Cardinals at Reds
The Cincinnati Reds' pitching staff seemingly has gone to great lengths to make opposing offenses look good this season, and the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals was no exception. After surrendering four homers and 11 walks - three with the bases loaded - en route to their fifth straight loss, the reeling Reds aim to stop the bleeding Friday in the second contest of their four-game set versus the visiting Cardinals.
Jose Martinez homered to highlight his four-hit, six-RBI performance and Marcell Ozuna also went deep to extend his hitting streak to 11 games in Thursday's 13-4 rout of Cincinnati, which is saddled with the majors' worst ERA. St. Louis gleefully accepted the offense as its season-high run total in the opener eclipsed its sum from its previous four games by one run. Cincinnati's Jose Peraza continued his torrid display at the plate with two doubles and a single, as he has hit safely in four straight contests and seven of his last eight. Peraza joined the speedy Billy Hamilton in scoring twice for the Reds, who are in the midst of their worst start since 1955.
TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Luke Weaver (1-0, 1.59 ERA) vs. Reds RH Tyler Mahle (1-1, 4.22)
Weaver has recorded a pair of strong outings out of the gate this season, allowing just one run in each turn while scattering three hits and striking out seven in a no-decision versus Arizona on Sunday. The 24-year-old was in line for the win versus the Diamondbacks before the Cardinals' bullpen let a one-run lead slip away. Adam Duvall homered for his lone hit in career five at-bats against Weaver while the right-hander has struck out Tucker Barnhart three times in five at-bats.
Mahle's brilliant season-opening performance in which he allowed one hit over six scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs was answered with a pair of homers in a 5-0 setback at Pittsburgh on Sunday. The 23-year-old required 29 pitches to get through the first frame and was able to work his way out of trouble until the fifth, when he yielded four of his five runs. Mahle permitted four hits and overcame three walks over five scoreless innings in a 6-0 rout of St. Louis on Sept. 13.
WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis CF Tommy Pham has scored five runs in his last four games.
2. Cincinnati 2B Scooter Gennett is 6-for-17 with three RBIs and two runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.
3. Cardinals SS Paul DeJong, who launched a mammoth home run in the opener, went deep four times among his 17 hits in 2017 versus the Reds.