The St. Louis Cardinals secured a commanding 6-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the first game of a day-night doubleheader, aided by a ninth-inning offensive explosion. The Cardinals' Masyn Winn opened the scoring with a solo home run off Cincinnati starter Brady Singer, who pitched six strong innings, allowing just one run. However, it was Reds' reliever Alexis Diaz who faced the brunt of the Cardinals' late-game firepower, giving up three consecutive home runs. Miles Mikolas pitched 5.1 innings for St. Louis, contributing to the Reds' struggles with only one hit and striking out four batters.

The game marked the end of Cincinnati's five-game winning streak as the Cardinals improved their record to 13-17 while the Reds fell to 16-14. Key performances included a stellar outing from Mikolas and impactful swings from Victor Scott II and Lars Nootbaar, who each homered in the top of the ninth. The Reds, despite a strong start from Singer, could not capitalize on their chances, with only one hit through the first eight innings. The loss prompted Reds manager Terry Francona to reflect on Diaz's performance, noting the critical moment when the game slipped away.

Miles Mikolas takes the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals as they face off against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. The Cardinals have struggled recently, showcasing a 12-17 record, while the Reds sit at 16-13. Last game saw Nick Martinez earn his first win, leading the Reds to a 3-1 victory over the Cardinals. The matchup features two pitchers with contrasting stats; Mikolas is 0-2 with a 5.70 ERA while Brady Singer boasts an impressive 4-0 record and a 3.62 ERA.

Betting odds favor the Reds (-135) for the moneyline, with a projected total of 9 runs. Notably, Nolan Arenado of the Cardinals is in a slump, hitting just .161 over his last eight games, while Elly De La Cruz is on fire with a 12-game hitting streak at .333. The Reds have covered the run line in four of their last five games, which adds intrigue to this matchup.

The American League free agent market is heating up as we identify key players poised to make an impact in 2025. Tyler Anderson of the Angels has started the season strong, posting a 2.87 ERA, while the Twins look to David Festa, who recently showcased a solid K:BB rate in his initial starts. J.T. Ginn of the Athletics has been an impressive strikeout artist in the minors and earned a win against the Mets. The Astros are dealing with injuries in their rotation, giving Ryan Gusto an opportunity to shine. Kyle Hendricks has found his form with the Angels, while Easton Lucas of the Blue Jays continues to build momentum with two scoreless outings.
Additionally, the Twins consider Zebby Matthews for a potential call-up, and Lance McCullers Jr. is on the path to return from injuries. Meanwhile, teams like the Red Sox are monitoring Liam Hendriks’ recovery as he transitions back into a key role in their bullpen.

MLB player prop betting is heating up, with several exciting strikeout props available for April 12, 2025. Top prop bets feature ace Cristopher Sanchez from the Philadelphia Phillies, who boasts an impressive 34% strikeout rate. His matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals, who struggle against left-handed pitchers, makes the OVER 5.5 strikeouts at +125 an enticing choice. Conversely, Miles Mikolas of the Cardinals is projected to fall short on his UNDER 3.5 strikeouts, backed by a low 10% strikeout rate and the Phillies' disciplined offense.

Jordan Hicks of the San Francisco Giants is highlighted for his OVER 4.5 strikeouts, especially facing a Yankees lineup that swings freely. Andrew Heaney, pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is also recommended for OVER 5.5 strikeouts against a struggling Reds offense. For value, Trevor Williams is set at OVER 4.5 strikeouts against the Marlins, who are noted for their high strikeout rate. Finally, Luis Ortiz might hit the UNDER 4.5 strikeouts due to his lack of swing-and-miss stuff. With multiple opportunities, it's a day ripe for strikeout prop betting.

The Philadelphia Phillies are set to continue their three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Saturday. This matchup starts at 2:15 PM, featuring Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez, who has a 4.09 ERA with no wins yet this season, against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas, whose ERA has ballooned to 11.25 after suffering a loss in his last outing.

If you're in the Philadelphia market, tune into NBCSP+ to catch the game live, while additional streaming options include platforms such as FuboTV, Hulu, Peacock, and YouTube TV. For those looking for radio coverage, 94WIP and WDEL 101.7 FM/1150 AM will have you covered. Notably, the Phillies will also be featured on Apple TV+ this season for select games, available with a subscription.