PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* NL Game of the Day - 85-55-2 L42 plays! 3-1 Tuesday!
(MLB) St. Louis vs. Cincinnati,
Money Line: -130.00 St. Louis (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -130.00 St. Louis (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Cards and Reds play the middle game of a three-game series on Wednesday, as Cincinnati hosts a brief three-game homestand. It's been said that the absence of Jay Bruce is already being felt in the home clubhouse, as SS Zack Cozart took over Bruce's locker space, albeit with mixed emotions. "He's one of my best friends, if not my best friend, Cozart said of Bruce. I'm going to miss him for sure. I'm happy to be here. I want to be with Reds. We both wanted to be here." Then again, maybe Tuesday's dramatic walk-off win will help temper emotions. In contrast, the Cardinals will need to rebound from last night's tough 7-5 loss, when the Reds won on a three-run HR in the bottom of the ninth. St. Louis has now dropped three straight and has fallen nine games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central (Cardinals also trail the Marlins by a half game for the second wild card spot).
Pitching matchup: Michael Wacha (6-7, 4.38 ERA) gets the nod for the Cards and Cody Reed (0-5, 7.07 ERA) for the Reds. Wacha has begun to get his act together in 2016, going 4-1 with a 3.75 ERA over his last 10 starts (Cards are 7-3). Also, Wacha is 5-1 with a 1.84 ERA in 11 appearances vs. Cincinnati, including 10 starts (Cards are 7-3). Reed was one of three left-handers acquired from the Kansas City Royals last season in exchange for Johnny Cueto but is still looking for his first career victory in his eighth start. He continued to offer few reasons for remaining in the starting rotation after he was battered for six runs (five earned) and nine hits in a loss at San Francisco last time out. He has failed to pitch beyond five innings in five of his last six turns and the Reds are 0-7 in his previous seven starts, posting a 1.79 WHIP to go along with that 7.07 ERA, while opponents are batting .325 against him.
The pick: Historically, the Cards have gone 31-4-2 in 37 series between the two teams, including winning 18 of the last 22 series played in Cincinnati. The Reds own the upper hand in this three-game series after winning Tuesday's opener but Wacha puts his seven-start unbeaten streak on the line tonight up against a pitcher still searching for his first-ever MLB win. No contest! A 10* play of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Pitching matchup: Michael Wacha (6-7, 4.38 ERA) gets the nod for the Cards and Cody Reed (0-5, 7.07 ERA) for the Reds. Wacha has begun to get his act together in 2016, going 4-1 with a 3.75 ERA over his last 10 starts (Cards are 7-3). Also, Wacha is 5-1 with a 1.84 ERA in 11 appearances vs. Cincinnati, including 10 starts (Cards are 7-3). Reed was one of three left-handers acquired from the Kansas City Royals last season in exchange for Johnny Cueto but is still looking for his first career victory in his eighth start. He continued to offer few reasons for remaining in the starting rotation after he was battered for six runs (five earned) and nine hits in a loss at San Francisco last time out. He has failed to pitch beyond five innings in five of his last six turns and the Reds are 0-7 in his previous seven starts, posting a 1.79 WHIP to go along with that 7.07 ERA, while opponents are batting .325 against him.
The pick: Historically, the Cards have gone 31-4-2 in 37 series between the two teams, including winning 18 of the last 22 series played in Cincinnati. The Reds own the upper hand in this three-game series after winning Tuesday's opener but Wacha puts his seven-start unbeaten streak on the line tonight up against a pitcher still searching for his first-ever MLB win. No contest! A 10* play of the St. Louis Cardinals.
