Reds vs. Cardinals (7/16): Another day, another stellar home start for Mikolas?

The St. Louis Cardinals have won just one of their last eight series, but after last night’s win over the Cincinnati Reds, they are in position to close out the first half of the MLB season with a much-needed series win.

In last night’s series opener, the Cardinals got five solid innings from Andre Pallante and a three-RBI game by Brendan Donovan in a 7-3 win.

It was just their sixth win in 15 games in July, but it came in conjunction with a Giants win over the Brewers, which means that the Cards are two games out of first in the NL Central enter today’s MLB action.

For the Reds, it was just their second loss in their last eight games, but if they want to end the first half with three straight impressive series wins, they have some work to do in the last two games of the series.

Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals Matchup Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Cincinnati Reds (34-56, 16-28 away, 5th in the NL Central) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (49-44, 28-20 home, 2nd in the NL Central)
• Venue & Location: Busch Stadium (St. Louis, Missouri)
• Date: Saturday, July 16, 2022
• Game Time: 2:15 p.m. Eastern Time (1:15 p.m. local time)

Reds vs. Cardinals Pitching Matchup

• Cincinnati Reds: Nick Lodolo (2022: 5 starts, 2-2, 4.44 ERA)
• St. Louis Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (2022: 18 starts, 6-7, 2.62 ERA)

Reds vs. Cardinals Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. This article may also include odds from other top legal sports betting sites that we have reviewed and recommend.

Moneyline

• Cincinnati Reds +150
• St. Louis Cardinals -178

Over/Under

• OVER 8.5 (-105)
• UNDER 8.5 (-115)

Run Line

• Cincinnati Reds +1.5 (-132)
• St. Louis Cardinals -1.5 (+110)

Cardinals Poised for Series Win with Mikolas Hot at Home

Had a few starts gone just a little bit differently, Miles Mikolas could have ended up in Los Angeles next week as a member of the NL All-Star squad.

A complete lack of run support has hurt him on the road, where he has pitched well on a number of occasions but has five losses in nine starts.

But at home, he has been getting plenty of run support, along with spinning several gems, with seven of his 12 quality starts coming at Busch Stadium.

The most recent one came on Monday, when he allowed one run, six hits, and no walks and struck out five in 7.1 innings in a 6-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

It was the fifth time this season that Mikolas had gone at least seven innings and allowed two or fewer runs in a home start. And in his last three home starts, he is 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA. In those three starts, he has allowed three runs (two earned), 11 hits, and two walks and struck out 20 in 22 innings.

The Cardinals have been held to three or fewer runs in six of his nine road starts and have scored just four runs in his last four road starts, all of which have been losses for Mikolas and the Cards.

But they scored more than that on Monday alone and have tallied five or more runs six times in his nine home starts. So, if the “Lizard King” brings it again at home in this matchup, he should pick up his seventh win today.

Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction and Best Bets

Reds vs. Cardinals Prediction: Cardinals to win

Reds vs. Cardinals Best Bets: Cardinals -1.5 (+120 at BetUS) & Cardinals team total over 4.5 runs (-105 at BetMGM)

The Cardinals have a 10-8 record in the 18 games that Mikolas has started this season. All ten wins have come by 2+ runs.

I like Mikolas to continue his home success and for the Cards’ bats to continue their trend of being very productive in his home starts. If those two things happen, the above trend will very likely continue, unless the bullpen, which is tenth in the league in ERA, decides not to cooperate.

Given how Mikolas has been pitching at home and the support he has been getting in his recent home starts, +120 or even +110, as the RL is at BetOnline, is excellent value. In fact, it’s one of my favorite bets on today’s MLB slate.