Athletics vs Cincinnati Reds Picks and Prediction for Tuesday August 4 2026

The Athletics will visit the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. The opening pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET, with television coverage provided by NBC Sports California and Reds.TV. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Readers looking for more analysis across Tuesday’s schedule can also check out our free MLB picks.

Starting Pitchers

J.T. Ginn is expected to start for the Athletics with an 8-6 record, a 3.46 ERA, and 100 strikeouts this season. The right-hander has been one of the steadier members of the Athletics’ rotation and enters this matchup with the better record and ERA of the two probable starters. Cincinnati is expected to counter with Brady Singer, who is 5-10 with a 4.35 ERA and 91 strikeouts. Singer’s record has been disappointing, although his overall numbers still give the Reds a reasonable opportunity to compete if he can limit early damage.

Athletics Search for Answers After a Difficult Weekend

The Athletics enter Tuesday’s series opener with a 45-67 overall record after losing their final three games before Monday. They were swept at home by Detroit, dropping the series opener 13-1 before suffering an 8-6 loss Saturday. The Athletics were then shut out 11-0 in Sunday’s finale. Those three losses were part of a difficult recent stretch in which the club went only 5-19 during July.

The Athletics are batting .245 as a team with 487 runs and 134 home runs. They own a .321 on-base percentage and a .403 slugging percentage, giving them respectable offensive numbers despite their poor overall record. Their ability to hit for power is particularly important at Great American Ball Park, but the lineup managed only seven total runs during the three-game series against Detroit.

The biggest concern is a pitching staff that allowed 32 runs across the weekend sweep. However, Ginn gives the Athletics a more favourable starting matchup than their recent results might suggest. His 3.46 ERA is nearly a full run lower than Singer’s mark, and his 8-6 record stands out on a team sitting 22 games below .500. If Ginn can stop Cincinnati from creating another early offensive surge, the Athletics should have an opportunity to keep this game competitive into the later innings.

Cincinnati Carries Offensive Momentum into the Series

Cincinnati begins this series with a 53-58 overall record. The Reds went 3-2 across their final five games before Monday, closing a series against Cleveland with a loss before taking three of four from Pittsburgh. Cincinnati won Thursday’s opener against the Pirates 3-2 and followed with another victory Friday before losing 4-1 Saturday. The Reds responded emphatically Sunday, producing a 10-2 win to secure the series.

The Reds are batting .230 with 462 runs, 145 home runs, a .310 on-base percentage, and a .397 slugging percentage. Cincinnati has hit eleven more home runs than the Athletics, but the visiting club holds advantages in batting average, runs scored, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. The Reds’ season-long offensive profile is therefore less impressive than their ten-run performance Sunday might suggest.

Cincinnati’s primary advantage is current form. The Reds won three of their last four games and scored 10 runs in their most recent contest, while the Athletics were outscored 32-7 during their weekend series. Cincinnati also gets to open this series at home against a team that endured a particularly poor July. The challenge will be overcoming the starting-pitching disadvantage, as Singer has lost ten decisions and carries the higher ERA in Tuesday’s matchup.

Athletics vs Cincinnati Reds Picks and Prediction

Pick:

• Athletics +1.5

I am taking the Athletics on the run line because Ginn gives the visiting club a legitimate chance to stay close. His 3.46 ERA and 8-6 record are both considerably stronger than Singer’s 4.35 ERA and 5-10 mark. Cincinnati has the better overall record and enters with more momentum, but its season-long batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage all trail the Athletics. The recent results make Cincinnati the more comfortable moneyline choice, yet the pitching matchup makes Athletics +1.5 the more attractive side if a standard run line is available.

Pick:

• Over 9

I am leaning over if the total is set at 9 runs. Cincinnati scored 10 runs Sunday, while the Athletics allowed at least eight runs in all three games against Detroit. The Reds have also hit 137 home runs this season, and the Athletics are close behind with 134. Ginn could keep Cincinnati controlled through the early innings, but Singer’s 4.35 ERA gives the Athletics a chance to contribute enough offence for this total to clear. I would prefer Over 8.5, but Over 9 remains playable with the possibility of a push.

This game preview was written before game play on Monday.