this.
The Yankees are having a tough time as of late, with losses in four of their past five contests. The real worry has to be their offense, which has had no mojo, registering a total of four runs on 13 hits (.144 BA, .233 SLG) during their three-game slide. Meanwhile, opponents have been teeing off the New York pitching with seven home runs in those three games. Pettitte will have to show a level of endurance he did not his first time out in order to give New York a shot in this one, because three innings of good pitching will not cut it.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com
