Cincinnati @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 3, 2012 ) Cincinnati 0, St. Louis 1

The St. Louis Cardinals host the Cincinnati Reds in their home opener on Monday, just in time for the season debut of third baseman David Freese. The 2011 World Series MVP opened the season on the disabled list with a lower-back injury, but he was cleared after playing three games over the weekend for Triple-A Memphis. The Cardinals didn’t miss him on Sunday, when they wrapped up a six-game road trip with a 14-3 rout of San Francisco.

Cincinnati has won four of its first six games, including a 6-3 win over Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals on Sunday. Leadoff hitter Shin-Soo Choo has made a strong first impression with his new team, hitting .375 with three home runs and an outstanding .516 on-base percentage. The Reds' bullpen received a boost on Sunday when left-hander Sean Marshall made his debut after missing the first five games with a fatigued shoulder.

TV: 4:15 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati), Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mat Latos (0-0, 4.05 ERA) vs. Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia (1-0, 1.59 ERA)

Latos allowed three runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels. He’s hoping to improve on his slow start last season, when he was 1-2 with a 5.97 ERA in his first five starts. Jon Jay is 8-for-17 against Latos, who is 2-4 with a 9.00 ERA in seven career starts against St. Louis. The Reds are hoping Latos can work deep into the game after using both Jonathan Broxton and closer Aroldis Chapman in each of the last two games.

Garcia, who is starting a home opener for the first time in his career, gave up one run on two hits in 5 2/3 innings last Tuesday in Arizona. “When he’s pitching like that, he’s as good as anyone in the league,” left fielder Matt Holliday told reporters. Jay Bruce is 6-for-27 (.222) with seven strikeouts against Garcia, who is 8-2 with a 3.33 ERA in 11 career starts against the Reds. His eight wins against Cincinnati are double his best total against any other team.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cardinals have lost five of their previous six home openers.

2. The Reds are 3-22-2 in 27 previous series in St. Louis since the start of the 2003 season.

3. St. Louis won the season series last year 8-7 and outscored Cincinnati 60-46.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Reds 1