Cleveland Indians at Cincinnati Reds 4/16/21 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Cleveland Indians travel on the road to Great American Ball Park to open up a road series with the Cincinnati Reds. The Indians bounced back after being no-hit on Wednesday with a 4-2 win over the White Sox, improving to 7-5 on the season and earning a series split on the road with their division rival. The Reds started off red-hot but have since lost four of their last five and were shut out 3-0 by the Giants to lose the series and move to 7-5 on the year.

Cleveland has really struggled at the plate in the early season and after being no-hit is hitting just .195 on the year, ranking 29th in the MLB in team batting average. They’re averaging just 3.82 runs per game ranking 26th in scoring offense and a bunch of guys has started off the year in slumps. Jose Ramirez may have busted out of his early-season slump with a two-run home run to take the lead against the White Sox. Ramirez is batting just .222 on the season. 

The left-handed Logan Allen will take the mound in his third start of the year, he’s been solid in the early season pitching 5 innings in both starts allowing a combined 7 hits and 3 runs. Allen is still a work in progress and has bounced between the MLB and minors across the last three seasons, he made just 3 appearances last season posting a 3.38 ERA across 10 innings. 

Cincinnati has started off the season 5-1 in their home ballpark and despite their recent struggles on the west coast, I expect them to refind their groove back at home. The bats have started the season off red-hot and their team batting average of .264 ranks 5th in the MLB this season, they are also leading the MLB in scoring offense with 6.25 runs per game.

The tall right-hander Jeff Hoffman will get the start for the Reds, he’s had a solid opening day start but struggled his last time out against the Diamondbacks. Hoffman made it just 4.1 innings forfeiting 6 hits and three runs, striking out just 2 and walking 3. After bouncing between the rotation and bullpen in Colorado, he figures to be apart of the normal Reds rotation this season. Hoffman has a career ERA of 6.30 and is coming off the worst season of his career, posting a 9.28 ERA in 16 appearances out of the bullpen.