St. Louis @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2018 ) Cincinnati 4, St. Louis 6
The All-Star break came at the wrong time for the Cincinnati Reds, who haven’t been able to maintain their hot streak after having four days off. The Reds will try to get their revival back on track when they host the struggling St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game series that begins Monday.
Cincinnati resides in last place in the National League Central but won nine of its last 14 contests before the break, including two of three in St. Louis to end the first half. The second half got off to a rough start for the Reds, however, as they were outscored 27-5 during a three-game sweep at the hands of Pittsburgh over the weekend. The Cardinals have lost six of their last nine games despite Matt Carpenter’s torrid streak. Carpenter’s stretch of six straight contests with a home run ended with a 1-for-4 showing in Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Daniel Poncedeleon (ML debut) vs. Reds RH Luis Castillo (5-8, 5.49 ERA)
Poncedeleon is an incredible story, as he underwent brain surgery 14 months ago after being hit in the temple by a line drive but has dominated the Pacific Coast League this season. The 26-year-old is 9-3 with a 2.15 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 92 innings at Triple-A Memphis. He has worked 20 frames over his last three outings without allowing an earned run.
Castillo has endured a disappointing sophomore campaign, but the Reds have won four of his last five starts. The 25-year-old has recorded only one win during that stretch, but he held the Cardinals to two runs over five innings in a no-decision last time out and might have earned the win if his night hadn’t been cut short by a two-hour rain delay. Castillo is 0-3 with a 5.24 ERA in four career starts against St. Louis.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals INF Yairo Munoz has gone 13-for-34 during his 10-game hitting streak.
2. Reds SS Jose Peraza is 17-for-31 during his eight-game hitting streak and has gone 32 plate appearances without a strikeout.
3. Carpenter has gone 12-for-24 with eight homers and 12 RBIs during his seven-game hitting streak.
PREDICTION: Reds 7, Cardinals 6