Houston Astros vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction, 5/8/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Cincinnati Reds

Date: Friday, May 8, 2026

Location: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH

TV: Reds.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-152) Cincinnati (+126)

Great American Ball Park is where the Cincinnati Reds (20-17) will meet the Houston Astros (15-23) on Friday. The moneyline on this matchup has Houston at -152 and Cincinnati is priced at +126. The over/under is set at 9. The expected starting pitchers will be Mike Burrows and Nick Lodolo.

The Astros have accounted for 73 two-baggers as a squad and have hit 47 baseballs out of the stadium. Houston owns a slugging percentage of .429 and have been called out on strikes 301 times, while being walked on 139 occasions. As a unit, the Houston Astros are recording 4.9 runs per outing, which is 8th in MLB. They have accounted for 175 runs batted in and 339 base knocks over the course of the season, and their team batting average is sitting at .261. They have tallied 185 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .338.

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The Astros have compiled a team earned run average of 5.82 on the season (30th in MLB), and their staff has struck out 341 hitters. Astros pitchers have surrendered 53 home runs and 222 runs in total (30th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 201 opposing players and their FIP is 5.19 as a squad on the campaign. Houston has allowed 341 hits (9.2 per 9 innings) and 215 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 1.70 and their pitching staff sits with a WHIP of 1.63.

The Astros bullpen have recorded a save rate of 88.9% and have entered the game in 22 save situations. They have tallied 8 saves this season and have not converted 1 out of their 9 save opportunities. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 74 base runners so far this season and 28.4% of those runners ended up scoring. Astros pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 43 times and also have had 29 appearances in high leverage situations. The Astros have dispatched 121 relief pitchers to the hill over the course of the season. The bullpen are sitting with 13 holds this year (27th in the league).

The Houston Astros have accounted for 997 putouts at this point in the season, as well as 289 assists and 13 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .990 which is 4th in MLB, and have earned 38 double plays. The Astros have transformed 67.1% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 2,991 innings, which has them sitting 28th in MLB.

Burrows has taken the ball for 136 innings and has earned 135 K's during his pro baseball career. Burrows (4-8 win-loss record in his career) sits with a FIP of 4.42 and he has faced 585 opposing batters in the major leagues. His ERA is 4.49 (68 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.365. He has surrendered 139 hits (9.2 hits per nine innings) and has 47 free passes.

The Reds hold a team SLG% of .385 and they average 4.14 runs per outing (21st in baseball). They have hit 50 doubles, while getting a free base 143 times as well as racking up 153 runs. Cincinnati has accounted for 50 home runs for the year and 142 RBIs. They have been called out on strikes on 344 occasions (5th in baseball) and have 270 base knocks. The Cincinnati Reds have earned an on-base percentage of .304 in addition to a batting average of .219 so far this season.

The Cincinnati pitching staff have allowed 178 runs this year while having an ERA of 4.49 (165 earned runs surrendered). They have allowed 41 dingers and they concede 4.84 runs per 9 innings (20th in the league). The Reds have a WHIP of 1.504 with a FIP of 4.74 as a staff this season. Their K/BB ratio is 7.90 (290 strikeouts vs 177 walks). They have a ranking of 23rd in MLB as a staff in total hits relinquished with 321.

They are ranked 22nd in MLB holding a save rate of 55.6%, and they have sent 140 bullpen pitchers to the mound for the season. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 51 times in high leverage situations and on 43 occasions with runners on. Sitting with 45 save situations, the Reds have compiled 26 holds and 8 blown saves. Cincinnati has had bullpen pitchers take the mound in 18 save opportunities and they have tallied 10 saves. Cincinnati bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 22.0% out of their 59 inherited runners.

The Cincinnati Reds have turned 37 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .989 (8th in baseball). The Reds have 321 assists, 15 errors and have 994 putouts so far this year. In 2,982 innings played, the Reds have a defensive efficiency of 69.4% (18th in pro baseball).

Thus far in his career, Lodolo has allowed 379 base knocks and he has 456 strikeouts in 409 innings pitched. Lodolo (24-22 career mark) has a 4.07 ERA while allowing 8.3 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed 185 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.212 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.0. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.90 and he has gone up against 1,742 hitters during his pro baseball career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Houston (-152)

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