St. Louis Cardinals (61-51) –120, o/u 9 at Cincinnati Reds (58-55), 6 p.m. Eastern
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
The Cincinnati Reds look to creep a little closer to first place in the National League’s Central Division when they host the St. Louis Cardinals in game three of a four-game series Wednesday night at the Great American Ballpark in the Queen City.
These two teams have split the first two games of this series, and the Reds have won seven of ten games vs. the Cardinals thus far this season.
St. Louis, winners of just three of its last 11 games, still sits atop the NL Central, three and a half games clear of second-place Cincy, which has won only three of its last ten games.
The Reds are also tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the lead in the NL wild-card race.
The Cardinals are 28-28 on the road this season, while Cincinnati is 30-30 at home.
Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter (10-6, 3.06) takes the hill for St. Louis Wednesday. Carpenter has allowed 9 ER and 25 H+W in his last 17 1/3 IP. The Cardinals are 14-8 in Carpenter’s starts this year, the over/under 10-12.
Carpenter has started four games vs. the Reds this year and last, allowing 7 ER and 32 H+W in 27 IP.
Aaron Harang (12-7, 3.53) makes the start Wednesday for Cincy. Harang has allowed 5 ER and 26 H+W in his last 20 IP. The Reds are 15-9 in Harang’s starts this year, the o/u 11-12.
Harang has made five starts vs. St. Louis this year and last, allowing 15 ER and 40 H+W in 32 IP.
The Cardinals own a .342 team OBP this season, 3rd-best in the NL, and are averaging 4.9 runs per game.
Cincinnati ranks second in the NL with its .345 team OBP, and is also averaging 4.9 RPG.
The St. Louis bullpen has given up 5 ER and 24 H+W in its last 17 innings of work.
The o/u is 57-50 in both Cardinals games and Reds games this season, and 30-26 at Great American Ballpark.
