Cincinnati Reds (32-24) +110, o/u 9 ½ at St. Louis Cardinals (35-21), 8 p.m. Eastern
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
The Cincinnati Reds get a chance to close ground on the Albert Pujols-less St. Louis Cardinals when the two teams hook up in the first game of a three-game set Monday night at the new Busch Stadium.
The Mighty Albert, with his 25 homers and 65 RBI, tweaked an oblique on Sunday and has been placed on the DL.
Cincinnati has won four games in a row, including three in a sweep of the Astros in Houston over the weekend.
St. Louis just dropped two of three games to the Cubs at home over the weekend.
The Reds have taken three of five games from the Cardinals this season, with the over/under going 2-3.
St. Louis leads the National League Central by three games over 2nd-place Cincy.
The Reds are 17-13 on the road this season, and 15-14 as underdogs.
The Cardinals are a solid 21-10 at home this year, 34-18 as favorites.
Cincinnati lefty Claussen (3-6, 5.40) has given up 13 ER and 29 H+W in his last 18 IP. In five starts last year vs. St. Louis, Claussen allowed 20 ER and 44 H+W in 27 1/3 IP.
The Cardinals’ Suppan (5-4, 5.06) has allowed 12 ER and 30 H+W in his last 18 IP. In one start vs. the Reds last year, Suppan gave up 5 ER in 5 IP.
Cincinnati owns a .345 team OBP, 3rd-best in the NL, and averages 5.2 runs per game.
St. Louis owns a .350 team OBP, 2nd-best in the league, and averages 5.1 RPG, 5.4 vs. LH pitching.
The Reds bullpen has allowed 7 ER and 22 H+W in its last 15 1/3 IP.
The Cards pen has limited opponents to 5 ER and 26 H+W in its last 22 innings of work.
Cincy’s Ken Griffey is probably glad to see Suppan as the listed starter; Griffey is 9-16 in his career against the Cardinals’ right-hander, with 4 HRs.
St. Louis OF Jim Edmonds hadn’t played in a week, but replaced Pujols at first base on Sunday and went 3-for-3 at the plate.
The o/u is 26-26 in Reds games this year, 27-26 in Cardinals games, and 15-15 at the new Busch Stadium.
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The Ultimatecapper Pick: It will be interesting to see how the Cards do without their big bopper in the lineup. We're gonna kick'em while their down here and side with the Reds tonight. Good luck!
