The Cincinnati Reds (40-49 SU, -10.94 Units) are already starting to look forward to next season. Part of their youth movement is going to be in a revamped pitching staff, one which will be on full display on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs (49-41 SU, +3.20 Units).
PITCHING MATCHUP
Twenty-five year old Raisel Iglesias has some tremendously nasty stuff. He can hit 96 or 97 on the radar gun when he really rears back, and his off-speed stuff can rival that of any young pitcher in the game. However, his fastball gets flat from time to time, and that lack of movement tends to get him into some trouble.
Iglesias has had the exact same problem in his last three starts, and he has had a similar problem in the interim in the minors as well. The last inning that he pitches tends to be a big one for the opposition.
It was plausible to think that a month in the minors would have helped Iglesias out, but when he was brought back up to the big leagues for his last start against the Marlins, he allowed five runs in just 4.1 innings of work.
Live bettors should be aware of Iglesias' struggles when lineups start to see him a second and third time and wager accordingly.
There could be a tell here against the Cubs' starter as well. Jason Hammel left his last start on July 8 with a hamstring problem, and he hasn't been on the bump since that point.
Hammel has been great this year, posting around a 9/1 K/BB ratio, but we do have to remember that he hasn't thrown more than one live inning in a game since July 3. This is a long layoff without a rehab start for a veteran, and for as sparkly as that 2.86 ERA is, this is a lineup that could give a pitcher with some minor problems some major issues.
ADVANCED STATS
The Cubs can really slug the ball, and that's where they are going to have an advantage in this game. Iglesias has only allowed two home runs in 29 innings in the majors, but that small sample set could be blown to bits in this one, especially here at the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.
Chicago has 77 home runs this season, which isn't all that impressive, but with young Kyle Schwarber catching on a regular basis now, that puts five men in this lineup who really can mash the baseball.
The Cubs have a -40.9 offensive rating according to FanGraphs as a team, but we know the difference between their top hitters and their bottom hitters is huge. It only takes one or two good innings to run Iglesias out of this one.
TALKING BULLPENS
Aroldis Chapman was asked to throw 44 pitches on Sunday, and that could be problematic for him even into Tuesday. The righty had not thrown more than 30 pitches in a game this year, and he had never been asked to toss a second frame. Will Chapman really be ready to pitch in a save situation in this game? We're not all that sure.
Considering the fact that the rest of the Cincinnati bullpen has combined for just one save this year, that coming from J.J. Hoover, we're not sure that we would want to be betting on the Reds in the late innings in live betting unless we were absolutely sure that Chapman was going to be running out of that pen.
The MLB lines for this Tuesday contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker's live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Need to fund your account before the big game but don't have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don't miss out on getting paid because you couldn't bet. Click here, and deposit at BookMaker now! The ballgame pitting the Chicago Cubs versus the Cincinnati Reds will commence Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at 7:10 p.m. ET at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
