Game Preview: NL Central Showdown Reds Visit Brewers

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Matchup: Cincinnati Reds (2-4) at Milwaukee Brewers (2-4)

Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
Time: 7:40 PM EDT
Location: American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Starting Pitchers: Nick Lodolo (LHP, 1-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. Nestor Cortes (LHP)

Moneyline Odds: Reds -105 | Brewers -115

Setting the Scene:

NL Central rivals clash in Milwaukee as the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers open a four-game series, both looking to gain momentum after identical 2-4 starts to the 2025 season. Divisional games always carry extra importance, and this early-season matchup at American Family Field is no exception.

Pitching Duel: Lefty vs. Lefty

This game features an intriguing battle between two talented left-handed starters.

  • Nick Lodolo (CIN): The Reds’ southpaw is off to a promising start, securing a win in his first outing while posting a solid 3.00 ERA. Lodolo will look to build on that performance and give Cincinnati a crucial road win to start the series.
  • Nestor Cortes (MIL): The Brewers counter with their own lefty, Nestor Cortes. Known for his unique deliveries and ability to keep hitters off balance, Cortes aims to secure a home victory and get the Brewers rolling. While his specific 2025 stats weren’t highlighted in the search results, he represents a challenging matchup for the Reds lineup.

Team Notes & Betting Lines:

  • Both clubs enter with identical sub-.500 records (2-4), highlighting the need for a series win.
  • Historically, the Brewers have held an edge over the Reds, particularly in Milwaukee. As noted, the Brewers won 4 of 6 games against the Reds at American Family Field last season.
  • The betting market reflects the expected closeness of this contest. The Brewers are slight home favorites (-115), with the Reds close behind as road underdogs (-105), indicating a near toss-up according to oddsmakers.

Prediction:

This projects to be a competitive, tightly contested game, as the betting odds suggest. Nick Lodolo’s strong first start gives the Reds reason for optimism. However, Nestor Cortes pitching at home for the Brewers provides a slight edge. Milwaukee’s historical advantage over Cincinnati at American Family Field also factors in.

Expect a close game, potentially lower-scoring given the quality of both left-handed starters. While the Reds are live underdogs, the slight lean goes to the home team in what should be a battle.

Final Score Prediction: Brewers 4, Reds 3

Sources:
Statcast Game Preview: Cincinnati Reds at Milwaukee Brewers …
Brewers vs. Reds Prediction, Odds, Picks – April 3 | FOX Sports
Reds promote top prospect 3B Nick Senzel
Milwaukee Brewers News – MLB | FOX Sports
Brewers play the Reds in first of 4-game series | Regional Sports …
Milwaukee Brewers vs Cincinnati Reds baseball H2H scores – AiScore
Baseball predictions & previews – Statsalt
Cincinnati Reds at Milwaukee Brewers odds, picks and predictions
MLB Picks – Free Expert Predictions, Parlays, Best Bets , and Player …
Cincinnati Reds vs Milwaukee Brewers Prediction 4/3/25 MLB Picks …

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