Reds at Cardinals
The Cincinnati Reds proved to be the elixir for what ailed the St. Louis Cardinals last week, and little appears to have changed between the National League Central rivals a few days later. The Cardinals attempt to improve to 6-0 against the Reds this season and secure a 10th straight win overall against Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon, when the clubs continue their three-game series in St. Louis.
The Cardinals dropped three of their first four series of the season and fell to 5-7 prior to hitting the road for six divisional games, including four in Cincinnati beginning on April 12. St. Louis swept the set in convincing fashion and split a pair with the Chicago Cubs before returning home Friday, when they scored all of their runs in the first two innings and held on for a 4-2 victory over the Reds. The opener was the first game for Cincinnati interim manager Jim Riggleman, but his arrival wasn't enough to keep the team from losing for the 11th time in 12 tries. The Reds (3-16) are only a game ahead of the dubious mark they set 87 years ago for the worst 19-game start by the club in the last century, combining the majors' second-worst offense (2.84 runs per game) with its third-worst ERA (5.38).
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (0-3, 3.42 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Carlos Martinez (2-1, 1.75)
Bailey logged his third quality start in four trips to the mound Sunday but remained winless on the season in a loss to St. Louis, yielding three runs and four hits across seven innings. The 31-year-old Texan has yet to see his offense back him with more than two runs, wasting a mostly solid first month in which he has posted a 1.06 WHIP while holding opponents to a .198 average. Yadier Molina is 17-for-42 with three home runs versus Bailey, who is 6-14 with a 5.75 ERA in 24 career starts against the Cardinals.
Although he issued four more free passes on Saturday to bring his season total to 14, Martinez was otherwise sharp in a victory at Cincinnati as he permitted only two hits while striking out 11 in seven frames. The two-time All-Star has allowed one run and 12 hits with 25 strikeouts over his last 21 1/3 innings. Joey Votto is 3-for-21 with nine walks versus Martinez, who struggled versus the Reds last year (1-2, 6.62 ERA) but is 7-3 with a 3.45 ERA in 20 career games (nine starts) against them.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals 1B Jose Martinez is 11-for-21 with five doubles, a homer and eight RBIs in five games versus the Reds this season.
2. Cincinnati activated OF Scott Schebler from the 10-day disabled list on Friday and optioned LHP Cody Reed to Triple-A Louisville.
3. Eight of Molina's 14 RBIs in 2018 have come versus the Reds, as he has driven in at least one run in all but one contest against Cincinnati.