Cincinnati Reds vs Milwaukee Brewers Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Monday June 29 2026
Use Code WWWC The Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers begin a four-game National League Central series at American Family Field on Monday night, only five days after Milwaukee completed a three-game sweep in Cincinnati.
Nick Lodolo returns after a line drive struck his pitching wrist in his previous start, while Robert Gasser attempts to continue an encouraging two-start stretch. This preview examines the current odds, pitching matchup, predictions, and top MLB player props for Monday’s Reds vs Brewers game.
Best Available Odds for Reds vs Brewers
- Best Moneyline Odds: Cincinnati Reds +125 (BetMGM), Milwaukee Brewers -140 (bet365)
- Best Spread Odds: Cincinnati Reds +1.5 (-165, BetMGM), Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 (+137, DraftKings)
- Best Total Odds: Over 9 (-105, DraftKings), Under 9 (-105, BetMGM)
Game Info
- Date: Monday, June 29, 2026
- Time: 7:40 PM EDT
- Location: American Family Field, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- TV: Reds.TV, Brewers.TV Presented by Potawatomi Sportsbook
Cincinnati Reds vs Milwaukee Brewers Preview
The Cincinnati Reds enter Monday at 39-43 after taking two of three games from the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend. Cincinnati scored 19 runs during the series but failed to complete the sweep, losing Sunday’s finale 9-4.
The Reds erased an early four-run deficit Sunday before Pittsburgh pulled away with four runs during the eighth inning. Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart, and Tyler Stephenson contributed during the comeback, but Cincinnati’s pitching could not prevent the Pirates from hitting four home runs.
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That loss followed victories of 6-4 and 9-2 in the first two games. The offensive response was encouraging after Milwaukee held Cincinnati to six combined runs during last week’s three-game sweep at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds lost those games 2-1 in extra innings, 2-0, and 6-5. Cincinnati had opportunities in the first and third contests but could not convert enough of them against Milwaukee’s deep pitching staff.
De La Cruz returned from a three-week injured-list absence during that series. The shortstop had been sidelined by a right hamstring strain but was activated June 23 and immediately returned to the starting lineup.
He enters Monday batting .268 with a .339 on-base percentage and .480 slugging percentage. His combination of power, speed, and plate discipline gives Cincinnati its most dangerous individual hitter.
De La Cruz receives the platoon advantage against Gasser as a switch-hitter. His right-handed production will be important because Milwaukee can use several left-handed relievers after the starter departs.
The hamstring injury could reduce his aggressiveness on the bases, but his return still changes the shape of Cincinnati’s lineup. Pitchers cannot work as freely around the hitters ahead of him when De La Cruz is waiting in the middle of the order.
Sal Stewart has become Cincinnati’s most productive run producer. The rookie enters with 15 home runs and 57 RBIs while batting near the centre of the lineup.
Stewart’s right-handed power creates a favourable matchup against Gasser. American Family Field can reward hitters who elevate the ball, particularly when they pull contact toward the shorter power alleys.
The first baseman has shown the ability to drive pitches to every part of the field rather than depending entirely on mistakes inside. Gasser must keep his cutter and breaking pitches away from Stewart’s preferred launch areas.
Tyler Stephenson provides another right-handed power threat. The catcher has started to produce more consistent contact after an uneven opening portion of the season.
Stephenson recorded a hit and contributed to Cincinnati’s four-run comeback Sunday. He can handle velocity and should benefit whenever Gasser falls behind and must throw his fastball inside the strike zone.
Matt McLain, Noelvi Marte, Spencer Steer, JJ Bleday, Dane Myers, Edwin Arroyo, and the available bench options provide the remaining lineup depth.
Cincinnati’s offense has more home-run power than Milwaukee’s, entering with approximately 100 homers compared with 73 for the Brewers.
The broader production remains less impressive. The Reds rank in the bottom third of the majors in runs, on-base percentage, and OPS, while Milwaukee ranks among the top 10 in most major offensive categories.
Cincinnati has been especially inconsistent against strong pitching. The Reds were held to two or fewer runs in five of their previous eight games before the weekend series in Pittsburgh.
Milwaukee’s ability to generate strikeouts creates another concern. The Brewers lead the majors in pitching strikeouts and have repeatedly prevented Cincinnati from creating productive contact with runners on base.
The Reds remain without several important pitchers. Hunter Greene and Graham Ashcraft are on the 60-day injured list, while closer Emilio Pagán remains unavailable.
Tony Santillan was recently placed on the injured list with an oblique strain. His absence removes another experienced right-handed option from a bullpen that already ranks near the bottom of the league in ERA.
Blake Dunn and Ke’Bryan Hayes are also unavailable. Dunn has a right elbow sprain, while Hayes is dealing with a back injury.
Those absences reduce Cincinnati’s defensive and bench flexibility. They also place greater pressure on the active relievers whenever Lodolo or another starter fails to work deep into the game.
The Cincinnati bullpen was exposed Sunday after Brady Singer completed six innings. Pittsburgh broke a 4-4 tie with back-to-back home runs and scored four times during the eighth.
That performance reinforced the gap between these pitching staffs. Cincinnati owns a team ERA above 4.50 and ranks in the bottom third of the league in strikeouts.
The Milwaukee Brewers enter Monday at 50-31 and hold first place in the National League Central. They have a 5.5-game divisional advantage despite losing two of three games to the Chicago Cubs over the weekend.
Milwaukee won Friday’s opener before losing 8-2 Saturday and 4-3 in 10 innings Sunday. The Brewers carried a 1-0 lead into the seventh during the finale but could not protect it.
Chicago scored three runs during the top of the 10th. Milwaukee answered with two and loaded the bases with nobody out, but a pop fly and double play ended the comeback.
The loss was frustrating because Milwaukee had several earlier opportunities. The Brewers went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.
Those results should not obscure the club’s strong June performance. Milwaukee won five consecutive games before dropping the final two contests against Chicago.
That winning streak included the three-game sweep in Cincinnati. The Brewers’ pitching staff allowed six runs over 28 innings and consistently controlled the strongest portion of the Reds lineup.
Milwaukee has also been one of baseball’s most productive June offenses. The Brewers entered Monday leading the majors in weighted runs created plus since June 1.
William Contreras remains the lineup’s most dependable hitter. He enters batting .301 with a .364 on-base percentage, .432 slugging percentage, nine home runs, and 50 RBIs.
Contreras has recorded six hits, two home runs, four walks, and four RBIs across his last several games. His contact ability and strike-zone control make him a difficult matchup for Lodolo.
The right-handed catcher should bat near the middle of the order and receive the platoon advantage. Lodolo’s command must be precise because Contreras can drive pitches to the opposite field or pull mistakes toward left.
Jackson Chourio gives Milwaukee another dangerous right-handed hitter. His speed, hard contact, and ability to attack early-count fastballs can pressure Lodolo before the left-hander establishes his breaking pitches.
Chourio produced the comebacker that struck Lodolo’s wrist last week. The ball was measured at 107.6 mph and ended what had been Lodolo’s most effective start of the season.
Andrew Vaughn has also performed well since joining Milwaukee. His right-handed bat gives the Brewers another option against left-handed pitching.
Gary Sánchez represents Milwaukee’s clearest pure power threat against a southpaw. Sánchez owns strong career production against left-handed pitchers and can change the game with one elevated Lodolo fastball.
Cooper Pratt and Joey Ortiz provide additional right-handed options. Milwaukee can construct a lineup designed to limit Lodolo’s same-handed advantage, even if that requires sitting one or more left-handed regulars.
Christian Yelich, Brice Turang, Sal Frelick, and Jake Bauers remain important parts of the Brewers offense, but their matchups against Lodolo are more complicated.
Yelich has struggled against Lodolo in previous meetings. Turang also gives the pitcher the platoon advantage, although his contact and speed can still create problems.
Milwaukee does not depend exclusively on home runs. The Brewers have reached 50 victories through contact, walks, baserunning, defensive execution, and one of baseball’s deepest pitching staffs.
Their 73 home runs rank near the bottom of the league, but the club continues to rank highly in runs, batting average, on-base percentage, and overall offensive production.
The Brewers are also 26-17 at American Family Field. Cincinnati enters with a 20-21 road record and has struggled more frequently when facing the better clubs in the division.
Milwaukee’s bullpen receives an important boost from Jared Koenig’s return. The left-hander was activated Friday after the club had temporarily been reduced to one healthy left-handed reliever.
The Brewers still have several injured pitchers, including Carlos Rodriguez, Logan Henderson, Rob Zastryzny, and Coleman Crow.
The active bullpen remains deeper than Cincinnati’s. Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, Koenig, Aaron Ashby, and the remaining relievers give Milwaukee several late-inning combinations.
Milwaukee did play 10 innings Sunday, but Brandon Woodruff completed 5.2 scoreless innings before the bullpen entered. Joel Kuhnel allowed the decisive runs during the 10th rather than one of Milwaukee’s primary closing options.
The workload is worth noting, but it does not eliminate the Brewers’ season-long relief advantage.
Pitching Matchup
The Cincinnati Reds will start left-hander Nick Lodolo, who enters at 2-2 with a 5.59 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts across 46.2 innings.
Lodolo’s season began late because of blister problems that affected his ability to grip and finish his breaking pitches.
The delayed start contributed to inconsistent command. Lodolo allowed 53 hits, 18 walks, and eight home runs during his first nine appearances.
His 5.38 fielding-independent pitching mark confirms that the high ERA has not simply been caused by poor defensive support or unfortunate sequencing.
The left-hander has still shown flashes of his previous form. His strongest performance came against these Brewers last Tuesday.
Lodolo held Milwaukee scoreless across four innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out six. He retired the first nine hitters and carried a no-hit bid into the fourth.
Chourio then hit the line drive that struck Lodolo’s left wrist. Lodolo remained in the game and completed the inning but required 32 pitches after the comebacker.
Cincinnati removed him as a precaution after 75 pitches. X-rays were negative, and the injury was diagnosed as a wrist contusion.
His return six days later suggests the Reds are comfortable with his ability to grip and execute the ball. The central question is whether the wrist affects his command or workload.
Lodolo has pitched well historically against Milwaukee. He owns a 2.52 ERA with 35 strikeouts across 35.2 career innings against the Brewers.
That history gives Cincinnati a realistic upset path. Lodolo’s combination of sinkers, changeups, and breaking balls has repeatedly prevented Milwaukee’s left-handed hitters from producing clean contact.
Milwaukee can respond by loading the lineup with right-handed bats. Contreras, Chourio, Vaughn, Sánchez, Pratt, and Ortiz all create more difficult matchups.
Lodolo has allowed opponents to bat .284 this season. His command must remain sharp because Milwaukee’s lineup rarely gives away extended at-bats.
The Reds would benefit from at least five innings. Asking the bullpen to cover four or five frames after working throughout the Pittsburgh series would significantly favour Milwaukee.
The Brewers counter with left-hander Robert Gasser, who enters at 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts across 30 innings.
Gasser has made six starts after returning from previous arm issues. His initial results were inconsistent, but his most recent two appearances have been substantially stronger.
The left-hander has allowed two runs on six hits and three walks across 11.2 innings against Cleveland and Atlanta. He recorded 12 strikeouts during those outings.
Gasser’s 31 strikeouts in 30 innings demonstrate that he can miss bats even when his command is not perfect.
The 12 walks and six home runs remain concerns. His 5.14 FIP is higher than the ERA and suggests he has not yet established a completely stable run-prevention profile.
Cincinnati can build a right-handed lineup around Stewart, Stephenson, Marte, Myers, Steer, and De La Cruz. That alignment limits some of Gasser’s natural platoon advantage.
The Reds have also seen him before. Gasser faced Cincinnati last September and allowed four unearned runs across 2.2 innings.
That strange pitching line included four hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. Defensive mistakes played a significant role, but Gasser also struggled to finish the third inning.
He enters this rematch in better form. His recent velocity, command, and strikeout production should allow Milwaukee to trust him through at least five innings.
Gasser’s ability to keep the ball inside the park will be decisive. Cincinnati’s offense is built more around home-run power than sustained on-base production.
Stewart and De La Cruz are the two hitters most capable of changing the game with one swing. Gasser must avoid unnecessary walks ahead of them.
Milwaukee does not need seven innings from the starter. Five or six competitive frames would allow the Brewers to move into their stronger bullpen before Cincinnati sees Gasser for a third time.
Game Thesis: Lodolo’s career success against Milwaukee and strong performance last week make Cincinnati more dangerous than the full-season ERA suggests. The Brewers still own the deeper lineup, stronger bullpen, better defensive support, and superior current offensive form. Gasser has allowed only two runs over his last 11.2 innings, while Cincinnati has struggled throughout June outside its productive weekend in Pittsburgh. Milwaukee should create enough traffic against Lodolo and the Reds bullpen to win, but the starting matchup supports a competitive first five innings. A projected 5-3 Brewers victory makes Milwaukee the best moneyline selection, Milwaukee -1.5 the preferred spread, and Under 9 the total pick.
Best Bet - Moneyline Pick: Milwaukee Brewers (-140)
Milwaukee is the strongest wager because the Brewers hold advantages in overall team quality, offense, bullpen depth, defense, and home performance.
The Brewers are 19 games above .500 and lead the division by 5.5 games. Cincinnati is four games below .500 and remains in last place.
Milwaukee also swept Cincinnati less than one week ago. The Brewers held the Reds to six runs and controlled nearly every important pitching matchup during the series.
Lodolo’s four scoreless innings prevent this from becoming a simple fade of his 5.59 ERA. He demonstrated that his pitches can neutralize Milwaukee when he locates them.
The wrist injury and short turnaround create additional uncertainty. Lodolo threw 75 pitches but has not completed more than five innings consistently this season.
Milwaukee should eventually receive opportunities against Cincinnati’s bullpen. The Reds are missing Pagán and Santillan and carry a relief ERA near the bottom of the league.
Gasser has been effective enough to prevent Cincinnati from creating an early multi-run advantage. His 12 strikeouts over the last two starts indicate that his swing-and-miss stuff is returning.
The original -141 price was reasonable, and the current best number around -140 remains playable. Milwaukee should be closer to a -155 favourite based on the teams’ complete profiles.
Spread Pick: Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 (+137)
The Milwaukee run line provides a plus-money alternative for bettors expecting the bullpen gap to create late separation.
Cincinnati has lost several games by multiple runs after remaining competitive through the middle innings. The relief staff’s home-run and walk problems can quickly turn a one-run deficit into three.
Milwaukee also creates pressure through contact and baserunning rather than depending on one swing. That style can generate insurance runs against a bullpen struggling to control the strike zone.
The Brewers’ previous two victories over Cincinnati came by two and one runs before the 6-5 finale. Only one of the three would have covered -1.5.
That history makes the spread less secure than the moneyline. Lodolo can also keep Milwaukee from creating enough early offense to establish a comfortable margin.
The +137 price compensates for those risks. A projected 5-3 final supports Milwaukee -1.5 without requiring an offensive explosion.
Total Pick: Under 9 (-105)
Under 9 is the preferred total because both starters enter with stronger recent performances than their season-long ERAs suggest.
Lodolo recorded six strikeouts and allowed no runs against Milwaukee last week. He also owns a 2.52 career ERA against the Brewers.
Gasser has allowed two runs across his last 11.2 innings. Milwaukee can remove him before a dangerous third trip through Cincinnati’s lineup and use its stronger bullpen.
The previous series produced totals of three, two, and 11 runs. Two of those three stayed comfortably below nine.
Cincinnati’s 19-run weekend creates some Over concern, but the Reds faced a Pittsburgh pitching staff that does not match Milwaukee’s season-long quality.
The Brewers lead the majors in pitching strikeouts and rank second in team ERA. They have repeatedly prevented Cincinnati from creating productive contact.
American Family Field is not automatically a pitcher-friendly venue. Its dimensions can reward elevated contact, particularly from right-handed power hitters.
The bullpens also create risk. Cincinnati’s relief staff allowed four eighth-inning runs Sunday, while Milwaukee played 10 innings.
The nine-run line provides useful push protection. A 5-4 result returns the stake, while the projected 5-3 game cashes the Under.
Top Player Prop Picks for Reds vs Brewers
Robert Gasser Over 5.5 Strikeouts (+120, DraftKings): Gasser has recorded 12 strikeouts across his last 11.2 innings and owns 31 in 30 innings for the season. Cincinnati’s power-oriented lineup gives him several swing-and-miss opportunities, particularly when he can finish at-bats with breaking pitches below the strike zone. Milwaukee should allow him to work through five or six innings if he continues limiting damage. The projection sits close to six, and the +120 return is considerably more attractive than laying a negative price at the same number.
William Contreras Over 1.5 Total Bases (+132, bet365): Contreras enters batting .301 and has been Milwaukee’s most reliable combination of contact, patience, and run production. He should bat third and receive the platoon advantage against Lodolo. American Family Field rewards hard contact toward left field, while Contreras can clear the line with one double or two singles. Lodolo’s strong career numbers against Milwaukee create risk, but the plus-money price and Contreras’s lineup position make this more attractive than an expensive one-hit prop.
Sal Stewart Over 1.5 Total Bases (+150, bet365): Stewart leads Cincinnati with 15 home runs and 57 RBIs and should bat near the middle of the order. He receives the platoon advantage against Gasser and owns the power to clear this line with one swing. American Family Field has favourable dimensions for right-handed hitters capable of pulling elevated pitches. Stewart can also cash with two singles, giving the wager more paths than a home-run-only market. The +150 price provides enough return to support Cincinnati’s strongest right-handed power threat against a left-handed starter.
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