Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction: Can the Bats Get to Adam Wainwright, Graham Ashcraft?
The Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals play the second game of their series tonight. Can the Bats Get to Adam Wainwright, Graham Ashcraft? Handicapper Krabs breaks it all down.
Krabs - May 23, 2023, 4:00 PM EDT
5 minCincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction: Can the Bats Get to Adam Wainwright, Graham Ashcraft?
It’s hard to watch Adam Wainwright pitch right now. Wainwright is a future Hall of Famer, averaging just 86 mph on his fastball. He’s given up 13 runs in his three starts this season, and it won’t get any easier for the veteran as he travels to the Great American Ballpark. Will Wainwright continue his early season struggles, or will he start to round into mid-season form?
Reds vs. Cardinals Start Time and Where to Watch
- Date: May 23, 2023
- Game Time: 6:40 pm ET
- Where to Watch: MLB.TV
Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction
The Reds’ starter, Graham Ashcraft, hasn’t faired any better than Wainwright recently. The young righty has given up 19 runs over his previous three starts, all to subpar offenses (Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, and Chicago White Sox). After an impressive start to the season with an ERA as low as 1.29, the wheels have fallen off the wagon for Ashcraft. Tonight he faces debatably the hottest offense in baseball as the Reds welcome the Cardinals into town.
Waino and the red hot Cards opened up a (-165) favorite, which I already thought was short. They now sit at (-140) on the moneyline, and the total has also increased a full run. This line movement tells me that Adam Wainwright’s early season struggles will continue tonight.
Besides Jonathan India, nobody in this Reds’ lineup has seen Wainwright very often. India does have three hits in eight at-bats with a double in a small sample size, though. If Wainwright is bringing that 86 mph fastball and 87 mph sinker to one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in baseball, it could spell trouble for the veteran.
Considering both Wainwright and Ashcraft’s recent struggles, the Cardinals' red-hot bats, the total moving up an entire run, and this game being played in a hitter-friendly environment, this might be one of the most square plays I’ve ever given out. Luckily, the over is not public, with around 50% of bets and handle (per VSIN). I don’t see anyone getting in the way of this Cardinals’ offense right now, especially Ashcraft with how he’s looked of late.
Until the Cardinals’ offense cools off, continue to back them. This team is crawling back from an ungodly start to the season, still seven games under .500 on the year. As the Cardinals’ bats continue to regress positively, expect them to put up another crooked number against a young arm who’s struggling mightily. Back the over now before both the odds and total move even more.
Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals Pick
STL/CIN o10 -122 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbooks have the best odds
MLB Odds
