Cincinnati Reds at Arizona Diamondbacks 4/9/21 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Cincinnati Reds open a three-game series on the road Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cincinnati has won five straight and improved to 5-1 following an 11-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. Cincinnati swept its three-game series with the Pirates. The Reds are first in the National League Central with a one-game lead over the second-place st. Louis Cardinals.

Jonathan India is batting .476 to lead Cincinnati. Right fielder Nick Castellanos is leading Cincinnati in home runs with four and hits with 10, while Tyler Naquin is the leader in RBIs with 13. Mike Moustakas is the leader in on-base percentage at .560. On Friday, Cincinnati will send Tyler Mahle to the mound. The right-hander is 1-0 with an ERA of 3.60, 9 Ks and 2 BBs.

Arizona dropped to 2-4 following its 8-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. The Diamondbacks will conclude a series with Colorado on Thursday before returning home and facing Cincinnati on Friday. Arizona's last in the National League West 2 ½ games behind first place Los Angeles. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for Arizona.

Ketel Marte is batting .462 to lead Arizona and the second baseman has team highs in RBIs with five, hits with 12 and on-base percentage at .500. Stephen Vogt is tied with Marte for the league in home runs with two apiece and the Diamondbacks as a team have hit seven home runs in their first six games played. On Friday, Arizona will send Taylor Widener to the mound. The right-hander is 1-0 with an ERA of 0.00, 5 Ks and 3 BBs.