Reds Open Series With Cardinals in NL Central

On Monday, a National League Central showdown will be on display when the Cincinnati Reds visit the St. Louis Cardinals. The current line has St. Louis favored at -185, Cincinnati at +175 and the over/under run total on 9.

Entering this game, Cincinnati on the season is 45-65 overall and 19-36 on the road. The Reds are 6-4 over their past 10 games played. St. Louis on the season has a record of 58-53 overall and 26-32 at home. The Cardinals are 4-6 over their past 10 games played.

Cincinnati will send Cody Reed to the mound on Monday. The Reds left-hander is 0-6 with an ERA of 7.30. St. Louis will counter with Michael Wacha. The Cardinals right-hander is 7-7 with an ERA of 4.35.

Reed still has not won his first game in the major leagues and allowed five run last Wednesday against St. Louis. In six of eight starts, Reed has given up four runs or more.

Wacha pitched last Wednesday against Reed. He won the game, while giving up six hits and two runs. It was the tenth straight start Wacha allowed three runs or less.

The Cardinals have started to drop off the pace for the second wildcard spot in the NL and playing poorly against poor teams is to blame. St. Louis will play its third consecutive series against a team in last place in its division when they face the Reds.

The Cardinals lost six of their past eight games including their most recent series that ended on Sunday versus Atlanta. That followed a series loss to this same Cincinnati team last week. St. Louis trails Miami by one game for the second and final wildcard berth in the NL.

Cincinnati saw it run of six consecutive series wins end over the weekend when the club lost two out of three on the road against Pittsburgh. The Reds however, avoided being swept with a victory on Sunday 7-3.

Billy Hamilton had three hits and stole four bases on Sunday in the Reds win.

Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips has 12 hits in 19 at bats over his past five games.

Cardinals’ infielder Matt Carpenter did not play Sunday, but should play on Monday after resting due to an injured oblique.

Cincinnati left fielder Adam Duvall is hitless in his past 15 at bats over a four-game stretch.

Prediction: St. Louis is not playing well, but Wacha should out duel the rookie Reed. Lean toward the Cardinals.