Wild Card hopefuls Reds, Giants set to battle

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Now that MLB’s Trade Deadline has passed, the Cincinnati Reds will focus on the regular season's home stretch. The Reds will begin August by hosting the San Francisco Giants for a three-game weekend series.

This weekend’s series is a clash of NL Wild Card hopefuls. The Reds, with a 52-56 record, are 5 1/2 games behind the final Wild Card spot, while the Giants (54-56) are trailing by 4 1/2 games.

The latest playoff odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook reflect the current standings. The Giants are +650 to make the playoffs for an implied probability of 13.13%, whereas the Reds are +1300 (7.14%) to notch a postseason berth.

Here is a look at how these two teams stack up entering a pivotal series:

Friday, Aug. 2

• First pitch: 7:10 p.m. ET
• Projected starting pitchers: Andrew Abbott (Reds) vs. TBD

Since returning from the All-Star break, the Reds have lost both of Abbott’s starts. Last time out, he allowed four runs on eight hits across four innings against the Tampa Bay Rays while walking two and striking out two.

Abbott is 9-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 21 starts this season. He has struck out 89 batters and walked 45 in 117 innings. Home runs have been the primary issue, as Abbott has allowed 20 homers (tied for sixth most in the Majors) this year.

San Francisco is tied for third in all of baseball with a wRC+ of 118 against left-handed pitchers. The Giants have clubbed 34 home runs in 1,215 plate appearances against southpaws.

Saturday, Aug. 3

• First pitch: 7:15 p.m. ET
• Projected starting pitchers: Hunter Greene (Reds) vs. TBD

While Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale is an NL Cy Young odds favorite at +120, Greene remains a viable dark horse at +3500.

Greene has put it all together in his third MLB season. He is 7-4 with a 2.97 ERA in 21 starts, striking out 138 batters in 124 1/3 innings of work. However, Greene would still like to reduce his walk rate of 9.6%.

Coming off consecutive seven-inning shutout performances, Greene will likely be favored against the Giants on Saturday. They have a below-average wRC+ (97) against right-handed pitchers.

Sunday, Aug. 4

• First pitch: 12:05 p.m. ET
• Projected starting pitchers: Carson Spiers (Reds) vs. TBD

Spiers joined the rotation in mid-June. Spiers has posted a 4-2 record with a 4.13 ERA in his six starts. He has whiffed 30 batters and walked seven in 32 2/3 innings.

In his most recent start, Spiers spun five scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs. He gave up just one hit while recording four strikeouts and two walks. It also marked the fewest pitches (68) he has thrown in a start.

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