Garion Thorne gives you a preview, prediction and pick for today’s game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Tampa Bay Rays.
Here come the Reds!
After dipping their toe in the postseason waters in 2025, it appears that Cincinnati is hungry for more in a wide-open NL Central. The Reds come into Wednesday’s 1:10 p.m. ET matchup with the Rays having won their past five games and sitting atop their division with an impressive record of 16-8.
Can they keeping winning and complete the sweep? Let’s preview this interleague clash and make a couple picks on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Reds vs. Rays prediction, preview
I think the most impressive aspect of this start for Cincinnati is the fact that the team really hasn’t been tearing the cover off the ball. In fact, prior to yesterday’s 12-run outburst, the Reds were hovering around the Mendoza line as a club. Cincinnati has hit a lot of home runs, to be fair. Exactly 27, which places the squad in a tie for seventh-most in baseball. Aside from that? Dead-last in average (.207), 28th in wOBA (.299) and 28th in wRC+ (81). Not ideal. Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz are living up to expectations, but that’s about it, as Matt McLain, Eugenio Suarez and TJ Friedl have all struggled. Heck, Noelvi Marte was off to such a poor start that he got sent back to Triple-A again. Woof.
Instead, the Reds have had to rely on their pitching. Brandon Williamson will toe the rubber on Wednesday afternoon, as the left-hander continues to fill in for Hunter Greene (elbow) and Nick Lodolo (finger). On the surface, Williamson has been fine, pitching to a 4.35 ERA in his four outings, but you don’t have to dig very deep to find the cracks. The 28-year-old’s .200 BABIP is shouldering a lot of the load, especially considering Williamson’s walked more opponents (13) than he’s struck out (12) so far this season. A hilariously low 0.55 GB/FB ratio and an 11.1% opponent barrel rate also don’t project super well — particularly when you have to make a majority of your starts at Great American Ball Park. Williamson seems like a ticking time bomb in the form of a southpaw.
That said, Cincinnati might still be able to pull out today’s contest. The Rays just don’t hit all that well, either. The team enters play on Wednesday sitting dead-last in MLB in barrel rate (4.3%) and hard hit rate (32.5%) by a wide margin. Tampa also isn’t sending Nolan Ryan to the mound. Nick Martinez has been solid so far in 2026, not allowing more than two earned runs in any of his four starts, yet I wouldn’t say I’m blown away by the veteran’s 4.65 xERA or his 15th percentile strikeout rate (15.2%). Who knows? Maybe Martinez will be inspired to throw against his former club. The 35-year-old was a member of the Reds back in 2024 and 2025.
Reds vs. Rays pick, best bet
In a game like this, just give me whoever is paying out at plus-money — especially if that team has also won it’s last five contests.
Strong Lean: Yandy Diaz 2+ Total Bases (-104)
For his career, Diaz is hitting .307 with a .203 ISO and a 150 wRC+ against left-handed pitching. My only worry with this bet is that Williamson will walk Diaz every time he sees him.