The Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds meet Monday in MLB game 1 action at Nationals Park. Here’s a Cincinnati Reds vs Houston Astros Prediction. This article will include a Cincinnati Reds vs Houston Astros Pick.
Houston Astros Betting Preview
The Houston Astros are 75-62 on the year after playing the Phillies and Royals. The Houston Astros have scored 15 runs in their last 3 games and 4 or more runs in 5 of their last 8 games. The Houston Astros have won 5 straight games when scoring 4 or more runs. Jose Altuve leads the Houston Astros with 161 hits and 57 RBI, while Yordan Alvarez and Yainer Diaz have combined for 296 hits and 148 RBI.
Cincinnati Reds Betting Preview
The Cincinnati Reds are 65-73 on the year after playing the Athletics and Brewers. The Cincinnati Reds have scored 8 runs in their last 3 games and 4 or more runs in 6 of their last 7 games. The Cincinnati Reds have lost 5 of their last 8 games when scoring 4 or more runs. Elly De La Cruz leads the Cincinnati Reds with 138 hits and 61 RBI, while Spencer Steer and Jonathan India have combined for 231 hits and 137 RBI.
Houston Astros vs Cincinnati Reds Pitching Pick Matchup
Justin Verlander gets the ball for the Houston Astros, and he is 3-4 with a 4.16 ERA and 60 strikeouts this season. Verlander has allowed 11 hits and 6 runs in his last 10 innings. Verlander has a 3.77 ERA and .243 allowed batting average in 45.1 road innings. Verlander is 1-1 with a 3.15 ERA and 24 strikeouts in his career against the Cincinnati Reds.
Julian Aguiar gets the ball for the Cincinnati Reds, and he is 1-0 with a 6.43 ERA and 7 strikeouts this season. Aguiar has allowed 17 hits and 10 runs in 14 innings this season. Aguiar has a 13.50 ERA and .476 allowed batting average in 4 home innings. This will be Aguiar’s first career game against the Houston Astros.
Why the Houston Astros will win
- The Reds have lost each of their last eight day games after going to extra innings.
- The Astros have won each of their last five games.
- The Reds have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 10 home games against American League opponents.
- The Astros have covered the run line in nine of their last 10 day games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Astros have led after 3 innings in each of their last six road day games.
- The Astros have led after 5 innings in each of their last five games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
Cincinnati Reds Player Prop Facts
- Jonathan India has hit a home run in each of his last three appearances in day games against AL West teams that held a winning record.
- Santiago Espinal has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances in day games.
- Jonathan India has recorded at least one Single in seven of his last eight appearances against AL West opponents.
- Santiago Espinal has recorded an RBI in each of the Reds’ last four games against AL opponents.
- Santiago Espinal has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 10 appearances in day games.
- Elly De La Cruz has scored at least one run in each of the Reds’ last nine home games against AL West opponents.
Houston Astros Player Prop Facts
- Kyle Tucker has recorded at least one total base in each of the Astros’ last 12 road games against NL Central opponents.
- Alex Bregman has scored at least one run in each of the Astros’ last six games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Yainer Diaz has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Astros’ last four games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Justin Verlander has recorded six or more strikeouts in 18 of his last 22 road appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Yordan Alvarez has hit at least one home run in five of his last six appearances in day games.
- Kyle Tucker has recorded at least one hit in each of the Astros’ last 12 road games against NL Central opponents.
- Kyle Tucker has recorded at least one Single in each of the Astros’ last 12 road games against NL Central opponents.
- Justin Verlander has recorded a win in three of his last four road appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Cincinnati Reds rank 2nd in the league for steals this season (179).
- The Cincinnati Reds rank 26th in the league for hits this season (1056).
- The Houston Astros rank 2nd in the league for hits this season (1224).
- The Houston Astros rank 2nd in the league for strikeouts this season (1253).
Cincinnati Reds vs Houston Astros Prediction
The Houston Astros are the better team, have more to play for and have the better pitcher obviously in Justin Verlander. Julian Aguiar hasn’t been good in a limited MLB career, and I doubt he finds his footing against an above average Astros lineup. The Cincinnati Reds are playing like a team that has nothing to play for, and the Astros, who are closing in on an AL West title, should take advantage of a series like this. Give me the Astros and the RL for max betting value.