Cincinnati @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 4, 2013 ) St. Louis 15, Cincinnati 2
The St. Louis Cardinals will try to create some distance in the top-heavy National League Central on Monday when they open a three-game home series versus the Cincinnati Reds. St. Louis remained deadlocked with Pittsburgh atop the division after dropping a 5-2 decision to Atlanta in the finale of a four-game series on Sunday. Matt Carpenter collected his third multi-hit game in four contests as the Cardinals suffered just their fourth loss in 14 outings.
Cincinnati was also playing well before inexplicably losing two of three to struggling Milwaukee this weekend. The Reds, who reside 2 1/2 games behind the Cardinals and Pirates, can close the gap with seven of their next 10 contests against St. Louis. They'll need a better effort, however, as the Cardinals have won eight of the previous 12 meetings.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), FSMW (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mike Leake (11-5, 3.12 ERA) vs. Cardinals LH Tyler Lyons (2-4, 5.09)
Leake posted his first victory since July 24 despite yielding four runs on six hits in as many innings against Arizona on Wednesday. The 25-year-old went 0-1 during his four-start winless streak - with the loss coming in brutal fashion versus St. Louis on Aug. 4. Leake permitted a season-high seven runs on eight hits in five innings during a 15-2 rout.
Lyons allowed one hit over two scoreless innings of relief in a no-decision against Milwaukee on Tuesday. The 25-year-old rookie returns to the rotation as Jake Westbrook nurses a lower back strain. Lyons struggled in his lone meeting with Cincinnati, yielding four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 4-2 setback on June 8.
WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis RF Carlos Beltran, who saw his six-game hitting streak come to an end on Sunday, is just 2-for-18 versus Leake in his career.
2. Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto belted a solo homer on Sunday. The Toronto native also had a pair of doubles against Lyons on June 8.
3. Reds OF Shin-Soo Choo recorded his 100th career stolen base on Sunday. His next homer will be his 100th as well.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Reds 2