The Houston Astros battle the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday in MLB betting action at Minute Maid Park.

Dontrelle Willis, with a record of 0-1 on the season, gets the ball for the Reds, while the Astros trot Jordan Lyles to the mound in this one. He is 0-6 so far in 2011.



View Cincinnati vs Houston Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The visitors opened as 115 moneyline favorites in this one at most online sportsbooks tracked at Odds Shark. The total opened at 8.5 for those preferring over under wagers.

Power Rankings:
This game puts the Astros, most recently No. 12 in the National League Odds Shark MLB Power Rankings, up against the Reds, who rate a National League No. 8 in the latest survey.



How They Match Up:
Rating these teams in several key categories is important for handicappers and Houston has the National League's No. 13-rated offensive output, at 8.9 hits per game. The Reds average 9 hits per game, good for No. 3 on the National League list.

Comparing defensive stats, Cincinnati owns the National League's No. 8-rated road mark, allowing 4.1 runs per game on the highway. Houston, on the other hand, rates No. 12 in scoring at home.

Last time out for Cincinnati, they were a 5-1 Sportsbook as they battled the Astros on the road. Moneyline bettors who got the Reds at -128 were rewarded, while the 6 combined runs moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. The Reds enjoyed a 5-1 victory at the expense of the Astros on Tuesday, with Homer Bailey throwing 8 innings of 5-hit ball at Minute Maid Park.




Cincinnati Reds Trends:
When playing on Wednesday are 6-4
Before playing Chi Cubs are 7-3
After playing Houston are 7-3
After a win are 3-7

Houston Astros Trends:
When playing on Wednesday are 4-6
Before playing Milwaukee are 4-6
After playing Cincinnati are 3-7
After a loss are 3-7

A few Reds at Astros trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cincinnati's last 5 games on the road
Cincinnati is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 5 games when playing Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing Cincinnati
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing at home against Cincinnati


Next up:
Cincinnati at Chi Cubs, Friday, August 5
Houston home to Milwaukee, Friday, August 5