The 57-52 Cincinnati Reds are a team to keep an eye on. They have one of the best skippers in the majors, Terry Francona, and are knocking on the door for the last wild card spot in the NL. They also have one of the best hurlers in the business, southpaw Andrew Abbott, who will be called upon tonight to throw strikes when the Reds host the 45-62 Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park. Abbott delivers every time he takes the hill. The lefty is 8-1 with a 2.09 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. The Braves are expected to counter with the newly acquired ex-Yankee Carlos Carrasco. Before New York sent him down to AAA Scranton, Carrasco was 2-2 with a 5.91 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. The Big Red Machine, who are 32-24 at home should take care of business tonight. The Braves are just 19-36 on the road. They have lost their last five against a team with a winning record, seven of their last eight overall, and that doesn’t bode well when you have to face flamethrower Andrew Abbott.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CINCINNATI REDS