Cincinnati Reds (19-20) vs. Houston Astros (18-18)
The 2025 Major League Baseball season goes on Saturday, May 10, with 15 games around the big leagues, and in this preview, we are breaking down the interleague battle from Daikin Park in Houston to get you the Reds vs. Astros prediction.
It’s the second of a three-game series, and Friday night’s opener has been excluded from the analysis. The Astros are -130 moneyline favorites with a total of 8.0 runs for Saturday’s game.
Read more about this Reds vs. Astros prediction and make sure to check out all of our MLB picks for Saturday’s card. The first pitch at Daikin Park is set for 7:10 PM ET.
The Reds are back to losing ways
The Cincinnati Reds have lost consecutive series against Washington and Atlanta. After splitting a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Reds dropped two out of three against the Nationals at home and three out of four versus the Braves on the road.
The Reds have been awful at the plate of late. Over the last 10 days, they’ve been slashing .205/.288/.311 with 12 doubles, a triple, and seven home runs across 331 at-bats. The Reds bullpen has thrown 41 innings during that span while posting a 3.95 ERA and 4.35 FIP.
Brady Singer will toe the rubber at Daikin Park on Saturday. The 28-year-old right-hander is 4-2 with a 3.66 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in seven starts (39.1 innings pitched) this season. Last Monday, Singer was charged with a loss in a 4-0 defeat at Truist Park in Atlanta, yielding four earned runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings of work.
Singer is 1-2 with a 4.23 ERA in five career starts against Houston. He went 1-0 in two starts against the Astros last season, allowing just three earned runs on 10 hits and three walks through 11 innings. The current Astros are 12-for-57 with a double and two home runs against Singer.
The Astros’ shaky form continues
The Houston Astros have been inconsistent so far this term. They’ve gone 5-5 over the last 10 games and dropped consecutive three-game road series against the Chicago White Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers.
During that 10-game stretch, the Astros have scored 53 runs while slashing .269/.339/.436 with 17 doubles, two triples, and 12 home runs in 342 at-bats. Their bullpen has tossed 33 innings in that span, tallying a 3.55 ERA and 3.14 FIP.
Lance McCullers Jr. is expected to get the starting call on Saturday. The 31-year-old righty made his season debut last Sunday, scattering three hits and three walks across 3.2 scoreless innings against the Chicago White Sox on the road. It was his first appearance since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series.
McCullers Jr. met the Reds once, and it was way back in 2016. Just two guys from this Cincinnati team have seen McCullers Jr. before, combining for one hit in 10 at-bats.
Best Bets for Cincinnati Reds vs. Houston Astros
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Although Lance McCullers Jr. won’t last for too long, I’m taking the Astros at the moneyline. Houston will be happy if McCullers Jr. throws five innings, but I trust the Astros bullpen to finish the job. Also, the Reds’ offense has been terrible lately.Â
Cincinnati has a 60 wRC+ against the right-handed pitchers in the last 10 days, while Houston has a 117 wRC+. The Astros miss Yordan Alvarez, but their lineup still looks more dangerous than Cincinnati’s. They know Brady Singer well, and I expect the Astros to get to the Reds bullpen down the stretch.Â
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Brady Singer has been solid thus far, though he gave up four earned runs last time out. Singer pitched well against the Astros in 2024, and I don’t expect him to get rocked in this game. Lance McCullers Jr. should fare well against the Reds’ slumping offense, so give me the under on the total.Â
As I mentioned, just two guys from this Cincinnati team have seen the Astros’ righty before. Houston’s relief pitching has done a good job so far this season, and the Reds bullpen hasn’t been bad at all.Â
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