Reds vs. Cardinals Friday Prediction
National League Central rivals clash at Busch Stadium this weekend when the Cardinals host the Reds for a three-game series. With Trevor Bauer set to oppose Dakota Hudson in the pitching matchup, is the under the best play?
Game Snapshot & Odds
957 Cincinnati Reds (+101) at 958 St. Louis Cardinals (-110); 8.5 runs
Friday, August 30, 2019
8:15 p.m. ET, Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
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Public Betting Trends
According to our MLB Public Betting Chart page, 58% of the betting tickets are on the Cardinals to beat the Reds on the moneyline.
Cincinnati Reds Fantasy Spin
Trevor Bauer allowed eight runs — seven earned — over three innings on Sunday in a loss to the Pirates. Bauer allowed seven hits, and he walked two with a pair of strikeouts. Unlike his start against the Nationals where he allowed nine runs in 4 1/3, this was a consistently poor effort rather than just a (really) bad inning, as he allowed three in the first, two in the second and three more in the third before being pinch-hit for. Bauer has made five starts with the Reds since the trade, and two of them have been brilliant while the other three, well, haven’t. His ERA on the season is now 4.34 with a 217/73 K/BB mark in 182 2/3 frames. He’s back on the mound next weekend against the Cardinals.
St. Louis Cardinals Fantasy Spin
Kolten Wong logged three hits Wednesday in a loss to the Brewers. Wong also committed a throwing error that led to a run in the first inning. Defensive miscues aside, Wong had quite the afternoon for St. Louis, finishing a triple shy of the cycle. He ended Milwaukee’s shutout bid in the sixth by hammering a solo home run, his 10th of the year, off right-hander Jordan Lyles. The 28-year-old underwhelmed in the first half but has turned it on since the All-Star break, hitting a blistering .363 over 124 second-half at-bats. In addition to his recent hitting exploits, Wong quietly ranks ninth in the National League with 18 steals.
MLB Betting Trends
Cincinnati
The Reds are just 1-4 in Trevor Bauer’s last five starts.
St. Louis
The Cardinals have won 15 of Hudson’s last 18 starts overall and are 7-1 in his last eight outings at home.
Prediction:
The under is 4-1-1 in the last six meetings between these two teams and is 3-0-1 in the last four meetings in St. Louis. The under is also a perfect 8-0 in Hudson’s last eight home starts, is 4-0 in his last four outings overall and is 19-8-1 in the Cardinals’ last 28 games. On the other side, the under is 19-7-1 in the Reds’ last 27 road games versus a team with a home winning percentage greater than .600 and is 5-2 in their last seven games when facing a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
The Pick: Reds/Cardinals UNDER 8.5