Oswalt will have Cincinnati Investors Seeing Red

While the third-place Cincinnati Reds (24-20) have been a modest surprise in the NL Central, being only 2.5 games behind front running Milwaukee Brewers, the Houston Astros (18-25) have been at the division's bottom looking up at them all for much of the season. However, the Astros have recently owned the Reds and with Roy Oswalt (1-2, 4.47 ERA) taking the mound for Houston on Tuesday, online MLB betting fans should invest in the right-handers dominance of Cincinnati, starting at 7:10pm EST along the banks of the Ohio River.

Key MLB head-to-head wagering trends:

—Astros are 19-8 in the last 27 meetings overall.

—Astros are 19-7 in the last 26 meetings in Cincinnati.

—Under is 11-3 in the last 14 meetings overall.

—Over is 14-6-1 in the last 21 meetings in Cincinnati.

Despite Houston being amidst a season-tying five-game losing streak, which includes an 8-5 Memorial Day loss at Great American Ball Park in the series opener of a three-game stint, Oswalt is the man to stop the bleeding for the Astros and to help his club avoid a season-high six-game losing streak.

If you bet on MLB, you're aware a pitcher's stats against an opposing team is crucial. With that said, Oswalt's numbers versus the Reds clearly say bet the farm on Houston. The Astros are 24-6 when Oswalt pitches against the Reds overall and 12-2 when climbing the hill in Cincinnati.

He’s a money-making 8-0 in ten starts against the Reds since losing at Cincinnati on April 28, 2006. The only two games he didn’t record wins during the span came this year, though Oswalt was lights out giving up only one earned run over 13 innings of work in the two games he didn't factor into the decision. Lifetime, he's a bankroll building 23-1 against the Reds with a stellar 2.35 ERA.

Cincinnati will counter with Micah Owings (3-5, 4.70 ERA), who the Reds hope can end his two-game skid, while limiting Lance Berkman's feasting on its pitching. Berkman hit a two-run homer in the first inning on Monday in the opener, which was his 47th against the Reds - his highest total against any team. His 21 home runs at Great American Ball Park are the most of any opposing player.

Owings gave up one run in 5 2-3 innings of relief in the Reds’ 16-inning loss at San Diego on May 16, then was touched up in his last outing for five runs in three innings Thursday night in a 12-5 home loss to Philadelphia. His only start against the Astros was on May 24, 2007, when he recorded his first career complete game in a 9-1 victory for Arizona.

BetUS MLB odds are slightly respecting Oswalt's dominance of the Reds (+115), pricing Houston the favorites at -135 with a game total of 8½ over -115. The 'over' is 6-1-1 in Oswalt's last eight starts at Great American Ball Park.

Additional sports betting trends supporting Houston:

—Astros are 6-2 in their last 8 games as a favorite.

—Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 games as a road favorite.

—Astros are 88-42 in Oswalts last 130 starts as a favorite.

—Astros are 6-1 in Oswalts last 7 starts during Game 2 of a series.

—Reds are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.

Free MLB Picks: Houston Astros -135