Streaking Reds, Send Blossoming Volquez to Hill

The BetUS Sportsbook and seven of their last nine overall.

The St. Louis Cardinals (78-73, 81-70 RL, 68-72-11 O/U) are reeling, having dropped seven straight games, including Wednesday night’s 3-0 loss to Cincinnati.

The red-hot Reds will look to complete a sweep of the St. Louis tonight by handing sending one of the best young pitchers in all of baseball to the mound in ‘fire-balling’ right-hander Edinson Volquez (16-5, 3.22 ERA) while the Cardinals will counter with veteran right—hander Kyle Lohse, (13-6, 3.80).

Volquez is coming off a solid outing in his last start despite not recording a decision, leading the Reds to a 10-inning, 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday by allowing just two earned runs in six innings while striking out eight.

Lohse also failed to record a decision in his last start on Sept. 9 against the Chicago Cubs after giving up three runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings of a 4-3 Cardinals win

While both ballclubs will miss out on the postseason and have little to play for at this point, the game will have some added drama as Volquez and Lohse threw pitches at each other on Aug. 17

Volquez threw a fastball high-and-inside against Lohse in the fifth inning that the veteran took exception to.

Volquez led off the bottom half and guess what?

Lohse immediately took the opportunity to get back at the rookie hurler throwing a first-pitch fastball that was also high-and-tight, prompting home plate umpire Greg Gibson to warn both teams.

After the game, Lohse facetiously said, "Same spot … wasn't trying to hit him, though."

MLB vice president in charge of discipline, Bob Watson countered by suspending Lohse for five games.

"The other guy threw two balls at guys' heads," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "I don't know, I'm just shocked."

With a victory tonight, Volquez can become the first Reds rookie to win 17 games since 1985, when Tom Browning, who later in his career, threw a perfect game, turned the trick.

Cardinals MVP candidate Albert Pujols has gone 0-for-8 in the first two games of the series after coming in with a 10-game hitting streak.

Here is a look at tonight’s key MLB online betting Free Picks.

The Cardinals are 1-6 in Lohse’s last seven starts on grass.

The Cardinals are 0-4 in Lohse’s last four starts during game three of a series.

The Reds are 8-1 in Volquez’s last nine starts during game three of a series.

The Reds are 4-1 in Volquez’s last five starts with four days of rest.

The Under is 4-1 in Lohse’s last five starts vs. National League Central.

The Over is 9-1 in Volquez’s last ten starts with four days of rest.

The Under is 9-4-1 in the last 14 meetings.

The Under is 9-4-1 in the last 14 meetings in Cincinnati.

MLB Odds

St. Louis Cardinals +1½ -190

Kyle Lohse –R +115

Cincinnati Reds -1½ +160

Edinson Volquez –R -135

Over 8½ -115

Under 8½ -105

Analysis: BetUS MLB baseball bettors have an easy pick on their hands in this contest as the Cincinnati Reds and Edinson Volquez should cruise to victory over the reeling Cardinals who have apparently fallen and can’t get up after staying in the NL Central race nearly all season long.

Volquez led the Reds to a 7-3 win the last time he matched up against Lohse and the Cards and I say he gets the job done again.

MLB Free Picks: Reds 6 Cardinals 3