Free MLB Picks Today: Cincinnati Reds vs Atlanta Braves 6/24/23

The Atlanta Braves (48-27) are on the road to face the Cincinnati Reds (41-35) at Great American Ball Park on Saturday. The Reds took Friday’s series opener 11-10, their 12th straight victory overall and first in four games against the Braves this season.

Reliever Alex Young threw 0.2 scoreless innings to get the win, and Alexis Diaz earned his 21st save with a scoreless ninth. Elly De La Cruz hit for the cycle, going 4 for 5 with a home run, a triple, and a double in the win.

He scored three runs and drove in four. Joey Votto added two home runs and four RBIs. Matt Olson was 2 for 5 with two home runs and three RBIs for the Braves. Ronald Acuna Jr. went 3 for 5 with a home run and two runs.

ON THE MOUND

Jared Shuster (4-2, 4.57 ERA) is in line to start for Atlanta. The LHP allowed one run over 5.2 innings in his last start, an 8-1 home win over the Rockies on June 16. He earned the win, yielding five hits while striking out two and walking three.

For Cincinnati, righty Graham Ashcraft (3-5, 6.78 ERA) will toe the rubber. He has made one prior start against the Braves this season, giving up two runs over six innings in a 5-4 road defeat on April 10.

He gave up six hits and walked three while striking out seven in the no-decision. In his last start on June 8, Ashcraft took the loss at home against the Dodgers. He threw 2.2 innings and gave up three runs on three hits, striking out one and walking two in the 6-0 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, Atlanta has averaged 8.6 runs a game, up from their season average of 5.5, while performing better across the board (.328/.394/.630). Against right-handed pitchers like Ashcraft this season, the Braves have a .795 OPS, second highest in the league.

Acuna Jr. is the team’s biggest on-base threat against right-handers with a .399 OBP in 205 at-bats. Cincinnati is averaging 7.6 runs per game in the last five, up from 4.9 for the season, with a higher slash line (.283/.367/.578).

The Reds have a .756 OPS against Southpaws in 2023. With a .937 OPS over 66 at-bats, Kevin Newman has been their best hitter against left-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Atlanta is 24-12 in away games in 2023, scoring 5.5 runs per game while allowing 3.5 runs. Cincinnati has won four in a row at their home park. The Reds are 21-18 at home this season, averaging 4.9 runs per game while surrendering 5.5.

The teams have split their last 10 games head-to-head at Great American Ball Park, though Atlanta has the scoring advantage with an average final margin of 4.2-3.3.