Cincinnati (6-3) +170, o/u 8 at St. Louis (5-4), 8 p.m. Eastern
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
The first-place Cincinnati Reds pay a visit to the team that’s favored to win the National League Central this year, the St. Louis Cardinals, in the first of a three-game series Friday night at the new Busch Stadium.
Cincinnati sits in a three-way tie atop the NL Central, while St. Louis is in fifth place in the division.
Cincinnati beat the Cubs Thursday 8-3 to take the three games series at Wrigley Field 2-1. The Reds outscored Chicago 18-9 in the three games.
St. Louis fell to Milwaukee Thursday 4-3 in extra innings, but took the series against the Brewers 2-1.
The Cardinals have won 27 of the last 37 games played in the series with Cincinnati, and took the season series last year 11-5.
The Reds are 2-1 on the road this season, 2-2 as underdogs.
The Cardinals are 2-1 at home on the season, and they’ve been favored in every game.
Both teams are 4-5 against the run line so far this season.
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Reds’ starter Aaron Harang has allowed 11 earned runs and 20 baserunners (hits + walks) in just 11 2/3 innings pitched so far this season. In three starts last year against St. Louis, Harang gave up 12 ER and 26 BR in 19 1/3 IP.
Cincinnati went 13-19 in Harang’s starts in 2005, while the o/u went 20-12.
Cardinals’ starter Chris Carpenter, last year’s NL Cy Young Award winner, has given up four ER and 15 BR in 11 IP so far this season. In ’05, Carpenter made two starts against the Reds, allowing just three ER and 14 BR in 14 IP.
St. Louis went a very profitable 29-7 in games Carpenter started last year, while the o/u went 17-18.
Cincinnati is fourth in MLB with 60 runs scored this year, and they’ve already hit 20 home runs. The Reds are averaging 6.7 runs per game, sport a .375 team OBP and a 48/68 bases on balls-to-strikeout ratio.
The Cardinals are scoring five RPG so far this season, with a .330 team OBP. They own a 34/48 BB/K ratio.
Cincy pitching is allowing 6.2 RPG, while St. Louis hurlers are giving up 4.1 RPG. The Reds bullpen has been especially generous, allowing 19 ER and 45 BR in 25 IP. Cardinal relievers have given up 12 ER and 36 BR in 26 2/3 IP, but closer Jason Isringhausen has blown two saves already.
The first three Cardinals games at the new Busch Stadium averaged 9.4 runs.
Oft-injured Cincy slugger Ken Griffey is again hobbled, this time by a sore knee. His status is questionable for tonight’s game.
The over is 6-3 in Reds games this season, 4-5 in Cardinals games. The o/u went 10-6 in the series between these two teams last year.
The Ultimatecapper Pick: It's either Cardinals or pass here. | 
