The Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians are set to tangle Tuesday afternoon in what will be the Reds’ home opener.
It’s the first game of a brief two-game homestand for the Reds, kicking off the 2022 Ohio Cup competition between the two Ohio-based Major League Baseball franchises. They’ll play twice more, in Cleveland, on May 17 and 18.
DraftKings has the Guardians, who prevailed 10-7 over the Royals on Monday in Kansas City to improve to 2-2, as slight -120 favorites on the moneyline over the Reds (+100). The Guardians are -1.5 (+135) on the run line, while the Reds are +1.5 (-155). The over/under for total runs scored is 8.5.
This will be the first time the two ball clubs are facing each other since Cleveland made its name change to the Guardians.
Both clubs started the season playing on the road. Cincinnati, which played at home to start the season the previous 31 years, opened this year away from the Great American Ballpark due to MLB’s delayed start and ended up splitting a four-game series with the defending World Series champion Braves in Atlanta.
Both teams coming off wins
The Reds defeated the Braves 6-3 on Sunday in what served as the debut for Cincinnati’s highly touted 22-year-old right-hander Hunter Greene. The strong-armed starter, whom the Reds drafted with the No. 2 pick in 2017, held his own against the reigning champs, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks while fanning seven batters and throwing 92 pitches.
#RedsOpeningDay ➡️ 𝙏𝙊𝙈𝙊𝙍𝙍𝙊𝙒! ⚾https://t.co/nCEmw0omdY pic.twitter.com/y3JbopFP2o
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 11, 2022
The Ohio Cup opener will involve the opening day starters for each team getting back on the mound. Tyler Mahle will start for the Reds and Shane Bieber for the Guardians. Mahle earned the win in the opener at Atlanta. He lasted five innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out seven and walking two. Bieber pitched 4 2/3 innings in his season debut, allowing one run on three hits while striking out four in a no-decision against Kansas City.
Steven Kwan, folks! 👏👏#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/l6xQnLDKOg
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) April 9, 2022
After dropping its first two contests, Cleveland collected its first win as the Guardians on Sunday, routing Kansas City 17-3 in K.C.
Rookie outfielder Steven Kwan has been a major bright spot for the Guardians. He went 5-for-5 at the plate, including a double, in the Guardians’ first victory. He came right back on Monday and provided a three-run triple in the eighth inning to help put the game out of reach. Kwan is 9 for 13 at the plate through four games. He became the first player in Cleveland franchise history to reach base 15 times in the first four games of a season.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who led the Bengals to the Super Bowl, is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Tuesday, while wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase will present Reds second baseman Jonathan India his 2021 NL Rookie of the Year award.
