Cincinnati Reds vs Oakland Athletics Prediction: Reds as favorites will win

The Cincinnati Reds are scheduled to face the Oakland Athletics in a spring training game at Goodyear Ballpark on Monday. Despite experiencing back-to-back defeats, the Reds are expected to enter as favorites, with the Athletics taking on the role of road underdogs.

The Cincinnati Reds made significant progress last season, finishing above .500, though their performance tapered off a bit towards the end. Despite a strong start in February with a 4-1 record in their first five games, heavy defeats against the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies have brought them back to reality. Elly De La Cruz emerged as the breakout star in 2023 and has continued his excellent form this year. Nick Martinez, acquired from the San Diego Padres, has made a promising start as a Red, providing versatility with the ability to make spot starts and contribute from the bullpen, thereby adding depth to the team.

The Oakland Athletics currently find themselves in a state of disarray. The relocation to Las Vegas is back on, but the new ballpark won't be ready until 2028, and their lease at the Coliseum in Oakland expires after this season. The impending move might not significantly impact fans, given the dwindling attendance, with the A's averaging just 10,275 per home game – the lowest in the league. Nick Allen, maintaining almost identical stats in 2022 and 2023, has stood out as their top performer in spring training, driving in five runs in just nine at-bats. While there's a slight improvement from recent seasons, the question lingers about how sustainable their current form is.

Both teams have displayed commendable performances this spring, offering their fans reasons to be optimistic as the regular season approaches. The Athletics' starting pitchers have shown strength, but their bullpen has encountered some challenges, making early close games susceptible to late victories. Although the Cincinnati Reds are considered home favorites, there is an expectation for them to return to winning form following consecutive losses to the Kansas City Royals and the Colorado Rockies.