The Cincinnati Reds face the St. Louis Cardinals in a crucial three-game series at Busch Stadium, starting Friday at 8:15 pm EST. Saturday and Sunday games begin at 2:15 pm.

Recent Performance:

• Reds: Split recent series vs Diamondbacks (2-2)
• Cardinals: Swept by Rays in three games
• Reds: 4-6 in last 10 games, 12 games back in NL Central
• Cardinals: 5-5 in last 10 games, 0.5 games from first place

Game 1 Betting Lines:

• Spread: Cardinals -1.5 (+155), Reds +1.5 (-185)
• Over/Under: 8 runs (-110 both sides)
• Moneyline: Cardinals -135, Reds +115

Recent Betting Trends:

• Cardinals: 2-3 ATS last 5 games, Under in 3 of 5
• Reds: 2-3 ATS last 5 games, Under in 3 of 5
• Reds Road Record ATS: 13-15

Pitching Matchup:

• Reds: Luis Castillo (2-3, 3.55 ERA, 34 K) Last start: Loss, 3 ER, 6 H, 6 BB in 6.1 IP

• Cardinals: Andre Pallante (1-0, 1.23 ERA) First start: No decision, 1 ER, 4 H in 4 IP Previously: 17 relief appearances

Analysis: The Cardinals hold the advantage playing at home and competing for the division lead. The Reds' inconsistent performance makes them underdogs, needing significant offensive output to compete in this series. St. Louis is favored to win both the opener and the series.

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