Scheduled First Pitch: 7:10 p.m. EDT
Venue: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
Gametime Weather: 79°F (partly cloudy)
Venue Context — Great American Ball Park
A well‑known hitter‑friendly park, especially for right‑handed pull power. Warm July conditions (79°F) typically enhance ball carry. Expect a scoring environment slightly above league average.
Probable Pitchers
Cleveland — LHP Joey Cantillo
Record: 8–6
ERA: 4.02
WHIP: 1.46
116 K, 53 BB, 107 H, 13 HR allowed across 109.2 IP
Profile: Cantillo brings strikeout upside but also elevated WHIP and walk totals. His stuff plays, but command inconsistency can create traffic. Guardians’ strong team pitching metrics (3.75 ERA, 1.27 WHIP) support him well.
Cincinnati — RHP Brady Singer
Record: 5–9
ERA: 4.53
WHIP: 1.38
88 K, ? BB, ? H (full line not provided)
Profile: Singer has been inconsistent, allowing more hard contact than in previous seasons. His ERA and WHIP place him below Cantillo in most categories, though he has shown flashes of effectiveness when his slider is sharp.
Team Form & Statistical Profile
Cleveland Guardians
Record: 55–54 (28–28 away)
Last 10 games: 3–7, .227 AVG, 3.94 ERA, outscored by 13 runs
Season Offense: .230 AVG, 420 runs, 813 hits, 104 HR, .309 OBP, .371 SLG
Season Pitching: 3.75 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, .239 opponent AVG, 975 K, 349 BB
Form Notes: Cleveland’s pitching is elite (top‑5 AL ERA), but their offense is slumping badly—only 10 runs in their last five games and shut out twice in their last three.
Cincinnati Reds
Record: 50–56 (23–29 home)
Last 10 games: 6–4, .219 AVG, 4.09 ERA, outscored by 10 runs (low batting average but timely hitting)
Season Offense: Strong HR profile—24–13 when hitting 2+ HR in a game
Form Notes: Cincinnati is playing better baseball recently than Cleveland, winning six of their last ten and showing improved bullpen stability.
Injury Reports
Cincinnati Reds Injuries
Matt McLain (calf, 10‑Day IL)
Jose Franco (elbow, day‑to‑day)
Spencer Steer (wrist, 10‑Day IL)
Nick Lodolo (finger, 15‑Day IL)
Blake Dunn (elbow, 10‑Day IL)
Brandon Williamson (shoulder, 60‑Day IL)
Tony Santillan (oblique, 15‑Day IL)
Graham Ashcraft (forearm, 60‑Day IL)
Cleveland Guardians Injuries
Shawn Armstrong (leg, 15‑Day IL)
Injury Edge: Cleveland (far fewer key losses).
Key Player Matchups & Performers
Cincinnati
JJ Bleday: 11 doubles, 1 triple, 18 HR (team power leader)
Eugenio Suárez: 4 HR in last 10 games (heating up)
Cleveland
Chase DeLauter: 20 doubles, 1 triple, 11 HR (consistent extra‑base threat)
Steven Kwan: 14-for-39 (.359) last 10 games, 3 doubles (hot bat)
Matchup Notes:
Reds’ power vs Cantillo’s elevated WHIP is a key battleground.
Guardians’ contact hitters (Kwan, DeLauter) match well against Singer’s occasional command lapses.
Series History
Season series: Cleveland leads 3–2 entering July 29 matchup
Current series:
7/27: Game postponed
7/28 Game 1: Guardians 6, Reds 5
7/28 Game 2: Reds 2, Guardians 0
7/29: Rubber match
Betting Trends
Reds are 24–13 when hitting 2+ HR (major factor at Great American Ball Park).
Guardians’ pitching advantage is substantial across ERA, WHIP, opponent AVG, strikeouts, and walks.
Cleveland’s offense is the biggest concern—multiple recent shutouts.
Game Odds
Cleveland Guardians – 128
Cincinnati Reds 9
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, July 28, 2026
