St. Louis @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2019 ) St. Louis 2, Cincinnati 3

The Cincinnati Reds appeared to be on the verge of making a charge at the teams ahead of them in the National League Central right before the All-Star break before dropping eight of 10 contests. The Reds got a much-needed win in their last outing and attempt to salvage a series split on Sunday, when they host the finale of their four-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Cincinnati closed within 3 1/2 games of the division-leading Chicago Cubs on July 4 despite sporting a 41-44 record before dropping its last two contests leading into the break and six of its first eight after the All-Star Game, including the first two games of this series. The Reds were in danger of falling 10 games back in the Central before posting a 3-2 win on Saturday in which rookie Josh VanMeter capped a three-run rally in the seventh inning with his first major-league homer - a two-run blast - to halt the team's four-game skid. While the Reds remained nine games out of the division race, the Cardinals fell 3 1/2 behind the Cubs despite losing for only the second time in eight contests. Although St. Louis managed four extra-base hits, it went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position on Saturday and was held in check offensively after scoring at least six runs in four of its previous five contests.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jack Flaherty (4-6, 4.41 ERA) vs. Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (5-4, 4.29)

Flaherty's winless streak reached 10 starts following Tuesday's no-decision against Pittsburgh in which he permitted just one run on three hits and three walks while registering eight strikeouts over seven innings. The 23-year-old was even more dominant in a losing cause on July 7, when he yielded one run and two hits while fanning six batters in San Francisco. Flaherty recorded one of his three scoreless outings of the season on April 28 against Cincinnati, limiting the club to four singles and a walk en route to victory.

DeSclafani settled for a second straight no-decision Tuesday as he held the host Cubs to three runs and four hits - two homers - in 5 2/3 innings. The native of New Jersey has surrendered multiple home runs in back-to-back turns after serving up one over his previous six outings and is tied for fifth in the NL with 19 allowed on the season. Paul Goldschmidt (9-for-18, three doubles, home run) has thrived against DeSclafani, who is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts versus the Cardinals this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals rookie 3B Tommy Edman is 7-for-17 with a home run and four RBIs over his last four games after going 0-for-10 in his first four post-break contests.

2. Cincinnati 2B Derek Dietrich was hit by a pitch Saturday for a major league-leading 22nd time this season.

3. St. Louis SS Paul DeJong's 12 career blasts are tied for the most by any active player against Cincinnati since his major-league debut on May 28, 2017.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Reds 2