This is an 8* on CINCINNATI

Cincinnati knows how to beat Miami. They’ve come out ahead 10 of the last 11 times they’ve faced the Marlins. The teams had not faced each other in 2021 prior to last weekend when the Reds won all four home games. To be fair, lots of teams beat up on the last place Marlins. The Fish were on an eight-game slide entering Wednesday. They’ve since beaten Washington two times, 4-3 and 7-5. But we don’t expect them to solve the Big Red Machine Friday night. The Reds won in Milwaukee Thursday afternoon 5-1. So with San Diego losing, they have a two-game lead for the second Wild Card. Sonny Gray pitched a strong game yesterday. We expect Wade Miley to do the same thing tonight. Miley has a 15-8 team start record and has won his last six decisions. He leads the entire team in WAR. In six career starts against Miami, Miley has a 1.86 ERA. He’s simply a better pitcher than Miami’s Zach Thompson, who has seen his ERA steadily rise all year. It’s now up to 3.12. Thompson’s team start record in his last eight starts is 1-7. The Marlins likely won’t have CF Brinson for tonight’s opener after he sprained his thumb last night. It doesn’t look good when you are 14-25 vs. left-handed starters and facing Miley, who not only just beat them last week but has also given up only seven runs in his last four starts. Play on CINCINNATI

AAA