Cincinnati Reds vs
Houston AstrosPredictions & Preview

Houston Astros Favored to Win as Cincinnati Reds Face Uphill Battle with Young Pitcher Chase Petty on Mound

The Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros will conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. After the Astros won the first game on Friday with a score of 3-0, both teams are set to pitch Chase Petty (34.71 ERA) for the Reds and Ronel Blanco (4.98 ERA) for the Astros. Houston is favored to win with a betting line opening at -140 and currently sitting at Houston -144. The game is scheduled to begin at 2:10 EST.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Reds +127 | Astros -144
• Spread: Reds +1.5 (-176) | Astros -1.5 (+146)
• Total: Over/Under 8.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 59%.

Cincinnati vs Houston Stats

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds are currently struggling in their schedule, losing six of their last seven games. Despite this rough stretch, they are only 3.5 games behind the division-leading Cubs in the NL Central. In Friday's game against the Astros, they only managed four hits and lost 3-0. Spencer Steer, currently batting .189, has contributed three homers and 11 RBIs for the team. Elly de la Cruz leads the team in RBIs with 25 and shares the team lead in home runs with five. Austin Hayes, with five home runs in just 14 games, is also expected to have more playing time due to his impressive batting average of .357. Chase Petty, with an ERA of 34.71 in his Major League debut, will make his second career start as a right-handed pitcher. The Reds are ranked 11 in offense, 10 in defense, and have a season record of 19-21.

Houston Astros Analysis

The Houston Astros are currently in third place in the AL West, trailing the Mariners by three games and the Athletics by half a game. Despite losing back-to-back series, they managed to win their first game with Isaac Parades contributing an RBI-double. Parades, a new addition to the team, has already made an impact with four home runs and 16 RBIs. Jeremy Pena leads the team in home runs with five, while Jose Altuve has also been a key player, contributing four home runs and 14 RBIs. Ronel Blanco, the 31-year-old right-hander, will make his eighth start with a 2-3 record and a 4.98 ERA. The Astros have a power ranking of 16 and are currently 19-18 overall, with a strong defense ranking at #5, giving up an average of 3.58 points per game. In their last three matchups against the Cincinnati Reds, the Astros went 1-2.

Cincinnati Reds Face Uphill Battle Against Houston Astros with Young Pitcher Chase Petty on Mound

The Cincinnati Reds are currently in a challenging position, with a recent string of losses and their offense struggling. The team will be starting a young pitcher, Chase Petty, who faced significant challenges in his major league debut and will be up against a strong Houston lineup including Pena, Altuve, and Alvarez. Petty's previous performance, in which he gave up nine earned runs in just 2.1 innings, raises concerns about his ability to effectively compete against Houston's formidable batters. As such, it is recommended to consider Houston as the favorable choice to win and cover the run line in the upcoming game.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]