Cincinnati Reds (19-19) vs. Houston Astros (18-18)
The 2025 MLB season continues Friday, May 9, with the Cincinnati Reds taking on the Houston Astros in the interleague showdown at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, so we have prepared the best Reds vs. Astros prediction.
Cincinnati and Houston start their three-game regular-season series, and the Astros are firm -185 moneyline favorites with a total of 8.0 runs. Last season, the Reds swept a three-game home series against the Astros.
Read more about this Cincinnati vs. Houston prediction and make sure to check out all of our MLB picks for Friday’s card. The first pitch at Daikin Park is set for 8:10 PM ET.
The Reds lack consistency
This article was published before Thursday’s results, and the Cincinnati Reds visited the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night, hoping to split a four-game series at Truist Park. Last Wednesday, the Reds outlasted the Braves 4-3 to snap a four-game skid and record the third win in their last nine games overall.
Cincinnati scores 4.76 runs per game (10th in the MLB) on a .242/.322/.382 triple-slash. However, over their previous nine contests, the Reds have only scored 28 runs while slashing an ugly .199/.284/.296. During that stretch, their bullpen has gone 2-2 with a save and a 3.96 ERA.
Nick Martinez will take the mound at Daikin Park on Friday night. The 34-year-old right-hander is 1-3 with a 4.19 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in seven starts (38.2 innings pitched) this season. He’s done a great job over his last two starts, allowing just two earned runs on nine hits and two walks across 12 innings of work.
Martinez is 4-4 with a 3.88 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in nine career starts and five relief appearances against the Astros. He met the Astros once in 2024, surrendering four runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks through 5.2 innings in the Reds’ 12-5 home victory over Houston.
The Astros hope for another gem from Hunter Brown
The Houston Astros are coming off Wednesday’s 9-1 thrashing of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Astros stopped a three-game slide and avoided a sweep in a three-game set in Milwaukee. Houston has only won one of its last four series and is 2-5 in its previous seven games overall.
The Astros have scored 32 runs during that seven-game stretch. They’ve slashed .261/.331/.415, while their bullpen has gone 0-1 with a 2.95 ERA. The Astros are 18th in the majors in runs scored (4.03 per game) and fifth in runs against (3.58).
Hunter Brown is expected to toe the rubber Friday, and the 26-year-old right-hander carries a 5-1 record with a shiny 1.67 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in seven starts (43 IP) in 2025. Brown has emerged victorious in each of his previous four starts. Last Saturday, he gave up three earned runs on four hits and three walks across six frames in an 8-3 win at the Chicago White Sox.
Brown met the Reds once in 2024. He tossed four scoreless innings in a no-decision at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, allowing just four hits and one free pass.
Best Bets for Cincinnati Reds vs. Houston Astros
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Nick Martinez has pitched well over the last couple of weeks, but I certainly trust Hunter Brown more, so I won’t overthink the side bet in this game. Brown is having a wonderful season, and the current Reds are just 3-for-18 without extra-base hits against him.Â
On the other side, the current Astros are 17-for-71 with five doubles and two home runs versus Martinez. Although the Astros miss Yordan Alvarez due to a muscle strain, I expect their offense to make a difference and help Brown get another win.Â
Interestingly, the Reds are undefeated in nine straight games against the Astros. I’m looking for the Astros to snap their skid and beat the runline.Â
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
As I mentioned, the Reds’ lineup has struggled a lot lately. Over the last 10 days, Cincinnati has recorded a .604 OPS and 65 wRC+ against the right-handed pitchers. Hereof, Hunter Brown should throw another gem on Friday night.Â
The Astros have done a good job against the righties over the past 10 days, tallying a .768 OPS and 123 wRC+. They could get to Nick Martinez early, but I’m still going with the under on the total. I expect Brown to dominate the Reds, and both teams have a lot of dangerous arms in their bullpens.Â
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