The series finale between the Cincinnati Reds (42-49) and Philadelphia Phillies (51-42) takes place Thursday night at Great American Ball Park, with each team winning one of the first two games. Veteran right-hander Brady Singer and his 5.03 ERA will take the mound for the Reds, while first-time All-Star Jesús Luzardo is set to start for the Phillies.
The Phillies have completely turned their season around since April 28 when Don Mattingly took over as interim manager after Rob Thomson was fired, but they’ve been scuffling a bit as the All-Star break approaches and are in danger of losing their second straight series with a loss Thursday night. The series began on a high note for Philadelphia, as the Phillies won Tuesday’s opener 4-1 behind seven dominant innings from veteran right-hander Zack Wheeler, who matched his career high with 14 strikeouts against the Reds.
The Reds got off to a hot start this season but now find themselves seven games below .500 and in last place in a competitive NL Central. However, Cincinnati responded to the series-opening loss with an 11-5 blowout victory Wednesday behind National League Rookie of the Year candidate Sal Stewart’s two-home-run performance. One of those homers came during a four-home-run fourth inning by the Reds that included back-to-back-to-back home runs by Elly De La Cruz, Stewart, and JJ Bleday.
Phillies vs. Reds Current Odds
Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook lists the Phillies as road favorites with Luzardo on the mound as they look to secure the series win in Cincinnati:
Phillies vs. Reds Predictions
There’s been no shortage of storylines in this series, so don’t miss your chance to get in on the action Thursday night at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook. Be sure to check out the Stats Hub for baseball betting insights, trends, and picks like the one below:
Reds vs. Phillies Best Bet: Jesús Luzardo Over 7.5 Strikeouts (-105)
Jesús Luzardo got off to an up-and-down start this season, but he has been pitching exceptionally well ever since. The left-hander posted a 3.03 ERA in May, followed by a 2.97 ERA in June, and opened July by tossing six strong innings against Kansas City while allowing just one earned run and striking out nine to earn the win.
Luzardo’s turnaround earned him his first career All-Star selection as a replacement. The game will be played next week at his home ballpark, Citizens Bank Park, making Thursday’s start his first since being named an All-Star and his final outing before the break.
There’s more to this pick than just Luzardo’s recent success. The Reds enter Thursday with the third-most strikeouts in MLB this season and the sixth-most so far in July. On top of that, Luzardo’s 125 strikeouts rank fifth in the majors, and he has recorded eight or more strikeouts in four of his last five starts, including a career-high 13 against Washington on June 23.
- Reds vs. Phillies Player Prop Pick for July 9: Jesús Luzardo Over 7.5 Strikeouts (-105)
Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props for PHI-CIN
Ohio native Kyle Schwarber has homered in each of the first two games of this series, increasing his MLB-leading total to 32 and making his home run prop the most-bet player prop for Thursday night’s finale:
- Kyle Schwarber – Home Runs Over 0.5
- Bryce Harper – Home Runs Over 0.5
- Sal Stewart – Hits Over 0.5
- Brandon Marsh – Home Runs Over 0.5
- Elly De La Cruz – Home Runs Over 0.5
Phillies vs. Reds Game Info
- 📍 Where: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
- 📅 Date: Thursday, July 9
- ⏰ First Pitch: 7:10 PM ET
- 📺💻 TV/Streaming: MLB.TV
- ⚾ Probable Pitchers:
- Phillies: Jesús Luzardo
- Reds: Brady Singer
More Ways to Bet
One swing can cash your ticket, but until then, Florida players can keep things interesting with Real Money Games powered by Past Motor Racing, only on Hard Rock Bet. It’s another way to stay engaged between plate appearances.
Referenced odds are subject to change.
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