Two big-market teams clash in interleague play as Cincinnati seeks a critical step toward the NL playoff picture. Cincinnati sits one game behind the Mets for the final NL wild-card spot, riding a six-of-ten surge as Hunter Greene returns from the IL to face Kyle Hendricks and the Angels in Anaheim. The game lines up with the Reds as road favorites on many sportsbooks, underscoring the urgency for Cincinnati to keep pace in a crowded pennant race.

Betting markets post Reds -1.5 at +112 and a -150 moneyline with an 8.5 total. Greene’s 2.47 ERA across 12 starts and a six-inning, zero-run return in his latest appearance back from the injured list bolster Cincinnati’s case, especially against an Angels squad that stacks strikeouts. Hendricks sits with a 4.88 ERA this year, a profile that’s lent itself to some risk for Angels backers. This one figures to hinge on Greene’s ability to miss bats and work deep, while Reds bats look for timely hits against a vulnerable Angels bullpen.

For fantasy and betting angles, Greene’s strikeout upside looms large in a matchup where Angels swing and miss at high rates, making the Over on his 7.5 strikeouts an intriguing lever. If Cincinnati can sustain offense early, Greene can ride momentum to a strong start, while Hendricks’ volatility could keep Angels in it only if they solve the Reds’ lineup in the middle innings. A Reds win could tilt the wild-card picture in the NL, keeping Mets’ hold on the final spot within reach for Cincinnati’s backers.