St. Louis @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 9, 2013 ) St. Louis 11, Cincinnati 4

The St. Louis Cardinals ended a season-high seven-game skid in impressive fashion and look to build on that effort when they open a three-game series against the host Cincinnati Reds on Friday. The Cardinals routed first-place Pittsburgh 13-0 to avoid a five-game series sweep and stand 1 1/2 games behind the Pirates in the National League Central. Third-place Cincinnati is 5 1/2 games behind Pittsburgh after finishing a 5-6 West Coast road trip.

The Cardinals recorded just 10 runs during their losing streak before the big eruption against the Pirates that included Tony Cruz going 3-for-5 and six other players collecting two hits. Cruz is serving as St. Louis’ starting catcher with All-Star Yadier Molina (knee) on the disabled list. The Reds have slipped off the pace lately but are 32-17 at home and play 32 of their final 53 games at Great American Ball Park.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Shelby Miller (10-7, 2.79 ERA) vs. Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (9-8, 3.26)

Miller has pitched six innings just twice over his last seven starts. He lost to Atlanta in his last outing when he gave up three runs (two earned) and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Miller threw six innings of one-hit shutout ball in his lone career start against Cincinnati, taking a no-decision last Oct. 3.

Arroyo typically struggles against St. Louis and is 0-2 with a 3.79 ERA in three starts against the Cardinals this season. For his career, he is 8-15 with a 4.49 ERA in 36 career appearances (34 starts) against St. Louis. Arroyo went 3-2 with a 2.16 ERA in five July starts, tossing two complete games and holding opponents to a .208 average.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals OF Carlos Beltran has 19 homers, but didn’t go deep at all in July.

2. Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto is batting .375 against St. Louis this season.

3. St. Louis OFs Jon Jay (.406 in 32 at-bats) and Matt Holliday (.314 with four homers in 51 at-bats) have fared well against Arroyo.

PREDICTION: Reds 6, Cardinals 5