The St. Louis Cardinals are playing host to the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium. Fox Sports Midwest will televise the matchup and the opening pitch will be at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals Odds
Vegas is listing Cincinnati (+200) as the underdog to St. Louis (-220). The total stands at 8.5 runs and bettors can take the over for -115 and the under for -105. The game’s most recent runline odds stand at -110 for taking the Reds +1.5 runs and -110 for the Cardinals -1.5.
The Cardinals are 75-59 straight up (SU) and 70-63 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t strayed too far from expectations, gaining 4.9 units for moneyline bettors and 5.8 units (ATS). St. Louis has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. On the other hand, the Reds have gone 57-77 SU this year and are 75-58 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 7.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline, but have gained 3.9 units ATS. Cincinnati is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
St. Louis games have a 61-66-6 over/under record in 2018. The Reds have been a decent over bet with a total record of 69-60-4.
Homer Bailey will get the start for the visiting Reds. The right-handed Bailey is 1-12 with a 6.17 ERA and 66 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with 16 strikeouts and a 3.72 ERA against St. Louis this year (three starts).
The Cardinals will put the ball in the hands of Austin Gomber (4-0, 2.79 ERA, 1.30 WHIP), who’s got 42 strikeouts and 24 walks. Gomber is 0-0 with seven strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA in one start against Cincinnati this year.
St. Louis’ pitching staff has given up 4.0 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have a 3.33 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.17 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 8.1 K/9. In 64 games against NL Central foes, Cardinals starters have an ERA of 3.38 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.23.
The St. Louis hitters have produced 4.6 runs per outing, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 4.6 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .257/.311/.425 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
First baseman Jose Martinez and left fielder Marcell Ozuna have paced the Cardinals’ hitters this year. Martinez is hitting .311/.369/.475 with 16 home runs, 77 RBIs and 50 runs scored, while Ozuna is batting .275 with 16 homers, 69 RBIs and 52 runs.
In the other dugout, Cincinnati’s pitching staff allowed 5.2 runs per game and its starters own a 5.21 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 7.55 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.24, along with a WHIP of 1.44.
The Reds offense has slashed .258/.336/.406 on its way to 4.5 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.2 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Cincinnati’s hitters have been led by second baseman Scooter Gennett and shortstop Jose Peraza. Gennett is hitting .313/.361/.494 with 19 home runs, 79 RBIs and 77 runs scored, while Peraza is hitting .288/.329/.404 with nine homers, 44 RBIs, 71 runs and 20 steals.
The Cardinals have lost 2.5 units and are 48-46 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 38 of those games, as opposed to 51 that’ve gone under against righties.
Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Cardinals, ATS Winner – Reds, O/U – OVER
