The Los Angeles Dodgers head to Great American Ball Park to take on the Cincinnati Reds in the first game of a three-game series.
L.A. is a -165 moneyline favorite according to the MLB odds and is hoping to bounce back behind its MVP candidates after losing two straight.
Find out where my best bets lie in our MLB picks and Dodgers vs. Reds predictions on Friday, May 24.
Dodgers vs Reds prediction
My best bet
Mookie Betts Over 1.5 total bases (-125 at bet365)
Best odds available in your region
My analysis
Asking a pitcher to find success against the Los Angeles Dodgers is like asking USC to play defense — it’s just not going to happen. L.A. leads the MLB in total bases (758) and ranks Top 5 in hits, doubles, home runs, batting average, and SLG. This team is a monster.
The Cincinnati Reds will be throwing pitcher Graham Ashcraft on the mound and hoping for the best in the opening game of the series. He’s had an up-and-down start to the year with a 4.25 ERA while allowing 51 hits and seven home runs across 48 2/3 innings.
He also has one of the highest WHIPs in the league (1.418) and has been shelled as of late. Over his last three starts, Ashcraft has gone just 14 innings while giving up 16 hits, nine runs, and two home runs.
Now he’ll have the impossible task of slowing down Mookie Betts, the NL MVP odds favorite. Betts is fifth in the MLB in batting average (.330), fourth in SLG (.540), and third in total bases (108).
The seven-time All-Star also happens to hammer Ashcraft’s top pitch. The Reds righty uses his cutter 44.9% of the time, and Betts has had more success against cutters than any other pitch this season with a .538 average and .846 SLG.
The only other two pitches Ashcraft uses more than 3% of the time are his slider (31.5%) and sinker (20.9%). Betts has a .520 SLG against sliders this season, and he’s doing even more damage off of sinkers with a .381 average, .619 SLG, and run value of nine.
Ashcraft uses fastballs more than 60% of the time, so Betts’ power should be showcased in this matchup. He has a .385 XBA and .607 XSLG with 13 extra-base hits vs. fastballs in 2024.
Dodgers vs Reds same-game parlay (SGP)
Mookie Betts Over 1.5 total bases
Shohei Ohtani Over 1.5 total bases
Elly De La Cruz Over 0.5 hits
Betts’ biggest competition for NL MVP comes from his own teammate, Shohei Ohtani. With a recent walk-off hit to his name, Ohtani is poised to continue his electric play against the Reds.
He leads the MLB in average (.354), SLG (.646), and total bases (128), and Ashcraft is going to have a hard time getting him out. Ohtani is batting over .400 with a better than .580 SLG against two of his top three pitches.
While it’ll be a tough task keeping up with Betts and Ohtani, the Reds need their young star to do some damage of his own. Elly De La Cruz leads Cincinnati in hits (46), SLG (.470), and total bases (85). He’s at his best against four-seamers this year with a .537 SLG, and Dodgers starter James Paxton goes to it 62.4% of the time.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Dodgers vs Reds odds
Dodgers vs Reds live odds
Dodgers vs Reds opening odds
- Run line: Los Angeles -1.5 | Cincinnati +1.5
- Moneyline: Los Angeles -163 | Cincinnati +150
- Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5
Dodgers vs Reds spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Dodgers opened as a -163 to -175 moneyline favorite on the road with most books now hovering around -165.
- L.A. has been among the best teams in the majors this season at 33-19 while the Reds are struggling at 20-30, fifth in the NL Central.
- The Over/Under opened at 9.5 and has since climbed to as high as 10 at some books.
- The Dodgers are one of the best Over teams in the MLB at 27-24-1. Cincinnati is level at 24-24-2.
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Dodgers vs Reds trend
The Dodgers have hit the moneyline in 21 of their last 29 games (+7.05 Units / 13% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Reds
Dodgers vs Reds game info
| Location: | Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH |
| Date: | Friday, 5-24-2024 |
| First pitch: | 7:10 p.m. ET |
| TV: | SNLA, BSOH |
| Dodgers starting pitcher: | James Paxton (5-0, 2.84 ERA) |
| Reds starting pitcher: | Graham Ashcraft (3-3, 4.25 ERA) |
Dodgers vs Reds latest injuries
Dodgers vs Reds weather
Not intended for use in MA.
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