Cincinnati Reds vs
St. Louis CardinalsPredictions & Preview

Cardinals vs Reds: St. Louis Favored in Crucial Series Finale at Busch Stadium

The St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds will meet in a crucial series finale at Busch Stadium after the Cardinals claimed the first two games, including a thrilling 6-5 victory in extra innings on Saturday. St. Louis enters the game on a five-game winning streak and has been a profitable team for bettors this season. The Reds, meanwhile, have lost three straight and have struggled in extra innings, with a shaky bullpen. Andrew Abbott will start for Cincinnati, while Miles Mikolas will take the mound for St. Louis. The Cardinals are favored to win in the betting odds, with momentum on their side heading into the matchup.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Reds -106 | Cardinals -105
• Spread: Reds -1.5 (+150) | Cardinals +1.5 (-175)
• Total: Over/Under 9.25 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that St. Louis will win straight-up is 51%.

Cincinnati vs St. Louis Stats

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds (39-38) are looking to end a three-game losing streak as they face a confident Cardinals team in Sunday's finale. The Reds boast a strong offense, ranking 10th in runs per game, 16th in batting average, and 15th in OPS. Elly De La Cruz leads the team with 17 home runs and an .837 OPS, while TJ Friedl leads in batting average at .289. The Reds are aggressive on the basepaths, ranking 10th in stolen bases. Defensively, they are solid but not exceptional, ranking 16th in ERA, 10th in WHIP, and 10th in quality starts. Their bullpen has struggled recently with a 5.25 ERA over the last 10 games. Left-hander Andrew Abbott (6-1, 1.84 ERA) will take the mound for Cincinnati, with a strong record on the road but mixed results against St. Louis. With a power ranking of 7, the Reds are ranked 8th in offense, 16th in defense, and hold a 39-37 record this season.

St. Louis Cardinals Analysis

The St. Louis Cardinals have been on a hot streak, winning five straight games and are now tied for second with Milwaukee in the NL Central. Their offense is performing slightly better than the Cincinnati Reds, ranking 7th in runs per game, 6th in batting average, and 14th in OPS. Brendan Donovan leads the team in batting average and OPS, while Nolan Arenado leads in home runs. Defensively, the Cardinals are middle-of-the-pack in ERA, WHIP, and quality starts. Miles Mikolas is expected to start on Sunday, though he has struggled at home this season and has a career record against the Reds. Overall, the Cardinals have a power ranking of 21 and a 41-35 record. The Cincinnati Reds won 2 out of their last 3 matchups against the Cardinals.

Cincinnati Reds Primed for Rebound Against St. Louis Cardinals in Finale

The Cincinnati Reds experienced a setback in their previous game, but I anticipate a rebound in the upcoming finale to avoid being swept. Notably, the Reds have demonstrated strong performance in recent games started by Abbott, boasting a record of 5-1 in their last six appearances. Additionally, Cincinnati has achieved a 4-1 record in Abbott's road starts. Conversely, Miles Mikolas has struggled with a 6.43 ERA in his last four starts and historically faced challenges against the Reds. Considering these factors, I predict that Cincinnati will emerge victorious and put an end to their current losing streak in this matchup.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]