After breaking out of our little (well not so little) slump, we have put together back to back winning POD’s with our win last night on Minnesota…I am putting this play out rather early as I anticipate a line move here…It seems very low for this game.

After being swept in the 3 game series with St. Louis, thus giving up their lead in the division, the Reds have bounced back with 5 straight wins putting up 31 runs (6.2 average) in that stretch, and that was without leading homer hitter, slugger Votto who should be back in the lineup tonight. They are 44-21 versus teams with a losing record and 15-5 the 2nd half of the season. They are 12-4 in August.

After a stretch where the Diamonbacks won 6 of 7 games, they have since come back to reality and their normal play by dropping 5 of their last 6. Their league leading worst bullpen (6.29 ERA) did it again last night giving up 8 runs in the 11-7 loss to Cincy.

Travis Wood gets the start for Cincy. He has won his last 3 and has a very respectable 2.65 ERA on the season, 2.80 on the road and 2.45 in his last 3 starts. Cincinnati is 11-3 against Arizona over the past 3 years and 7-1 when playing at Arizona. He averages 6 2/3 innings per start. The bullpen has a 3.45 ERA.

Arizona starter Saunders is 7-12 in decisions in his 24 starts, carrying a 5.17 ERA when on his home field. In his last start he gave up 4 runs and 10 hits in a 4-2 loss to Washington.

With Cincy averaging 6.9 runs in their last 5 games and Arizona pitching having given up an average of 11 hits per game in their last 9 games (29 hits in last two), the difference of nearly 3 points of ERA between starters, one team on a win streak and the other on a losing streak, the worst bullpen in the league, who by the way has to be spent after last night….This appears to be a no-brainer, but then again that’s why they play the game..anything can happen in this business of betting sports.

Today’s Play of the Day…..Cincinnati (wood) -1.25 over Arizona (saunders)

Guaranteed Play of the Day…110-61 in 2010

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