If familiarity breeds contempt, there should be animosity aplenty on Sunday when the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds meet at Great American Ball Park.

The Cardinals will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Chris Carpenter in this game. Carpenter has a 1-2 record and a 4.32 ERA this season.

Carpenter's opponent in this one will be Travis Wood. The Reds lefthander has a 5.28 ERA to go along with a 2-3 record this season.

Oddsmakers currently have the Cardinals listed as 111-moneyline favorites versus the Reds, while the game's total is sitting at 8½.

The Cardinals were a 7-3 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Reds. That made winners of bettors who got Cincinnati at -118 on the moneyline, while the total score (10) was good news for OVER bettors.

Current streak: St. Louis has lost 2 straight games. Cincinnati has won 2 straight games.

Team records: St. Louis: 22-18 SU Cincinnati: 22-17 SU

St. Louis most recently: When playing on Sunday are 5-5 Before playing Philadelphia are 7-3 After playing Cincinnati are 6-4 After a loss are 7-3

Cincinnati most recently: When playing on Sunday are 4-6 Before playing Chi Cubs are 7-3 After playing St. Louis are 5-5 After a win are 5-5

A few trends to consider: The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis's last 5 games The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis's last 5 games on the road The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis's last 6 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati St. Louis is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games when playing Cincinnati Cincinnati is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cincinnati's last 6 games at home The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cincinnati's last 6 games when playing at home against St. Louis Cincinnati is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

Next up: St. Louis home to Philadelphia, Monday, May 16 Cincinnati home to Chi Cubs, Monday, May 16

MLB Preview: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds

The Houston Astros and the Cincinnati Reds will meet on the field at Great American Ball Park on Thursday in a battle of division rivals.

Righthander Brett Myers will take the mound for the Astros to start this game. Myers is 1-1 this season with a 3.72 ERA.

The Reds will counter Myers with Homer Bailey. Righthander Bailey has a 0.00 ERA to go along with a 0-0 record this season.

Oddsmakers currently have the Reds listed as 145-moneyline favorites versus the Astros, while the game's total is sitting at 8.

The Astros were a 3-2 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Reds. That made winners of bettors who got Cincinnati at -185 on the moneyline, while the total score (5) was good news for UNDER bettors.

Team records: Houston: 12-18 SU Cincinnati: 15-15 SU

Houston most recently: When playing on Thursday are 5-5 Before playing Pittsburgh are 5-5 After playing Cincinnati are 4-6 After a loss are 7-3

Cincinnati most recently: When playing on Thursday are 6-4 Before playing Chi Cubs are 8-2 After playing Houston are 5-5 After a win are 1-9

A few trends to consider: The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games on the road The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games when playing Cincinnati The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati Cincinnati is 14-4 SU in its last 18 games when playing at home against Houston Cincinnati is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games when playing Houston The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 6 games The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 6 games at home

Next up: Houston at Pittsburgh, Friday, May 6 Cincinnati at Chi Cubs, Friday, May 6

MLB Preview: Houston Astros vs. Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds and the San Diego Padres will both be trying to pick up a win on Monday when they battle at PETCO Park.

Edinson Volquez will be the starting pitcher for the Reds on this day. Righthander Volquez is 1-0 this season with a 7.36 ERA.

Volquez's opponent in this one will be Mat Latos. The Padres righthander has a 0.00 ERA to go along with a 0-0 record this season.

Oddsmakers currently have the Padres listed as 116-moneyline favorites versus the Reds, while the game's total is sitting at 6½.

Last time out for Cincinnati, they were a 10-8 loser as they battled the Diamondbacks on the road. Moneyline bettors who got the Diamondbacks at +106 were rewarded, while the 18 combined runs moved the game OVER for totals bettors.

San Diego won its last outing, a 7-2 result against the Dodgers on April 10. Bettors who backed the Padres at -132 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (9) sent OVER bettors to the payout window.

Team records: Cincinnati: 6-3 SU San Diego: 4-4 SU

Cincinnati most recently: When playing on Monday are 4-6 Before playing San Diego are 2-8 After playing Arizona are 5-5 After a loss are 5-5

San Diego most recently: When playing on Monday are 7-3 Before playing Cincinnati are 7-3 After playing LA Dodgers are 6-4 After a win are 4-6

A few trends to consider: The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cincinnati's last 7 games Cincinnati is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 6 games on the road Cincinnati is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing San Diego San Diego is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Cincinnati San Diego is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing Cincinnati The total has gone UNDER in 5 of San Diego's last 7 games at home The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Diego's last 6 games

Next up: San Diego home to Cincinnati, Tuesday, April 12

MLB Preview: Cincinnati Reds vs. San Diego Padres