St. Louis @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 2, 2014 ) St. Louis 0, Cincinnati 1

St. Louis right-hander Lance Lynn begins what he hopes is another successful season for the team - and himself - when the Cardinals visit the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday in the finale of a three-game series. "I've had two pretty good years so far. Hopefully this year is even better," Lynn told the Indianapolis Star. "You got to try to get better every day and that's the way I take it." Lynn and teammate Adam Wainwright share the National League lead with 33 victories over the last two seasons.

Cincinnati counters with Homer Bailey, who received a six-year, $105 million contract extension during the offseason despite finishing 11-12 in 2013. The Reds defeated the Cardinals 1-0 on Wednesday when Chris Heisey's RBI single in the ninth inning ended a game that was delayed at the start for 2 hours, 40 minutes because of rain. Cincinnati avenged a 1-0 loss to St. Louis on Opening Day by snapping a six-game home losing streak.

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (2013: 15-10, 3.97 ERA) vs. Reds RH Homer Bailey (2013: 11-12, 3.49)

Lynn, who is also scheduled to start against Cincinnati on Tuesday, struck out 27 and walked only five in 16 1/3 innings during the spring, but posted a 6.06 ERA. The 26-year-old Brownsburg, Ind., native went 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA in five starts against the Reds last season, but "they don't give you postseason berths for good stats," he said. "They only give them for wins and losses." Zack Cozart is 6-for-17 with two home runs against Lynn while Joey Votto is 3-for-11 with five walks and five strikeouts.

Bailey, who has improved his ERA for five consecutive seasons, missed a spring training start because of a sprained groin, but it didn't affect his preparation for this start. The 27-year-old La Grange, Texas, native and author of two no-hitters is 5-9 with a 4.74 ERA in 17 starts against the Cardinals, including 2-2, 4.01 in four starts last season. Matt Carpenter (10-for-16), Matt Holliday (12-for-35, two homers, seven RBIs) and Yadier Molina (8-for-25, two homers) have fared well against Bailey.

WALK-OFFS

1. Lynn has won a World Series (2011), a National League pennant and reached an NL Championship Series in his three major-league seasons.

2. Votto had his first two hits of the season Wednesday, with his double in the first inning the 1,000th hit of his career.

3. Heavy rain is forecast for Thursday afternoon in Cincinnati.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 3, Reds 2