MLB Baseball
2026-06-19 - Cincinnati Reds at New York Yankees
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : Major League Baseball
Friday 19th June 2026 - Scheduled 7:05pm EST
12:05am (British Time)
Preview
Poor base management was a big part of the reason that the New York Yankees (45-28) were not able to complete the series sweep over the Chicago White Sox, but they begin a new series at home with some real confidence. Aaron Judge is always going to be missed, but the Yankees batters are making sure the fans are comfortable with the team not looking like it is going to head into a slide like the last time the Captain missed significant time.
Next up for the American League East leading Yankees is a series against the Cincinnati Reds (35-38) who are also missing an important player, but who have slipped into the National League Central basement without Elly De La Cruz.
The Reds did take two of three games against the other team from New York, the Mets, but this is a much tougher test for the team and for starting pitcher Rhett Lowder.
After missing all of 2025 through multiple injury issues, Rhett Lowder has a 3-3 record and a 4.60 ERA in ten starts made this season. In his rookie season of 2024, Lowder made just six starts and so this is all going to feel like a developmental season for the youngster.
Developing means going through difficult periods and being able to bounce back and that is what Rhett Lowder is trying to do right now. In recent starts, Lowder has struggled to pitch through multiple Innings, although he was one out away from throwing 6 completed Innings when not factoring into the decision against the Arizona Diamondbacks last time out.
That comes after missing another month with an injury and Rhett Lowder will be looking to build on that start when facing the New York Yankees for the first time.
New York will counter by handing the ball to Cam Schlittler who is a second year pitcher that may have struggled to live up to his rookie performances.
Instead, Cam Schlittler has begun his sophomore season in the Major Leagues with a 7-3 record and 1.82 ERA in fifteen starts made, which is already one more than the fourteen starts made in 2025 when putting together a 2.96 ERA.
The opening start of June saw Schlittler knocked around, but the youngster has already become a big part of the Yankees starting rotation. He has proven that by limiting his last two opponents to two runs in a little under 13 Innings thrown, although Cam Schlittler will be hoping the Yankees batting lineup can back him up having not been involved in either decision.
Like his counterpart, Cam Schlittler is facing this opponent for the first time in his career.
Prediction
Despite the mistakes made on Thursday, the New York Yankees have to remain very comfortable with the batting performances without a couple of key pieces of the lineup.
Cam Schlittler is likely going to give the Yankees a foundation from which to attack Rhett Lowder and the home team can bounce back from the loss against the Chicago White Sox to begin this series with a relatively comfortable win.
The Pick :
New York Yankees 5-1 Cincinnati Reds
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back New York Yankees - 1.5 Runs at -120 with EveryGame Sports
