MLB Betting Preview: St. Louis Cardinals at Reds
Cincinnati takes a two-game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central into Monday's opener of a crucial three-game series between the clubs. Led by MVP candidate Joey Votto, the Reds own the NL's top scoring offense into the match while Cardinals pitchers own the third-best ERA in the Senior Circuit. Monday's matchup on the Great American Ball Park mound will find veteran Chris Carpenter facing rookie Mike Leake.
The St. Louis Cardinals trail the Cincinnati Reds by two games for first place in the National League Central, but expect that to change with the teams hooking up for a three-game series beginning on Monday night at Great American Ball Park.
Cincinnati (64-48 SU, +14.34 units) is among the hottest teams on the baseball betting odds board with nine moneyline victories in its last 11 games, but it’s about to run into the most formidable one-two-three punch in MLB.
St. Louis (61-49 SU, -5.52 units) is set to run out Chris Carpenter (12-3, 2.91 ERA), Jaime Garcia (9-5, 2.53 ERA), and Adam Wainwright (16-6, 2.07 ERA) against the Reds this week. Good luck with it, Cincy backers.
You have to think the Reds will pull out one of the games at their hitter-friendly stadium, but I don’t know how you can bet against Carpenter and Garcia, while wagering against Wainwright is virtually off limits.
Because of Cincinnati’s recent run in the standings and at the window, Carpenter and St. Louis are seeing decent value for Monday night’s series opener (7:10 PM ET, ESPN).
Oddsmakers released the line with the Cards as -140 money line chalk, although they were available at -128 at one outlet as of press time. The Reds were priced between +115 and +121 depending on the sportsbook, while the total was set at 7.5 with Mike Leake (7-3, 3.86 ERA) taking the hill opposite Carpenter.
St. Louis is 18-6 against the money line in Carpenter’s 24 starts this season, but they’ve been especially profitable when he toes the rubber at night. The Redbirds are 14-2 in Carpenter’s 16 outings under the lights, during which he’s posted a 2.18 ERA.
Carpenter also has some serious ownage on the Reds this season. In three starts against Cincinnati this season, Carpenter has a 1.29 ERA in 21 innings to go along with three victories.
Leake got off to a good start this season, but the rookie righthander has cooled off lately with a 6.06 ERA in his last three trips to the mound. When it comes to Leake, if anything, lean towards the ‘over’. The Reds are 6-1 O/U in Leake’s last seven starts.
That fits into a larger ‘over’ trend the Cards bring into the three-gamer after their rainout at Florida on Sunday afternoon. St. Louis has cashed the ‘over’ in seven in a row (4-3 SU), and in 10 of its last 12 ballgames (7-5 SU).
The Cardinals are playing ‘over’ due to an offense that’s dialed it up a notch and a bullpen that’s hit the skids. St. Louis is hitting .302 in its last 12 games – including .391 against lefthanders – while the ‘pen put up an 8.22 ERA during the stretch.
Thing is, with Carpenter, Garcia, and Wainwright going against the Reds, you don’t have to factor in the bullpen to any large degree. The starters have a 2.56 ERA over the Cards’ 12-game ‘over’ streak.
Like Carpenter, Garcia has also pitched well against Cincinnati this season. In two starts, Garcia is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA against the Reds. Garcia throws on Tuesday night (7:10 PM ET), as the Reds turn to Johnny Cueto (11-2, 3.24 ERA).
Cueto has been Cincy’s most consistent starter this season, but not because of his work against St. Louis. The righty has a 6.75 ERA over 16 innings in three starts against the Cardinals in 2010.
Wainwright gets the call in Wednesday afternoon’s series finale (12:35 PM ET), and what more can be said about the Cy Young Award contender? The big righthander tossed a two-hit shutout in St. Louis’ 7-0 win at Florida on Friday, and has held the opponent scoreless while on the mound in five of his last eight starts.
The Reds give the ball to Bronson Arroyo (12-6, 3.83 ERA) on Wednesday. The country music singer has pitched well recently, so the ‘under’ is a sharp wager in the getaway game. Arroyo has a 1.23 ERA in his last three outings, during which Cincinnati is 2-1 against the money line.
The Cardinals have taken six of 11 from the Reds this MLB season. The clubs have split the six games played at Great American Ballpark.
Cincinnati takes a two-game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central into Monday's opener of a crucial three-game series between the clubs. Led by MVP candidate Joey Votto, the Reds own the NL's top scoring offense into the match while Cardinals pitchers own the third-best ERA in the Senior Circuit. Monday's matchup on the Great American Ball Park mound will find veteran Chris Carpenter facing rookie Mike Leake.
The St. Louis Cardinals trail the Cincinnati Reds by two games for first place in the National League Central, but expect that to change with the teams hooking up for a three-game series beginning on Monday night at Great American Ball Park.
Cincinnati (64-48 SU, +14.34 units) is among the hottest teams on the baseball betting odds board with nine moneyline victories in its last 11 games, but it’s about to run into the most formidable one-two-three punch in MLB.
St. Louis (61-49 SU, -5.52 units) is set to run out Chris Carpenter (12-3, 2.91 ERA), Jaime Garcia (9-5, 2.53 ERA), and Adam Wainwright (16-6, 2.07 ERA) against the Reds this week. Good luck with it, Cincy backers.
You have to think the Reds will pull out one of the games at their hitter-friendly stadium, but I don’t know how you can bet against Carpenter and Garcia, while wagering against Wainwright is virtually off limits.
Because of Cincinnati’s recent run in the standings and at the window, Carpenter and St. Louis are seeing decent value for Monday night’s series opener (7:10 PM ET, ESPN).
Oddsmakers released the line with the Cards as -140 money line chalk, although they were available at -128 at one outlet as of press time. The Reds were priced between +115 and +121 depending on the sportsbook, while the total was set at 7.5 with Mike Leake (7-3, 3.86 ERA) taking the hill opposite Carpenter.
St. Louis is 18-6 against the money line in Carpenter’s 24 starts this season, but they’ve been especially profitable when he toes the rubber at night. The Redbirds are 14-2 in Carpenter’s 16 outings under the lights, during which he’s posted a 2.18 ERA.
Carpenter also has some serious ownage on the Reds this season. In three starts against Cincinnati this season, Carpenter has a 1.29 ERA in 21 innings to go along with three victories.
Leake got off to a good start this season, but the rookie righthander has cooled off lately with a 6.06 ERA in his last three trips to the mound. When it comes to Leake, if anything, lean towards the ‘over’. The Reds are 6-1 O/U in Leake’s last seven starts.
That fits into a larger ‘over’ trend the Cards bring into the three-gamer after their rainout at Florida on Sunday afternoon. St. Louis has cashed the ‘over’ in seven in a row (4-3 SU), and in 10 of its last 12 ballgames (7-5 SU).
The Cardinals are playing ‘over’ due to an offense that’s dialed it up a notch and a bullpen that’s hit the skids. St. Louis is hitting .302 in its last 12 games – including .391 against lefthanders – while the ‘pen put up an 8.22 ERA during the stretch.
Thing is, with Carpenter, Garcia, and Wainwright going against the Reds, you don’t have to factor in the bullpen to any large degree. The starters have a 2.56 ERA over the Cards’ 12-game ‘over’ streak.
Like Carpenter, Garcia has also pitched well against Cincinnati this season. In two starts, Garcia is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA against the Reds. Garcia throws on Tuesday night (7:10 PM ET), as the Reds turn to Johnny Cueto (11-2, 3.24 ERA).
Cueto has been Cincy’s most consistent starter this season, but not because of his work against St. Louis. The righty has a 6.75 ERA over 16 innings in three starts against the Cardinals in 2010.
Wainwright gets the call in Wednesday afternoon’s series finale (12:35 PM ET), and what more can be said about the Cy Young Award contender? The big righthander tossed a two-hit shutout in St. Louis’ 7-0 win at Florida on Friday, and has held the opponent scoreless while on the mound in five of his last eight starts.
The Reds give the ball to Bronson Arroyo (12-6, 3.83 ERA) on Wednesday. The country music singer has pitched well recently, so the ‘under’ is a sharp wager in the getaway game. Arroyo has a 1.23 ERA in his last three outings, during which Cincinnati is 2-1 against the money line.
The Cardinals have taken six of 11 from the Reds this MLB season. The clubs have split the six games played at Great American Ballpark.
