Cincinnati @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2013 ) Cincinnati 6, St. Louis 8

The St. Louis Cardinals are back into first place in the National League Central and attempt to maintain the lead when they host the Cincinnati Reds in the middle contest of a three-game set. Allen Craig continued his season-long success with the bases loaded by slamming the first grand slam of his career in Monday’s 8-6 win. St. Louis has won 11 of 15 games and moved a half-game ahead of Pittsburgh and leads Cincinnati by 3 1/2 games.

Craig is 7-for-10 with 20 RBIs with the bases loaded this season and has a .452 career mark with 37 RBIs in 31 career at-bats in that situation. “I think I’ve developed a pretty good approach that allows me to be successful in that position,” Craig told reporters afterward. “I go up there confident and I believe in myself.” The Reds are 4-9 against St. Louis this season and are six games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the NL’s second wild-card spot.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mat Latos (13-4, 2.93 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Joe Kelly (5-3, 3.01)

Latos has been sensational since the All-Star break, going 5-1 with a 1.47 ERA in seven starts and allowing three total runs over his last four starts. He had struggled against St. Louis in his career before turning it around this season with a 2-0 mark and 1.42 ERA in three starts. Latos is 4-4 with a 6.28 ERA in 10 career starts against the Cardinals.

Kelly is in the midst of the best stretch of his career, compiling a 5-0 mark and 1.79 ERA over his last seven starts. He beat the Atlanta Braves in his last outing when he gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings. Kelly has a 1.80 ERA in five career innings against the Reds.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds 3B Todd Frazier is 2-for-42 against St. Louis this season – including a two-run double in Monday’s game.

2. Cardinals C Yadier Molina (.423 in 26 at-bats) and OF Jon Jay (.417 in 24) have fared well against Latos.

3. Cincinnati OF Jay Bruce hit his 25th homer in the opener to snap a 16-game homerless drought.

PREDICTION: Reds 4, Cardinals 3