Cincinnati Reds (61-57) +145, o/u 9 at St. Louis Cardinals (62-55), 8 p.m. Central
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
The St. Louis Cardinals, fresh off getting swept three games by the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend, host the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a key three-game series Tuesday night at the new Busch Stadium.
St. Louis still leads Cincinnati in the National League’s Central Division, but by just a game and a half. The Cardinals are 4-13 over their last 17 games, and scored just three runs in three games vs. the Pirates over the weekend.
The Reds, 6-4 over their last 10 games, not only have crept up on St. Louis in the Central, but they lead the NL wild-card race by a game over the San Diego Padres.
Cincinnati has also won eight of 12 games vs. the Cardinals so far this season.
The Reds are 30-26 on the road this season, and 32-29 as underdogs.
St. Louis is 33-23 at home this year, and 53-41 as favorites.
Aaron Harang (12-7, 3.66) makes the start for Cincy in the series opener Tuesday night. Harang has allowed 10 ER and 32 H+W in his last 18 IP. The Reds are 16-9 in Harang’s starts this season, the over/under 12-12.
Harang has started three games vs. the Cardinals this season, allowing 8 ER and 25 H+W in 18 2/3 innings of work.
St. Louis sends 2005 Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter (10-6, 3.27) to the mound Tuesday night. Carpenter has been clipped for 15 ER and 21 H+W in his last 17 IP. The Cards are 14-9 in Carpenter’s starts this year, the o/u 11-12.
Carpenter has made three starts vs. Cincinnati this season, giving up 10 ER and 24 H+W in 20 IP.
These two pitchers squared off last week in the Queen City, and neither pitched too well in an 8-7 Reds win.
The Reds rank 2nd in the NL with their .344 team OBP this season, and are averaging 5.0 runs per game.
St. Louis owns a .341 team OBP, 4th-best in the league, and is averaging 4.9 RPG.
The Cincy bullpen has allowed 8 ER and 39 (!) H+W in its last 25 1/3 IP, all of which has come in just the last five games.
The Cardinals pen has been hit for 10 ER and 28 H+W in its last 12 2/3 innings of work.
The o/u is 61-51 in Reds games this season, and 8-2 in their last 10. The o/u is 58-54 in St. Louis games, but just 3-7 over their last 10. And the o/u is 28-26 at the new Busch Stadium this season.
The Ultimatecapper Pick: This game doesn't offer a ton of value but if forced to make a selection we'd take a poke at the Reds at a nice underdog price today. Good luck!
