Cincinnati @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 2, 2012 ) Cincinnati 3, St. Louis 1

The St. Louis Cardinals had to sweat out a West Coast game after losing on Tuesday but the defending World Series champs arrive at the ballpark Wednesday knowing they are part of the postseason field. The Cardinals clinched the National League’s second wild card berth when the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the San Francisco Giants, making the regular-season finale against the visiting Cincinnati Reds an anticlimactic contest. Cincinnati is tied with the Washington Nationals for the top record.

The Reds have won 97 games, the most since the “Big Red Machine” days of 1976 when Cincinnati went 102-60. If Cincinnati is tied with the Nationals after Wednesday’s action concludes, Washington receives the top seed due to winning the season series with the Reds. Cincinnati starter Homer Bailey threw a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his last outing. St. Louis scratched Adam Wainwright from the start upon learning of the Dodgers’ loss in hopes of having him pitch the postseason opener.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (13-10, 3.75 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Shelby Miller (1-0, 2.35)

Bailey has won three of his last four outings and matched his season high with 10 strikeouts during his no-hitter against Pittsburgh. He traditionally struggles against the Cardinals, going 1-2 with a 4.58 ERA in three starts this season and compiling a 3-7 mark and 5.32 ERA over 12 career starts. Bailey lost to St. Louis when he allowed five runs and nine hits on Aug. 26, but has bounced back by allowing two or fewer runs in five of his last six starts.

Miller is making his first major-league start after five relief appearances. The 21-year-old was a first-round pick in 2009 and is considered the organization’s top pitching prospect. Miller went 11-10 with a 4.74 ERA at Triple-A Memphis before being recalled in September.

WALK-OFFS

1. St. Louis OF Matt Holliday is batting .440 with two homers in 25 career at-bats against Bailey.

2. Reds closer Aroldis Champman appears to be over a case of shoulder fatigue after firing 13 of his 16 pitches at 100 mph or better while recording his 38th save on Tuesday.

3. Cardinals OF Jon Jay has two hits in five of his last seven games and is looking to join Curt Flood (1966) and Orlando Palmeiro (2003) as the only St. Louis outfielders to not commit an error all season.