MLB Prediction: San Diego Padres vs. Cincinnati Reds: April 24th 2010

San Diego Padres vs. Cincinnati Reds
Free Pick: San Diego Padres +109
Courtesy of Mike Rose (Handicapperspicks.com)
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The Padres have been quite the surprise to start the season, as they enter today’s battle with the Reds winners of seven in a row. They hold a one-game lead over the San Francisco Giants after just sweeping them at Petco Park.

As for the Reds, they stand three-games under .500 heading into this afternoon’s game after getting rocked in the series opener.

Wade LeBlanc will get his second starting nod of the season from manager Bud black after he churned out a decent showing against Arizona after most recently getting called back up from Triple-A.

He ended up tossing five innings of one run ball and allowed seven hits (3 to Mark Reynolds) while striking out seven and walking a pair. The southpaw went 3-1 with a 3.69 ERA and allowed just 35 hits and 19 ER’s through nine starts for the Padres a season ago.

Though he’s yet to figure in a decision this season, the Reds are just 1-2 in Cueto’s three overall starts. He owns a 5.06 ERA & 1.69 WHIP and has allowed nine ER’s and 19 hits through just 16 total innings of work. Opponents are batting .292 against him to date.

The power righty has thrown 100+ pitches in each of his first three starts, but has only managed to get through six innings once. He allowed five hits and three ER’s with a K/BB ratio of 4/4 his last time out against the Pirates; a game the Reds lost 5-4.

The Padres are a rock solid 19-7 the L/26 times they played in the second game of a series, and they’re 4-1 in LeBlanc’s L/5 road starts.

Something is wrong with Cueto right now, and that’s not good news for Reds fans or their betting backers. He’s instrumental towards helping the team earn its first winning mark in years.

With neither starter figuring to go more than six innings, I have to side with the team with the better bullpen in this one. San Diego’s unit currently ranks 7th overall with a 4-0 record and unit ERA of 3.04. Closer Heath Bell has also only blown one save in five chances.

The Reds unit ranks 25th overall and is 6-4 with a bloated 6.02 ERA. It also has three blown saves in nine tries.

Look for the Padres to cash as slight underdogs once again today. Their a feel good story right now, but watch it if this young squad continues to win games.

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