St. Louis @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 16, 2011 ) St. Louis 4, Cincinnati 1
THE STORY: The St. Louis Cardinals have slugger Albert Pujols rounding into form as they take on the host Cincinnati Reds in the rubber match of their three-game weekend series. The star first baseman has homered in both games so far, and has gone deep in three of his past four outings. Cincinnati starter Homer Bailey will try to slow down Pujols and the rest of the Cardinals' lineup, while St. Louis counters with newly signed Jaime Garcia.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jaime Garcia (9-3, 3.22 ERA) vs. Reds RH Homer Bailey (3-4, 4.12).
Garcia was rewarded for his sensational season, signing a four-year contract extension worth $27 million earlier this week. The 25-year-old has won each of his last three starts, including an 8-1 triumph over the rival Reds 12 days ago. Garcia is 5-0 in his career versus Cincinnati with a 3.82 ERA in 33 innings. Bailey's season got off to a sizzling start but has fizzled since. The 25-year-old is 0-4 in his last five outings, and was tagged for five runs in six innings in a 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers last time out. Bailey is 1-4 in his career against the Cardinals, boasting an ugly 6.03 ERA over 34 1/3 innings. He has yet to face them this season.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (50-44): The Garcia signing was a shrewd move by the Cardinals, who are undoubtedly looking to secure core pieces for reasonable prices as they make a run at free-agent-to-be Pujols. Judging by the cuts Pujols has taken since returning from a wrist injury earlier this month, that will be money well spent. His three-run blast in the fifth inning Saturday night was the different in the Cardinals' 4-1 triumph. Every member of the current St. Louis roster that has faced Bailey has at least one hit against him. Pujols and Matt Holliday have both taken him deep.
ABOUT THE REDS (46-48): Cincinnati has to be wondering which version of Jay Bruce is going to close out July. Bruce was a terror to opposing pitchers in May, batting .342 with 11 homers and 33 RBIs. He went ice-cold in June - hitting .217 with two homers and seven RBIs - and hasn't been much better in July (.250, 3, 6). The veteran outfielder may not find much solace Sunday with one hit in 10 career at-bats against Garcia. Cincinnati hitters have a collective .226 average against him, with Drew Stubbs and Brandon Phillips the only ones to take him over the fence.
FINAL PITCH: This is the final meeting between the teams until September, when they will wind up their season series with three games in St. Louis. Cincinnati owns a 6-5 edge entering Sunday.