St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds Runline Pick 5/24/23

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds
Date: Wednesday, May 24th, 6:40 ET
Location: Great American Ball Park
TV: BSOH
Money Line: Cardinals -159/Reds +135 (Get better odds at BetAnySports!)
Total Line: 10.5

Betting Preview

Here’s our betting preview for the upcoming MLB clash between the Cincinnati Reds and the Cardinals on Wednesday, May 24th at Great American Ball Park. We provide you with a comprehensive analysis, odds, and predictions to help with your handicapping decision or tail our expert based on the projected lineups and listed starting pitchers.

Betting Odds

Cardinals vs. Reds Projected Lineup

Straight Up/Over-Under/ Runline Record

St. Louis Cardinals: 22-28 SU / OU 28-22 / Runline 24-26
Cincinnati Reds: 20-28 SU / OU 26-22 / Runline 26-22

With an overall record of 22-28, the Cardinals are in 4th place in the NL Central, trailing by five games. Over their last ten games, they are above .500 at 7-3. On the road, the Cardinals have a mark of 11-13 while going 11-15 at home. Their overall series mark stands at 6-8.

• The Cardinals have covered the runline in 48.0% of their games and have an average run margin of 0.4
• The Cardinals have been favored in 56.0% of their games and have runline records of 10-16 and 14-10 at home and on the road, respectively
• The over has hit in 56% of the Cardinals’ 50 games at 28-22.

For the season, the Reds have put together a record of 20-28, including going just 3-7 over their last ten games. In the NL Central standings, they are 5th, trailing by six games. This year, they have gone 13-13 at home and 7-15 on the road with an overall series mark of 5-8.

• The Reds have covered the runline in 54.2% of their games and have an average run margin of -0.9
• The Reds have been favored in 25.0% of their games and have runline records of 14-12 and 12-10 at home and on the road, respectively
• The over has hit in 54% of the Reds’ 48 games at 26-22.

Pitching Matchup

Today will be Steven Matz’s 10th appearances this season and he has an overall record of 0-5. His current ERA stands at 5.05 and OBP allowed of .360. So far, he struckout 43 batters and has a WHIP of 1.62. On the road, his ERA is 6.46 compared to 3.76 at home.

Matz is coming off an outing in which he gave up zero earned runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings of action. St. Louis lost the game by a score of 5-0 to the Dodgers.

With an overall record of 1-2, the Reds will give Ben Lively the start. His ERA stands at 2.46 with a K/9 figure of 0.9 after making three appearances. Additionally, he has a FIP of 2.92 and an OBP of .195.

Having allowed two runs on two hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Yankees, Ben Lively is coming off a game that resulted in a loss for the Reds.

Cardinals vs. Reds Offense Outlook

The Cardinals have played 50 games and have an average of 5.2 runs per game, which puts them 5th in the league. St. Louis has hit 70 home runs (5th). Their batting average comes in at .263 while hitting .245 on the road and .269 at home.

St. Louis Cardinals Team Hitting Stats

St. Louis Cardinals Top Hitters: Last Five Games

The Cincinnati offense comes into the game with just 37 home runs, ranking them 28th in the league. The team’s current batting average is .243, putting them 17th in all of baseball. In terms of OPS, they are 23rd in the league (.696).

Cincinnati Reds Top Bats

Cincinnati Reds Top Hitters: Last Five Games

Free MLB Pick

The Cincinnati Reds are putting Ben Lively on the mound for his second outing of the season and his second since 2018. In his return, he held his own against the Yankees, giving up a modest two runs on just two hits over a span of 5 2/3 innings. Despite this impressive performance, I doubt he’ll replicate this success against the Cardinals. St. Louis boasts top-five rankings in several offensive categories, including an impressive fourth place in OPS .778.
St. Louis will counter with Steven Matz. Don’t let his overall 5.05 ERA fool you. He’s been making a turn-around with a 2.35 ERA in his last three starts, facing formidable offenses in the Red Sox and the Dodgers and surrendering a combined five runs (4 ER). He may lack experience against this Reds’ lineup, but it’s worth noting he managed to win both of his starts at the Great American Ball Park in 2022, conceding a mere three runs over 10 1/3 innings.

Given the current form of both pitchers and the strength of the Cardinals’ offense, I recommend backing St. Louis -1.5 at +103. This match offers a great opportunity to capitalize on the Cardinals’ offensive prowess and Matz’s recent form. Thought: Sometimes baseball games are tricky. The stats say one thing, but reality creates another. One great way to bet on baseball games is to watch the first two innings and then jump in using a live bet. Find this awesome feature at Bovada Sportsbook!