The St. Louis Cardinals (7-4) and Cincinnati Reds (2-11) open a three-game NL Central set Friday. First pitch from Great American Ball Park is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Cardinals vs. Reds odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: Cincinnati took 10 of 19 games in 2021.
St. Louis lost 5-0 at the Miami Marlins Thursday, but the Cardinals are 4-2 over their last six games and have not yet lost back-to-back games this season.
The Reds have struggled mightily thus far, averaging 2.85 runs per game while yielding 5.69. Cincy enters this series on a nine-game losing skid in which eight of its losses have been by 3 runs or more.
Cardinals at Reds: Projected starters
LHP Steven Matz vs. RHP Hunter Greene
Matz (1-1, 7.27 ERA) makes his third start of the season. He has allowed 7 ER on 12 H and 1 BB with 11 K through 8 2/3 IP.
- Logged a 3.82 ERA in 150 2/3 IP last year.
- Was lit up for 7 ER across 3 IP in his season debut but held the Milwaukee Brewers scoreless across 5 2/3 IP Saturday in his second outing.
Greene (1-1, 4.35 ERA) makes his third start. He has given up 5 ER on 9 H and 2 BB with 13 K through 10 1/3 IP.
- Former No. 2 draft selection overall made his Major League debut April 10.
- Logged a 3.30 ERA and 1.18 WHIP through 106 1/3 IP across Double-A and Triple-A in 2021.
Cardinals at Reds odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:26 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Cardinals -125 (bet $125 to win $100) | Reds +102 (bet $100 to win $102)
- Against the spread (ATS): Cardinals -1.5 (+133) | Reds +1.5 (-165)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -102 | U: -122)
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Cardinals at Reds picks and predictions
Prediction
Cardinals 4, Reds 3
Money line
The Reds — entering off an off day and with a bullpen reset and having some positive regression in their overall numbers — are the lean, but the price is not attractive. PASS.
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Run line/Against the spread
Thus far, the Reds have been undone by 2s and 3s in the wrong places. Cincinnati batters are working around a .232 batting average on balls in play, while Cincy pitchers have toiled through a BABIP of .323.
Consider a line watch or a partial-unit play on CINCINNATI +1.5 (-165). Successful baseball betting is not betting on wins and losses, it’s betting on pricing. A real value trigger here would be Cincy +1.5 (-145).
Over/Under
The low side here has a slight lean. On a night with a pitcher’s breeze in the forecast, BACK THE UNDER 8.5 (-122). Consider a partial-unit wagering amount.
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