Reds @ Dodgers Prevew: LA Looks to Extend Division Lead

The Los Angeles Dodgers are finally living up to all the hype that surrounded the team at the begininning of the season.  After taking a long road, the Dodgers have overtaken the Arizona Diamondbacks as the leaders of the NL West.

The D’backs are only 1.5 games behind the Dodgers, though, and as Arizona enters a series against the Chicago Cubs, the Dodgers know they must put some more distance between themselves and Arizona.  It will not be easy as they are entering a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.

If the Reds were in any other division in the National League, they would be in first place with a .569 winning percentage.  Unfortunately, they are in a very tough NL Central division where they find themselves with one of the bests winning percentages in the NL and still in third place in their division.  They are five games behind division leaders the St. Louis Cardinals and 3.5 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates.  They would love to begin closing those gaps sooner rather than later.

The Dodgers will be starting Zack Greinke who will be looking to keep the Dodgers six-game win streak alive.  Greinke will be seeking his 100th career victory today and enters the game with a 5-0 record and a 2.36 ERA on his last six outings.  In his last start he shutout the Colorado Rockies, allowing just two hits, a walk and striking out nine.

The Reds will be countering with right-hander Mat Latos.  Latos will be looking for his second consecutive win and 10th win overall.  Latos has a 2.48 ERA against the Dodgers in his short career, but has not faced the Dodgers since last season.  He’s gone just 2-6 on his last nine starts.  In his last game he gave up two earned runs in five innings against the Pirates.

The Dodgers are the favorites to win this game according to Bovada with a -117 moneyline.  The Reds moneyline is at +107.  The game is a late one as it starts at 10:10 p.m. ET.