St. Louis @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2015 ) St. Louis 1, Cincinnati 5

The Cincinnati Reds are proving to be a big thorn in the side of the St. Louis Cardinals. The National League Central-leading Cardinals will try to avoid a four-game sweep when they visit the Reds for the series finale on Sunday.

St. Louis (88-53) still owns the best record in baseball but has lost eight of its last 10 contests and is struggling to put any offense together against Cincinnati, which outscored the Cardinals 20-3 in the first three games of the series. The Reds didn’t do St. Louis any favors by dropping two of three to second-place Pittsburgh earlier this week, either. Cincinnati has not completed a four-game sweep from St. Louis since 2003 but is riding high behind its young starting staff and will extend its major-league record by sending Raisel Iglesias to the mound on Sunday in the 44th straight contest started by a rookie. The Cardinals -- 2 1/2 games up on Pittsburgh -- counter with right-hander Michael Wacha, who is trying to bounce back from a sub-par outing.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (15-5, 2.96 ERA) vs. Reds RH Raisel Iglesias (3-7, 4.18)

Wacha had a start skipped in an effort to keep him fresh but appeared rusty after 10-day layoff and was ripped for six runs on six hits and three walks in four innings against the Chicago Cubs. The Texas A&M product surrendered a pair of home runs in that start, matching his total from the previous six outings. Wacha has had little trouble with Cincinnati in his career, posting a 4-1 record with a 1.74 ERA in nine games (eight starts).

Iglesias is searching for his first win since Aug. 12 and lasted only three innings against Pittsburgh on Tuesday while allowing five runs and six hits. The Cuba native had a string of seven straight quality starts come to an end with that outing. Iglesias is searching for his first win against St. Louis and gave up four runs and six hits while striking out seven over six innings at St. Louis on July 27.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds 1B Joey Votto has reached base safely in 31 straight games.

2. St. Louis activated RHP Matt Belisle (elbow) from the 60-day disabled list on Saturday.

3. Cincinnati OF Skip Schumaker is 2-for-5 with a homer and five RBIs in the series against his former team.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, Reds 2