The St. Louis Cardinals welcome the Cincinnati Reds to Busch Stadium for a weekend set starting on Friday night. Both teams are chasing the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central, with the Cardinals in second place, three games back, and the Reds in fourth place, 6 ½ games back. The Cardinals have eight games in hand on the Cubs, thanks to the postponements they had due to COVID-19 diagnoses. According to the special postseason rules for 2020, the Cardinals would qualify for the postseason so long as they stay in second place in the division. The Reds would have to catch the Cardinals or snag one of the two National League wild cards.
Take a look at our MLB betting preview of the series opener.
MLB Betting News: September 11
Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals Preview
Game Details
Friday, September 11, 2020, 8:15 pm ET
Busch Stadium, St. Louis
Fox Sports
Probable Pitchers for the Game
Luis Castillo (1-5, 3.95 ERA) (CIN)
Adam Wainwright (4-0, 2.68 ERA) (STL)
Reds vs Cardinals | Check the MLB Odds
Why should you Bet on Cincinnati?
Luis Castillo has been let down by the Cincinnati bats and defense this season, as his ERA is not as bad as his record might suggest. In three of his last five starts, he has given up six unearned runs combined, and in his last four starts, the team has scored seven runs combined — four in his most recent start, a 4-2 win over Pittsburgh on September 4. In that start, he permitted two runs on seven hits over six innings, striking out eight while walking two. If the team’s bats can get going against Wainwright, Castillo has the stuff to keep the ST. Louis offense from getting out of hand.
The big problem for the Reds, though, has been their offense. They are tied for 21st in MLB for weighted on-base average, and the main part of the problem has come from their outfielders. Nick Senzel has missed extended time but is set to return from a rehab assignment, but Shogo Akiyama’s bat hasn’t helped. If you like the Reds here, then you see their bats finally catching back up.
Why should you Put your Money on the Cardinals?
Adam Wainwright is one of the biggest reasons why St. Louis holds the second-place spot in the NL Central. In four of his last five starts, he has permitted two earned runs or fewer and has made it into the seventh inning. His gem came on August 30, a complete-game victory over the Cleveland Indians, and his most recent start came on September 5, when he pitched 6 ⅓ innings of a seven-inning doubleheader game against the Cubs, permitting two earned runs on six hits (including two solo shots), fanning six and walking one.
The primary challenge facing the Cardinals down the stretch is that they have such a compressed schedule. In the last 21 days of the season, they have to play 28 games, in an 8-10-8 schedule. The Cardinals are known for their depth as an organization, and finding the right balance with respect to playing time could be crucial. The problems that the Reds have had generating offense should not make them much of a threat on Friday night, though.
Final Score and Prediction
Wainwright has been dependable on the mound for the Cardinals this season, and the Reds have had a difficult time putting up runs. Castillo has pitched well for the Reds, but if it comes down to the battle of offenses against solid pitching, I like the Cardinals. I predict a 4-2 St. Louis win.
Reds vs Cardinals | Check the Odds
