Dodgers vs. Reds (June 21): Gonsolin seeks league-leading ninth win

Tonight, Tony Gonsolin will look to become the first pitcher to reach nine wins this season as the Dodgers take on the Reds in Cincinnati.

The 2022 World Series favorites enter Tuesday’s MLB slate tied atop the NL West with the San Diego Padres, who have played four more games and won last night against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Reds, meanwhile, are bringing up the rear in the NL Central, as they go into a week that sees them go up against the NL West, with a trip to San Francisco ahead after this series ends on Thursday.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Cincinnati Reds Betting Odds and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Los Angeles Dodgers (40-25, 20-13 road, t-1st in the NL West) vs. Cincinnati Reds (23-43, 12-20 home, 5th in the NL Central)
• Venue & Location: Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati, Ohio)
• Date: Tuesday, June 21, 2022
• Game Time: 6:40 p.m. Eastern Time
• TV Broadcast/Streaming Info: Spectrum SportsNet (Dodgers), Bally Sports Ohio (Reds), MLB Extra Innings/MLB.TV (subscription packages)

Dodgers vs. Reds Pitching Matchup

• Los Angeles Dodgers: Tony Gonsolin (2022: 12 starts, 8-0, 1.42 ERA, 63.1 IP, 60 K/20 BB)
• Cincinnati Reds: Tyler Mahle (2022: 14 starts, 2-5, 4.46 ERA, 74.2 IP, 86 K/30 BB)

Dodgers vs. Reds Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. Odds from our other top reviewed and recommended sportsbooks may also be included in this article.

Moneyline

• Los Angeles Dodgers -188
• Cincinnati Reds +158

Over/Under

• OVER 9 (-118)
• UNDER 9 (-104)

Run Line

• Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (-118)
• Cincinnati Reds +1.5 (-102)

Struggling Offense Gives Gonslin Minimal Margin for Mistakes

Gonsolin, who comes in at +2200 to win the NL Cy Young Award, continues to come more and more into the Cy Young picture with each start.

His last six starts have all been quality starts, and in that stretch, he is 5-0 with a 1.49 ERA. In that six-start stretch, he has allowed just six runs (all earned) in 36.1 innings, 16 hits, and seven walks and recorded 37 strikeouts. This month alone, he is 3-0 with a 0.49 ERA in three starts, with just one run allowed in 18.1 innings.

Gonsolin has needed to be as good as he has been, because he is not getting much run support. In his first two starts in May, the Dodgers scored 20 runs against the Giants and Pirates. In the six starts since then, they have scored just 19 runs.

Last weekend, they lost two of three at home against the Cleveland Guardians, marking their second straight weekend series loss after being swept by the Giants in San Francisco the previous weekend.

Overall, over their last eight games, the Dodgers are 3-5 and have scored just 21 runs, seven of which came in Saturday’s win over the Guardians.

Don’t expect it to get better tonight against Mahle, who has a 1.30 ERA in his last four starts and has allowed just 17 hits, four runs (all earned), and seven walks in that stretch.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Cincinnati Reds Prediction and Best Bets

Dodgers vs. Reds Prediction: Dodgers to win

Dodgers vs. Reds Best Bets: Dodgers -1.5 (-112 at BetUS) & Dodgers/Reds UNDER 9.5 (-120 at Bovada Sportsbook & BetMGM)

The Dodgers should get the win tonight in Cincinnati, and as with most Dodgers games, the run line is the best move.

But it will be more because of Gonsolin’s continued excellence and not the bats, which suffered an unneeded blow with NL MVP candidate Mookie Betts, who leads the team in homers (17), is second in RBI (40), and fourth in batting average (.273), going on the 10-day injured list over the weekend due to a cracked rib suffered in a collision with teammate Cody Bellinger last Wednesday.

Even though it may be in a losing effort, look for Mahle to continue racking up the strikeouts after back-to-back double-digit strikeout games against the Arizona Diamondbacks. There’s not a lot of value with his listed total of 5.5–the over is -154 at BetOnline–but you can back him to tally seven Ks at +144.