The Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals meet Thursday in MLB action from Busch Stadium. Here’s a St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds prediction. This will be the first installment in a four-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Cincinnati Reds Betting Preview
The Reds just finished up a three-game set versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cincinnati won 11-5 on Monday but fell 9-5 in the second outing. On Wednesday in the rubber match, the Reds ended up losing 6-1. Starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft had a rough day with 5.1 innings and six earned runs.
In the starter slot for the Thursday game the Reds will send out Andrew Abbott. This year Abbott is 6-6 with a 3.40 ERA in 15 starts. Abbott is 14-12 with a 3.66 ERA in 36 career games. The Reds will meet the Yankees after this series.
St. Louis Cardinals Betting Preview
Over on the Cardinals’ side, they took on the Atlanta Braves this week. St. Louis managed a 4-3 win on Monday to kick off the set. In the doubleheader game one Wednesday, the Cardinals took a 6-2 loss. In game two St. Louis bounced back with a 4-1 win.
Miles Mikolas will take the mound for the start on Thursday. This year Mikolas is 6-6 with a 4.68 ERA in 16 starts. Mikolas is 60-59 with a 4.00 career ERA over his 194 total games (166 starts).
Reds vs Cardinals Pick Injury Notes
Cincinnati RF Jake Fraley was scratched from the lineup for Wednesday’s game due to a right lower leg contusion. 3B Jeimer Candelario is dealing with knee tendinitis.
Cardinals RF Lars Nootbar (oblique) could begin a rehab assignment this weekend.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Cardinals’ last 10 games against NL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Each of the Reds’ last six games as underdogs have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cardinals’ last eight games against NL Central opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Reds’ last four games at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts
- Willson Contreras has recorded a Double in each of his last three appearances with the Cardinals as home favorites against NL opponents.
- Brendan Donovan has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cardinals’ last 15 games at Busch Stadium against opponents that held a losing record.
- Brendan Donovan has recorded at least one Single in eight of the Cardinals’ last nine night games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Brendan Donovan has recorded at least one total base in each of the Cardinals’ last 15 games at Busch Stadium against opponents that held a losing record.
- Willson Contreras has scored at least one run in each of his last nine appearances with the Cardinals as favorites.
- Miles Mikolas has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last four home appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Brendan Donovan has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Cardinals’ last six games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Miles Mikolas has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Brendan Donovan has hit a home run in each of the Cardinals’ last two night games against opponents that held a losing record.
Cincinnati Reds Player Prop Facts
- Jeimer Candelario has hit at least one home run in each of the Reds’ last three night games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Elly De La Cruz has scored at least one run in each of the Reds’ last six games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Jonathan India has recorded at least one Double in each of the Reds’ last four games.
- Jeimer Candelario has recorded at least one hit in each of the Reds’ last eight games against opponents that held a winning record.
- TJ Friedl has recorded at least one Single in each of his last six appearances in night games against teams that held a winning record.
- Jonathan India has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Reds’ last six games.
- Jeimer Candelario has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Reds’ last eight games against opponents that held a winning record.
St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction
I’ll try the Reds here, but I could probably go either way. Abbott has been on a decent run over his last three games, going 2-1 in that time. He’s given up six earned runs in 15.2 innings total during that time. As for Mikolas, he’s 2-0 in his last three with five earned (four in one start) over 19.1 innings.
On Wednesday the Reds got a rough start from Ashcraft but the bullpen held strong on 3.2 innings and no earned runs. The offense wasn’t a whole lot of help regardless (four hits), however. Cincinnati needs to rebound well Thursday.