Reds vs. Cardinals Saturday Pick
The Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals’ series will continue at Busch Stadium on Saturday. After Friday night’s 4-2 final finished under the total, will this afternoon’s game also turn into a low-scoring affair?
Game Snapshot & Odds
951 Cincinnati Reds (+190) at St. Louis Cardinals (-225); 8 runs
Saturday, April 21, 2018
2:15 p.m. ET, Busch Stadium
TV: CIN (FSO); STL (FSMW)
Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook YouWager currently list the Cardinals as a -225 favorite. As of this writing, 81% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Cardinals to beat the Reds on the money line. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Reds’ Bailey still searching for first win of 2018
Homer Bailey kept the Cardinals to three runs over seven innings of work in a loss Sunday. Bailey was actually fairly sharp, allowing four hits and walking two in his seven innings, but a Harrison Bader two-run homer in the second inning and the Reds’ inability to solve Carlos Martinez saddled him with another tough loss.
It’s been a theme this year, as he’s now 0-3 despite a strong 3.42 ERA and 1.06 WHIP through four starts. He’ll keep looking for that elusive first win when these two teams meet up again next weekend in St. Louis.
After rough start to season, Cards’ Martinez dominating
Carlos Martinez was dominant in Sunday’s win over the Reds, allowing two hits while striking out 11 over seven scoreless innings in a 3-2 victory.
Martinez was almost spotless, save for a couple harmless doubles by Jose Peraza and Adam Duvall, but he did walk four on his way to the win.
With Sunday’s win, the right-hander is now 2-1 with a 1.75 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 30/14 K/BB ratio over 25 2/3 innings in four starts to date. What’s more, he allowed four of his five earned runs this year in his Opening Day loss, speaking to how good he’s been his last three times out.
MLB Betting Trends
Cincinnati
The Reds are 6-18 in Bailey’s last 24 starts versus the Cardinals and are 1-9 in his last 10 road outings versus St. Louis.
St. Louis
The Cardinals are 7-2 in Martinez’s last nine starts versus the Reds.
Prediction:
The price is too steep today on the Cardinals and I’m not a big fan of playing the run line. (You mean I can bet on a team that wins but I still don’t cash? No thanks.) So let’s look at the total. The under is 5-0 in Bailey’s last five starts, is 4-0 in his last four road outings and is 5-1 in his last six starts versus the rest of the National League Central. The under is also 4-1 in Martinez’s last five starts versus a team with a losing record. I’m banking on this game resembling the matchup between these two teams and these two respective starts a week ago.
The Pick: Reds/Cardinals under 8