St. Louis @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2013 ) St. Louis 3, Cincinnati 8

The Cincinnati Reds seek a rare series win against the St. Louis Cardinals when they host their division rivals in the rubber match of their three-game set Sunday. St. Louis has taken two of three in each of the first three series this year, which is one reason why the Cardinals own a four-game advantage over the Reds. Behind a pair of homers from Devin Mesoraco, Cincinnati recorded an 8-3 win Saturday night to rebound from a drubbing in Friday's opener.

The Cardinals have lost eight of their last 10 overall contests to fall out of first place in the National League Central. They enter Sunday trailing Pittsburgh by 1 1/2 games, with a big 10-game homestand on the horizon that begins with four against the streaking Los Angeles Dodgers and ends with three versus the Pirates.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (12-5, 3.87 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mike Leake (10-4, 2.59)

Lynn has recovered well from a pair of rocky outings bridging the All-Star break, going 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in his last two turns. He is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in three starts against the Reds this year but did not figure in the decision after giving up four runs in six frames at Cincinnati on June 9. The 26-year-old has posted a 5.20 ERA on the road.

After winning three starts in a row, Leake put forth one of his best efforts Monday in San Diego, where he tossed seven scoreless innings but settled for a no-decision following a blown save in the ninth. His home ERA (3.47) is nearly twice as high as his road mark (1.94). Leake lasted just five innings against St. Louis at home on June 7, giving up three runs in a 9-2 loss.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis has won five straight series between the division rivals dating to last year. It has not won six straight sets against Cincinnati since 2003-04.

2. Cardinals 3B David Freese is 5-for-10 with a home run and a double against Leake.

3. The Reds have a day off Monday before hosting American League West-leading Oakland for two games.

PREDICTION: Reds 5, Cardinals 4