The Cincinnati Reds (2-5) and St. Louis Cardinals (4-3) will continue a National League Central series Tuesday, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET at Busch Stadium
Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Cincinnati has dropped three of its first four games on its current road trip, including a 5-3 setback to St. Louis as +136 underdogs Monday, while going OVER the betting total of 6.5. The Reds are hitting just .224 overall and .231 with runners in scoring position, with first baseman Joey Votto struggling to open the 2014 campaign. Cincinnati is 6-13 as road underdogs of +125 to +150 the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 11-7-1 in that situation.
Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey (0-1, 8.31 ERA) suffered a 7-6 home defeat to the Cardinals last week, as he allowed four runs and seven hits over 4.1 innings of work. The right-hander went 6-9 with a 3.61 ERA in 17 road efforts a season ago, with opposing hitters batting .252 against him. In 18 career games versus the Cardinals, Bailey has compiled a 5-10 record and 4.90 ERA, including a 1-5 mark and 5.54 ERA in eight appearances at this ballpark.
St. Louis has alternated wins and losses over its first seven games of the season, as it tries to gain back some consistency at the plate with runners in scoring position. The Cardinals hit a staggering .330 in that situation a year ago, but have been limited to a .167 average in 2014. St. Louis is 31-21 as a home favorite of -125 to -150 the last two-plus seasons, with the OVER going 26-25-1 in those 52 opportunities.
Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn (1-0, 5.40 ERA) struggled early on but managed to come away with the victory in opposing Bailey in his season debut, as he allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk over five innings. The right-hander has put together a perfect 9-0 record and 2.51 ERA in 10 April outings, with opposing hitters batting just .202 against him. In 10 career games (seven starts) versus the Reds, Lynn has gone 4-1 with a 4.19 ERA.
Sports bettors will likely back the Cardinals due to their 38-17 record in their last 55 home games in this series.
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