St. Louis @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2013 ) Cincinnati 10, St. Louis 0
The St. Louis Cardinals continue their crucial stretch of contests against playoff-hopeful division rivals as they begin a four-game road series versus the Cincinnati Reds on Monday afternoon. St. Louis took two of three from Cincinnati at home last week before dropping two of three at Pittsburgh over the weekend. The Cardinals began the stretch tied with the Pirates for first place in the National League Central and find themselves in the same position after avoiding a sweep with a 7-2 triumph over Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Joe Kelly worked six strong innings to post his seventh consecutive victory as St. Louis halted a three-game losing streak during which it scored a total of one run. Cincinnati, which leads the Arizona Diamondbacks by six games for the second NL wild-card spot, failed to gain ground in the division race as it dropped a 7-4 decision at Colorado on Sunday. The Reds lost two of three to the Rockies and are 3 1/2 games out of first place in the Central.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (15-8, 2.96 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mat Latos (13-5, 3.03)
Wainwright looks to avenge a disastrous home outing against Cincinnati on Wednesday in which he was pounded for nine runs and eight hits in just two innings. The brutal performance, which came after a complete-game triumph over Atlanta, prevented the 32-year-old from recording his NL-high 16th victory. Wainwright is 9-2 on the road this season but has struggled against the Reds over his career, going 5-8 with a 4.84 ERA in 19 games - 14 starts.
Latos also is seeking revenge after being touched for four runs and nine hits over six innings in a loss at St. Louis on Tuesday. The 25-year-old went 5-1 in his previous seven starts, allowing fewer than three earned runs in each outing. Latos historically has had trouble with the Cardinals, posting a 4-5 record and 6.25 ERA in 11 career starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals RF Carlos Beltran, who leads the team with 23 homers, missed Sunday's victory with tightness in his lower back.
2. St. Louis won two of three in each of the previous five series between the division rivals in 2013.
3. The Cardinals have scored at least nine runs in each of their four wins at Cincinnati this year.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Reds 2