Cincinnati @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 8, 2013 ) Cincinnati 13, St. Louis 4

The visiting Cincinnati Reds will try to win three in a row for the second time this season when they play the St. Louis Cardinals in the middle game of the three-game series Tuesday. The Reds exploded for 12 runs over the final four innings of a 13-4 victory Monday in the series opener, including nine runs in the ninth inning. The Cardinals scored nine runs in the fourth inning the day before in a 14-3 victory against the San Francisco Giants.

Todd Frazier (.414), Shin Soo-Choo (.379), Brandon Phillips (.344) and Jay Bruce (.324) are off to blistering starts for the Reds. Frazier and Choo also have three home runs apiece and Phillips has belted two. Joey Votto is trying to find his rhythm at the plate for Cincinnati. He’s hitting .240 with one extra-base hit. The Cardinals need Matt Holliday to get untracked as well. He’s batting .200 through the first six games with one home run and five RBIs.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati), Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (1-0, 4.50) vs. Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (0-0, 9.00)

Arroyo has faced the Cardinals more than any other team in his career, owning an 8-13 record in 31 starts with a 4.56 ERA. He has had success against Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, limiting him to seven hits in 41 at-bats with no home runs, but Holliday and Jon Jay have each fared well. Holliday is 14-for-44 with three home runs against Arroyo and Jay is 10-for-25. Arroyo made his final regular-season start in St. Louis last October and gave up three runs in five innings of the 4-2 loss. Arroyo beat the Los Angeles Angels in his season debut last week, allowing three runs in six innings.

Lynn has thrown only six innings against the Reds in his career. He lasted two innings in his lone start against Cincinnati last August, giving up four runs and six hits before the Cardinals came back to win 8-5. He was also roughed up in his only other start this season, giving up four runs on six hits in four innings of a 10-9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in 16 innings Wednesday. Overall, he has been strong in the month of April, owning a 4-0 record and a 2.32 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds manager Dusty Baker is one of four managers with at least 1,500 hits as a player and 1,500 wins as a manager. His 1,586 career victories are second among active managers to Jim Leyland of the Detroit Tigers.

2. The Reds have scored 50 runs in their last six games.

3. Votto has drawn a league-leading 10 walks.

PREDICTION: Reds 5, Cardinals 4.