St. Louis @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( May 1, 2013 ) Cincinnati 2, St. Louis 4
Although the Cincinnati Reds are 4-8 over their last 12 games against the St. Louis Cardinals, very little blame can fall on Brandon Phillips’ shoulders. Phillips, who has missed the last four contests due to a forearm injury, is expected to return Friday as the top two teams in the National League Central meet in Cincinnati for a three-game set. The Reds have lost four straight series to the Cardinals, but Phillips is 15-for-48 with three homers, six runs and eight RBIs over that span.
St. Louis, which has either won or tied each of its last 12 series (9-0-3), snapped a two-game losing streak with Thursday’s 12-8 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks and own the best record in baseball (39-21). The Cardinals belted a season-high five homers in the win and own the NL’s best offense (295 runs) as well as the lowest team ERA in the majors (3.18). Catcher Yadier Molina recorded his third straight two-hit game to take over the NL lead in batting average (.351).
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati), MLB Network
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (8-3, 2.33 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mike Leake (5-2, 2.75)
Tied with the Washington's Jordan Zimmermann for the major-league lead with three complete games, Wainwright turned in his latest such gem in Saturday’s 7-1 victory over San Francisco. The right-hander, who has yielded six walks all season despite ranking second in the NL in innings pitched (89), allowed one run and eight hits while striking out 10 to win his third consecutive outing. Wainwright is 4-7 with a 4.14 ERA in 17 all-time appearances (12 starts) against the Reds.
Leake has started to show the form that made him the No. 8 overall pick out of Arizona State in 2009 over his last four turns, allowing one earned run over his last 27 innings. He struck out five and scattered seven hits over six scoreless frames in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Pittsburgh. Leake is only 1-1 despite a 2.88 ERA in five home turns, but has struggled a bit more in six career appearances (five starts) against St. Louis, going 2-2 with a 4.66 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Three St. Louis players are riding double-digit hit streaks. 3B David Freese (16) and 2B Matt Carpenter (15) are in the midst of a career-high run while RF Allen Craig is on a 10-game streak.
2. Cincinnati is 21-9 at Great American Ball Park, tied with Atlanta for the most home wins in the majors.
3. Cardinals LF Matt Holliday is a .328 hitter with 13 homers in 83 career games against the Reds.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Reds 2