Dodgers vs Reds Picks and Prediction – 6/8/2023

The Thursday MLB schedule will get underway with a matinee between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds from the Great American Ball Park. The Dodgers (35-27) are looking to snap a season-high four game losing streak and have fallen two games behind NL West Division leading Arizona. Last night, All-Star OF Mookie Betts hit his 16th home run of the season during an 8-6 road loss against Cincinnati.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw (7-4 3.25 ERA) is making a strong bid for his 10th All-Star appearance. Through 69 plus innings, Kershaw has struck out 84 batters and owns a solid 1.10 WHIP.

The Cincinnati Reds are a game below .500 at home and have been energized by the arrival of highly touted prospect Elly De La Cruz. On Wednesday, De La Cruz crushed a mammoth 458 foot home run and recorded the fastest home-to-third time on a triple in the majors this season. OF Will Benson walked it off for the Reds (28-33) with a two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Reds will give the nod to hard-throwing righty Graham Ashcraft (3-4 6.64 ERA) in the series finale. Cincinnati has lost three of Ashcraft’s last four starts and he has surrendered an alarming 27 runs over his last 19 innings of work.