St. Louis @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 20, 2014 ) Cincinnati 3, St. Louis 7

The St. Louis Cardinals look to strengthen their hold on the National League Central when they visit the Cincinnati Reds on Monday to begin a four-game series. Winners of eight of their last nine, the Cardinals own a 4 1/2-game lead over Pittsburgh and a five-game edge on Milwaukee in the division after trailing the leaders by three games as late as Aug. 16. Jhonny Peralta had a two-run homer among three hits in a 9-1 pasting of the Brewers on Sunday -- part of a 13-hit attack for St. Louis.

That onslaught came without the services of star left fielder Matt Holliday, who sat due to back tightness. Holliday, who was scorching hot at the plate last week, has gone hitless in four of his last five games. The Reds, who are 3-9 against their division rivals this year, dropped two of three to the New York Mets over the weekend and have lost 15 of 21 overall.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Shelby Miller (8-9, 4.00 ERA) vs. Reds RH Dylan Axelrod (1-1, 3.18)

Miller has allowed five runs in 20 innings over a solid three-start stretch, including seven scoreless in the Cardinals' 1-0 win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday. He is among the NL leaders in walks with 71, though, after issuing 13 over his last four outings while fanning 16. Miller, who is 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA in six career September starts, is 0-2 with a 5.73 mark in two starts versus the Reds this year.

Axelrod was tagged with his first loss as a Red after giving up four runs in six innings of a 6-0 loss at Baltimore on Wednesday. He served up three home runs to tie a career high, but has given up just 14 hits in 17 total innings since joining Cincinnati in August. Axelrod's lone home start with the Reds resulted in five scoreless innings and eight strikeouts against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 28.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis is 39-24 against division opponents.

2. Peralta is 5-for-13 with two home runs and three RBIs in his last three games.

3. Cincinnati is 21-35 in one-run games.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, Reds 4