St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds Picks and Predictions September 10th 2024

From Busch Stadium in St. Louis, we have the Reds and Cardinals facing off in an NL Central matchup. The Reds are 70-75 this season, and they will be looking to extend their two-game winning streak. Andre Pallante is the Cardinals’ starter, and they are the slight favorite on the money line (-131).

First pitch for this one is set for 7:45 PM ET, and the forecasted temperature is 90 degrees with a clear sky. BSOH is carrying this game on TV. The over/under line is currently at 8 runs.

Cincinnati vs. St. Louis Key Information

• Teams: Reds at Cardinals
• Where: Busch Stadium St. Louis
• Date: Tuesday, September 10th
• Betting Odds STL -131 | CIN +111 O/U 8

The Reds Can Win If…

Rhett Lowder and the Reds are on the road to take on the Cardinals. Lowder has started two games so far this season, and he is coming off a no-decision in his last outing, where he went 6 1/3 innings and struck out 3. He did not allow an earned run, but he did give up 4 hits and 4 walks.

Elly De La Cruz has been a consistent run producer for the Reds this season, batting .260 with a team-high 23 home runs and 65 RBIs. However, he has struggled of late, hitting just .200 over his last seven games. The same can be said for Jonathan India, who has gone just 2/19 in his last six games. One player who has been hot of late is Ty France, who is on a three-game hitting streak and has gone 14/27 in his last seven games.

Cincinnati’s offense is averaging 4.4 runs per game, which is 15th in the league. They are also 12th in home runs and have the 11th ranked isolated power figure in the league. Overall, the team’s batting average of .233 is just 20th in the league.

• The Reds are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Reds are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Cincinnati has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Reds have an average of 1.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Reds are 4-6
• Looking back across the Reds last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Cincinnati has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Reds have averaged 4.0 runs per game on offense

The Cardinals Can Win If…

Right-hander Andre Pallante gets the start for the Cardinals today as he faces the Reds at home. Pallante has made 16 starts this year and has a record of 6-7. His ERA for the season is 4.07, along with a WHIP of 1.36. Looking at his overall numbers, Pallante has turned in five quality starts and is averaging 6.57 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, he took the loss, giving up five earned runs in five innings of work. Before that, he had won two straight starts. Pallante has been much better at home, coming in with an ERA of 3.41 compared to 4.17 on the road.

Paul Goldschmidt has been swinging a hot bat for the Cardinals, hitting .350 over his last 10 games with one home run. For the season, he is batting .244, but his 21 homers are the best on the team and he is 4th in RBIs. Alec Burleson is also at the top of the home run list for the Cardinals, and his 73 RBIs are the best on the team. Burleson is also batting .273 for the season.

As a team, the Cardinals are averaging 4.1 runs per game, which is 24th in the league. They have been pretty consistent at home and on the road, averaging 4.0 and 4.2 runs per contest, respectively. Overall, they are 19th in home runs and have a collective batting average of .247.

• The Cardinals are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Cardinals are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• St. Louis has an over/under record of 6-3-1 in their last ten games.
• The Cardinals have an average of 3.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Cardinals are 6-4
• Looking back across the Cardinals last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• St. Louis has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Cardinals have averaged 4.7 runs per game on offense

Rhett Lowder’s Strong Start to His Major League Career

Rhett Lowder, the Cincinnati Reds’ promising young arm, is set to make his third major league start on Tuesday night, and he’s on the hunt for his first career win. The 22-year-old has wasted no time making an impact at the big league level, and his next test comes in the opener of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Lowder (0-1, 0.87 ERA) has been nothing short of impressive since joining the Reds. In his second start last Thursday, he pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings against the Houston Astros, holding them to just four hits while striking out three. Although he didn’t get the win, the Reds pulled off a tight 1-0 victory, with Lowder’s stellar performance playing a huge role.

It’s been a rapid rise for Lowder, who was drafted seventh overall by the Reds in 2023 out of Wake Forest. After just a handful of starts in the minors, he got the call-up to the big leagues, where he’s quickly showing that he belongs. Reflecting on his quick ascent, Lowder said, “I didn’t really try to put a timeline on myself. I just went out, tried to put together good starts, and it happened to be now. This experience is huge.”

Reds manager David Bell has been equally impressed with Lowder’s poise and readiness. “He’s showing he’s prepared to be here, pitching in big games and doing it with maturity,” Bell said. Catcher Tyler Stephenson echoed that sentiment, praising Lowder’s approach: “You can tell he’s a polished pitcher. He mixes his pitches well and knows how to hit his spots.”

Reds Riding Momentum After Defensive Battle Against Braves

The Reds (70-75) are coming into the series on a high, having edged out the Atlanta Braves 1-0 on Monday in a classic pitching duel. Nick Martinez, Fernando Cruz, and Alexis Diaz combined for a two-hit shutout, helping Cincinnati secure its sixth win in the last eight games. This late surge has kept the Reds’ postseason hopes alive, and with Lowder on the mound, they’ll be looking to build on that momentum.

Cardinals Look to Rebound After Series Loss

On the other side, the St. Louis Cardinals (72-71) are looking to bounce back after a tough series loss to the Seattle Mariners. It was the Cardinals’ first series loss since mid-August, and they’re hoping to get back on track against their division rivals. Despite the setback, St. Louis remains in the playoff hunt and will be eager to protect home field against the Reds.

Andre Pallante Looks to Keep Dominating the Reds

The Cardinals will send right-hander Andre Pallante (6-7, 4.07 ERA) to the mound, and he has a history of success against Cincinnati. Pallante has been lights-out when facing the Reds, boasting a 5-0 record with a 1.31 ERA in 14 career appearances (four starts). This season, Pallante has already held Cincinnati scoreless across two starts, striking out nine over 11 1/3 innings.

However, Pallante is coming off a shaky outing against the Milwaukee Brewers, where he allowed five runs, including two homers, in a 9-3 loss. Afterward, he acknowledged he relied too much on his four-seam fastball, which isn’t his strongest pitch. “I wasn’t throwing my two-seam fastball like I needed to,” Pallante said. “That’s been my bread and butter, and I have to get back to that.”

The Cardinals will hope Pallante can rediscover his form against the Reds, a team he’s dominated in the past.

Injury Updates: Key Players May Return

Both teams could see the return of important players on Tuesday. For St. Louis, second baseman Brendan Donovan is expected to return after missing two games with a foot infection. Donovan has been a key contributor for the Cardinals, and his presence would be a big boost.

Cincinnati’s Jonathan India could also be back in action after sitting out Monday’s game with a sore elbow. India’s return would give the Reds an extra spark in their lineup as they continue their playoff chase.

What’s at Stake?

For the Reds, Tuesday’s game offers a chance to inch closer to a wild-card spot and keep their postseason hopes alive. With Lowder showing promise in his first two starts, Cincinnati’s rotation has a new spark, and a win against their division rivals would be a huge boost.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, are looking to stay in the playoff picture and bounce back after a tough series loss. A strong outing from Pallante, along with a much-needed series win, would help them stay in the hunt for October.

Rhett Lowder has made a strong case for his spot in the Reds’ rotation, and Tuesday night could be his chance to secure his first MLB win. With the Reds gaining momentum and the Cardinals looking to rebound, this game has plenty at stake for both teams. Whether it’s Lowder continuing his rise or Pallante extending his dominance over Cincinnati, this series opener promises to be a thrilling showdown.

The Lean

Today’s Reds and Cardinals matchup should feature plenty of offense, as this is projected to be the 4th highest-scoring game of today’s league slate. For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Reds to pick up the win. Looking at today’s starters, we have Rhett Lowder as our 12th best strikeout pitcher compared to Andre Pallante, who is the 3rd worst among today’s starters.