St. Louis @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 2, 2010 ) Cincinnati 1, St. Louis 4
There are only two teams in the running for the NL Central crown and they go head-to-head for three games starting Monday when the St. Louis Cardinals visit the Cincinnati Reds for a crucial series.
The Reds (64-48) are streaking and hold a two-game lead over the Cardinals (61-49) in the division. It has been a tight race for just about three months as the two teams have traded the top spot in the division back and forth 17 times in that stretch.
Cincinnati has won nine of its last 11 games and four straight overall. The Reds just finished a three-game sweep of the struggling Chicago Cubs by pounding out 13 hits in an 11-4 victory.
Cincinnati has outscored its opponents, 27-11, on its current four-game win streak, but may find runs a bit harder to come by on Monday.
Chris Carpenter (12-3, 2.91 ERA) gets the start for St Louis and his eyes must light up at the prospect of facing Cincinnati.
Carpenter has won eight consecutive starts against the Reds, including three victories this season. In their last meeting on June 2, the right-hander gave up one run and four hits in eight innings of a 4-1 win. He's pitching well against everyone of late, going 3-0 in his last five starts with an ERA under 2.00.
The Cardinals did not play Sunday after the finale of their three-game series at the Florida Marlins was postponed because of rain. They lost their last time out and are 6-4 in their last 10 games overall.
Mike Leake (7-3, 3.86 ERA) will be making the most important start of his young career when he takes the mound for the Reds on Monday. The former Arizona State Sun Devil has lost his last two starts and is 3-3 in his last 10 outings.
Leake did post a victory over the Cardinals earlier this season, allowing two runs and four hits in six innings on May 15. Cincinnati managed a 4-3 triumph in that one.
St. Louis holds a 7-5 edge in the season series so far and is 3-3 in Cincinnati. Throw in Carpenter's success against the Reds and Leake's recent struggles and there's a good chance the deficit could be just one game when all is said and done Monday.