The Cincinnati Reds and the Tampa Bay Rays will open a 3-game set tonight at Great American Ball Park. The 45-37 Rays have been hot, going 5-1 over their last 6, and they are 5-1 in their last 6 interleague road games. They will also have their ace on the bump, southpaw Shane McClanahan, and this guy can deliver. McClanahan is 9-3 with a nasty ERA of only 1.74 and a 0.80 WHIP. The Reds, who are 29-54 and reside dead last in the NL Central, will have Luis Castillo toeing the rubber. He is upside down at 3-4 but has a respectable 3.09 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. McClanahan is one of the best left-handed starters in the game and the Reds are 0-6 in their last 6 against southies. The side to consider here is Tampa.
TONIGHT’S PICK: TAMPA BAY RAYS