Game Information
St. Louis Cardinals (40-35) vs Cincinnati Reds (39-36)
Time: 6:15pm CT Friday
How to watch: FanDuel Sports Network, Matrix Midwest
Probable pitchers: Andre Pallante (4-3, 4.83 ERA) vs Brady Singer (7-4, 4.34 ERA)
DraftKings Odds
Moneyline: Cardinals -151, Reds +124
Total: 9 (over -101, under -120)
Cards Return Home Vs. Reds
The St. Louis Cardinals are back home tonight to begin a seven-game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds.
The Cards are coming off a three-game sweep of the White Sox and have won four of their last five games. The Reds lost at home to Minnesota yesterday, but they are still 9-3 over their last 12.
Can Pallante Deliver?
The Cardinals give the ball to Andre Pallante tonight hoping he can deliver plenty of quality innings after every single reliever on the roster pitched in yesterday’s doubleheader. Pallante has an ERA pushing 5 on the season, and he gives up too much contact with just 54 strikeouts in 76.1 innings. Opponents are hitting .262 against him, which is the fifth-worst mark in the National League.
The Cards got their bats going again with 25 runs scored in the three games in Chicago. They rank 7th in MLB averaging 4.71 runs per game.
Reds’ Bats Are Hot
The Reds’ offense has produced all year long as well, as they rank 8th in MLB with 4.67 runs per game. The bats have been particularly hot during this 9-3 stretch, as Cincinnati is putting up 5.83 runs per game over their last 12.
Brady Singer makes the start for the Reds and has many numbers similar to Pallante. Singer is a 4’s ERA pitcher with just 60 strikeouts in 74.2 innings. He also gives up a lot of baserunners with a 1.34 WHIP.
My Pick
This game looks ripe for an over. It’s hot and humid in St. Louis with winds expected to be blowing out to left field at about 10 MPH. You also have two good offenses and two sketchy starting pitchers.
Singer has actually gotten good results lately with six consecutive starts allowing 3 earned runs or less, but he is due to get hit. Over those six starts, Singer has pitched 33 innings with just 21 strikeouts and 17 walks.
The Cardinals’ bullpen is gassed after yesterday’s doubleheader, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Pallante has to take one for the team and eat innings tonight even if he’s struggling. And the Reds’ relievers are not impressive, as they rank 20th in MLB in bullpen ERA.
Pick: Over 9 at -101 on DraftKings (bet to -120)
Eric Sontag hosts Domesticated Gamblers every Friday on the STL Sports Central YouTube channel. Follow him on X @GamblingDads, and click here for his daily picks on all of our St. Louis area sports teams. Picks = betting the game - minus odds betting to win 1 unit, plus odds risking 1 unit. Leans = no strong opinion, not betting the game. Disclaimer