Cincinnati @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 29, 2013 ) Cincinnati 2, St. Louis 1

The St. Louis Cardinals' bats have gone quiet, but a familiar face on the mound could help them make noise again. The Cincinnati Reds' Bronson Arroyo, who will pitch in the middle contest of a three-game series Tuesday in St. Louis, has lost more games against the Cardinals (14) than to any other team. St. Louis, which has lost three straight and scored four runs during that span, beat Arroyo 5-1 on April 9. Jaime Garcia, who is 8-2 with a 3.39 ERA against the Reds, starts for the Cardinals. Garcia did not receive a decision while striking out 10 in 6 2/3 innings in the Cardinals' 13-4 loss to the Reds on April 8.

Cincinnati hasn't been tearing the cover off the ball lately either with 14 runs in its last seven games, but did enough Monday in a 2-1 victory. The Reds got a strong pitching performance from Mat Latos, who extended his scoreless streak to 17 innings after pitching six scoreless innings. Cincinnati and St. Louis are each one-half game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Central, which could be a four-team race all season with the Milwaukee Brewers one game back.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (2-2, 4.24 ERA) vs. Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia (2-1, 2.89)

Arroyo certainly wasn't at his best in his last start - an 8-1 loss at Washington on Thursday, but the veteran prevented the bullpen from being taxed by battling through six innings. It was the second loss in as many road starts for Arroyo, who allowed four runs in six innings against the Cardinals. Arroyo is 8-14 with a 4.60 ERA against St. Louis. Matt Holliday has three home runs and eight RBIs in 46 at-bats against Arroyo.

Garcia allowed one run and four hits in 5 2/3 innings in a 4-2 victory at Washington on Wednesday. It was a strong bounce-back effort for the 26-year-old Mexican, who yielded eight runs (four earned) and nine hits in three innings in St. Louis' 8-2 loss at Philadelphia on April 19. Garcia has allowed 28 hits while striking out 25 in 28 innings. He has fared well against Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips, who are hitting a combined .246 with six extra-base hits and 15 strikeouts in 61 at-bats.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis' Yadier Molina, who had three hits and an RBI on Monday, leads all catchers with 29 hits.

2. Cardinals RF Carlos Beltran, who did not start Monday because of flu-like symptoms, flied out as a pinch hitter and the eighth inning and is expected to start Tuesday.

3. A pair of Cardinals - David Freese and Daniel Descalso - are each hitless in their last 16 at-bats.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 3, Reds 2