Cincinnati Reds vs
Houston AstrosPredictions & Preview

Astros Favored in Rematch Against Reds as Hunter Brown Ready to Take On Nick Martinez

The 2025 MLB season continues on Friday, May 9th with the Cincinnati Reds facing off against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. The Astros are currently favored at -185 moneyline with a total of 8.0 runs. Last season, the Reds swept a three-game series against the Astros, adding intrigue to this matchup. Nick Martinez will be starting for the Reds with a 4.19 ERA, while Hunter Brown will take the mound for the Astros with a 1.67 ERA. The first pitch is set for 8:10 PM ET. For more information on this game and other MLB picks for Friday, be sure to stay updated.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Reds +149 | Astros -165
• Spread: Reds +1.5 (-144) | Astros -1.5 (+120)
• Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 62%.

Cincinnati vs Houston Stats

Cincinnati Reds

Before Thursday's game, the Cincinnati Reds were looking to split a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves. After snapping a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Braves on Wednesday, the Reds had only won three of their last nine games. Their offense typically scores 4.76 runs per game, but in their recent nine game stretch, they only scored 28 runs with a .199/.284/.296 slash line. The Reds' bullpen has a 3.96 ERA over the same period. Nick Martinez was set to pitch on Friday night with a 1-3 record, 4.19 ERA, and a recent strong performance in his last two starts. The Reds have a power ranking of 9, ranked 9th in offense, 11th in defense, and are currently 19-19 this season.

Houston Astros Analysis

The Houston Astros recently ended a three-game losing streak with a 9-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, avoiding a sweep in their three-game series. They have had mixed results in their recent games, winning only two out of their last seven. The Astros have scored 32 runs in their last seven games and their bullpen has a 2.95 ERA. They rank 18th in the majors in runs scored and fifth in runs against. Hunter Brown is set to pitch on Friday with an impressive record of 5-1 and a 1.67 ERA in seven starts this season. Meanwhile, the Astros have a power ranking of 16 and rank 21st in offense, scoring an average of 3.89 runs per game, and 5th in defense, giving up an average of 3.66 runs per game. In their last matchups, Cincinnati lost all three games against Houston.

Astros' Hunter Brown poised to outshine Martinez in upcoming game against Reds

Despite Nick Martinez's recent strong performance, I have more confidence in Hunter Brown's abilities. Brown has had an impressive season and has a track record of success against the current Reds lineup. In contrast, the current Astros have shown success against Martinez in the past. Despite the absence of Yordan Alvarez, I anticipate that the Astros offense will be a deciding factor in securing a win for Brown. It is worth noting that the Reds have had a winning streak against the Astros, but I believe that streak will end in this game. My prediction is that the Astros will cover the runline and come out on top.

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