St. Louis @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 24, 2012 ) St. Louis 8, Cincinnati 5
The St. Louis Cardinals likely need a sweep of their three-game series this weekend in Cincinnati to maintain any realistic hope of catching the Reds and claiming the National League Central crown. That goal is still intact as the Cardinals send left-hander Jaime Garcia to the mound on Saturday in search of a second straight win against the Reds. Allen Craig had three hits - including a three-run homer - in the series opener to help St. Louis trim Cincinnati's division lead to six games.
The Reds have been tough to beat at Great American Ball Park - they lead the majors with a 41-23 home mark and haven't lost a series there since dropping two of three to Minnesota from June 22-24. The Cardinals hope Garcia can change that by continuing his strong pitching against Cincinnati. He is 7-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 11 games (nine starts) against the Reds.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia (3-4, 4.00 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mike Leake (5-8, 4.59)
Garcia was impressive in his return from the disabled list Sunday, piling up a career-high 10 strikeouts and allowing just two unearned runs in eight innings against the Pirates. He didn't factor in the decision, though, and doesn't have a win since May 16. Garcia faced the Reds twice in April, getting a no-decision in a loss at Cincinnati and tossing seven innings of one-run ball for a win in St. Louis.
Leake followed his best out of the year - a complete-game win against the Mets - with one of his worst, allowing a season-high seven runs in 4 1/3 innings in a loss at Philadelphia on Monday. He'll try to get back on track by beating the Cardinals for the first time in three starts this season. He is 1-2 with a 5.24 ERA in five games (four starts) against St. Louis.
WALK-OFFS
1. The heart of the Reds' batting order - 2B Brandon Phillips (5-for-26), OF Jay Bruce (4-for-21) and OF Ryan Ludwick (0-for-7) - has struggled against Garcia, as has 3B Scott Rolen (3-for-16).
2. Craig is riding a career-best 13-game hitting streak, the longest active streak in the majors.
3. Reds rookies Zack Cozart (11 games) and Todd Frazier (nine games) are riding career-best hitting streaks. Frazier is hitting .438 during his streak.