Looking for today’s St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds betting splits? Below you’ll find the latest DraftKings Sportsbook Moneyline, Run Line and total betting percentages, plus where the public and sharp money are landing before first pitch.
Cardinals vs. Reds Odds
| Market | Cardinals | Reds |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -168 | +139 |
| Run Line (-1.5) | +128 | -155 |
| Total (O/U 8.5) | Over -102 | Under -118 |
The Cardinals open as solid home favorites at -168 on the Moneyline, with the Run Line set at -1.5 (+128). The total is posted at O/U 8.5, with the Under slightly juiced at -118.
DraftKings Betting Splits
| Market | Side | Handle % | Bets % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Cardinals | 14% | 72% |
| Moneyline | Reds | 86% | 28% |
| Run Line | Cardinals -1.5 | 55% | 35% |
| Run Line | Reds +1.5 | 45% | 65% |
| Total | Over 8.5 | 0% | 40% |
| Total | Under 8.5 | 100% | 60% |
Public Betting Trends
The Moneyline split is one of the most dramatic you will see on a Friday MLB slate. A full 72% of individual bets are backing the Cardinals at home, yet just 14% of the total money wagered sits on St. Louis. The Reds are drawing only 28% of tickets but command 86% of the handle, a textbook signal that larger, sharper accounts are fading the public favorite and backing Cincinnati at plus money.
On the Run Line, 65% of bets are on the Reds +1.5, but the Cardinals -1.5 is attracting 55% of the handle. That gap suggests a pocket of sharp interest believes the Cardinals will win by two or more runs if they take this game, even as most casual bettors are content to grab the 1.5-run cushion with Cincinnati.
The total market is heavily skewed toward the Under. While 60% of tickets are on the Under 8.5, a remarkable 100% of the money is siding with the Under. There is essentially no handle on the Over at this stage, indicating that every significant wager placed on the total is expecting a lower-scoring game. With Busch Stadium’s outdoor setting and a mild 66-degree forecast, run suppression is the clear consensus among bigger bettors.
The headline takeaway: the sharpest money is on the Reds Moneyline and on the Under. Public ticket count favors the home Cardinals, but the largest wagers are going the opposite direction on the Moneyline while unanimously pointing Under on the total.
Cardinals vs. Reds Stats
Team Batting Stats
| Stat | Cardinals | Reds |
|---|---|---|
| AVG | .241 | .230 |
| OBP | .317 | .309 |
| SLG | .384 | .400 |
| ISO | .143 | .170 |
| OPS | .701 | .709 |
| K% | 20.4% | 24.6% |
Team Pitching Stats
| Stat | Cardinals | Reds |
|---|---|---|
| ERA | 4.18 | 4.56 |
| WHIP | 1.338 | 1.431 |
| K/9 | 7.62 | 8.17 |
| K/BB | 2.25 | 1.87 |
| OBA | .253 | .248 |
Starting Pitcher Stats
| Stat | Dustin May (STL) | Rhett Lowder (CIN) |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 5-7 | 3-7 |
| ERA | 4.78 | 5.75 |
| WHIP | 1.316 | 1.639 |
| FIP | 3.26 | 4.62 |
| xFIP | 3.91 | 4.88 |
| WAR | 2.22 | 0.82 |
| K% | 22.9% | 18.2% |
| BB% | 7.7% | 10.1% |
| HR/9 | 0.64 | 1.13 |
Key Matchup Numbers
- Cardinals batting: St. Louis ranks higher in average (.241 vs. .230) and OBP (.317 vs. .309), putting more runners on base consistently, while Cincinnati holds a slight edge in isolated power (.170 vs. .143).
- Reds batting vs. May: Cincinnati strikes out at a 24.6% clip on the season, and May’s 22.9% K rate and 3.26 FIP suggest he is pitching better than his 4.78 ERA indicates. His underlying metrics point to run prevention upside tonight.
- Starting pitching edge: May’s 1.316 WHIP, 3.91 xFIP, and 2.22 WAR vastly outpace Lowder’s 1.639 WHIP, 4.88 xFIP, and 0.82 WAR. Lowder has managed only 3 quality starts in 14 outings this season.
- Home splits: Cardinals home split leaders Lars Nootbaar (.310 AVG, .938 OPS) and Jordan Walker (.306 AVG, .859 OPS) are producing at an elite level at Busch Stadium, giving St. Louis a lineup depth advantage at home.
- Injury context: Cincinnati is missing multiple pitching arms (Brandon Williamson, Graham Ashcraft, Nick Lodolo, Tony Santillan on the IL) plus infielder Matt McLain (calf, D10) and Blake Dunn (elbow, D10). The Cardinals are healthier, with Ramón Urias (elbow, D60) and JoJo Romero (appendix, D15) the most notable absences.
The pitching matchup tilts heavily toward St. Louis, where May’s advanced metrics (FIP nearly a full run and a half below his ERA) suggest he is due to strand more runners. Lowder’s bloated 1.639 WHIP and 1.13 HR/9 make him vulnerable against a Cardinals lineup that excels at home. Combined with Cincinnati’s depleted pitching depth from the IL, the Cardinals have a clear structural edge, though the Under total aligns with May’s run-suppression profile in a game where the weaker offense faces the better arm.
Betting Splits Summary
| Category | Edge |
|---|---|
| Public Betting (Moneyline) | 72% of bets on Cardinals, 86% of handle on Reds |
| Money Handle (Moneyline) | Sharp money on Reds (+139) |
| Run Line Handle | 55% handle on Cardinals -1.5 vs. 65% of tickets on Reds +1.5 |
| Total Handle | 100% of handle on Under 8.5 |
| Biggest Split | Moneyline: 72% bets vs. 14% handle on Cardinals (58-point gap) |
FAQs
What are MLB betting splits?
MLB betting splits show the percentage of bets and money (handle) placed on each side of a market. They reveal how the public and sharper bettors are positioned on a game’s Moneyline, Run Line, and total before first pitch.
What is the difference between bets and handle?
Bets refer to the total number of individual wagers placed on a side, while handle refers to the total dollar amount wagered. A side with low bet percentage but high handle percentage indicates fewer, larger wagers, often associated with professional or sharp bettors.
What is sharp money?
Sharp money refers to wagers placed by professional or well-informed bettors who consistently beat the market over time. When the handle percentage on a side far exceeds its bet percentage, it typically indicates sharp money is driving the action.
Should you follow betting splits?
Betting splits are one tool among many. Significant gaps between bet percentage and handle percentage can indicate where informed money is landing, but splits should be combined with matchup analysis, pitching data, and line movement to build a complete picture before placing a wager.
How often do DraftKings betting splits update?
DraftKings betting splits update approximately every two minutes, so the percentages shown above reflect a near real-time snapshot of the market heading into first pitch.
What is the best bet for Cardinals vs. Reds?
The sharpest action in this game is concentrated on the Under 8.5 (100% of handle) and the Reds Moneyline (86% of handle). The Under aligns with Dustin May’s strong peripherals (3.26 FIP, 22.9% K rate) in a pitcher-friendly evening forecast at Busch Stadium, while the Reds Moneyline draw from sharps suggests the +139 price offers value despite Cincinnati’s overall record.
