Cardinals vs. Reds
The St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds are each coming off impressive series sweeps at home, but the atmosphere will be unlike anything thing either club has experienced as they prepare to square off for the first time this season. The Cardinals look to extend their winning streak to six games on Saturday when they open a two-game set versus the Reds in Monterrey, Mexico.
“So many people in Mexico will enjoy those games,” said St. Louis reliever Giovanny Gallegos, the only Mexican-born player on either team. “It’s good for the kids because so many people in Mexico, they can’t come to the U.S. to watch big league games.” The Cardinals extended their winning streak to five by piling up 26 runs in an impressive four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Reds also arrived in Mexico in high spirits after halting an eight-game slide by outscoring Miami 21-1 in a three-game mauling, matching their run total from the previous nine contests. “I’ll always love being able to bring the game to other parts of the world," Cincinnati manager David Bell said of series at 27,000-seat Estadio de Beisbol Monterrey. "We’re happy to contribute and make the trip. I think it’ll be a good experience for everyone.”
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (1-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Reds RH Tanner Roark (0-0, 5.79)
Wainwright lasted only four innings in a no-decision at Pittsburgh in his season debut, allowing four runs and walking four, but he rebounded by striking out nine over six innings of one-run ball to beat San Diego last time out. Despite winning at least 11 games on nine occasions, he has struggled against the Red with a 9-11 record and 5.09 ERA in 29 appearances (24 starts). Joey Votto is 14-for-46 with three homers and eight RBIs off Wainwright while Eugenio Suarez is 4-for-13.
Roark won at least 13 games in half of his six seasons with Washington but is off to a pedestrian start in Cincinnati with a pair of no-decisions. The 32-year-old was reached for three runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings in his season debut versus Milwaukee and lasted five innings at Pittsburgh on April 6, giving up three runs and seven hits. Marcell Ozuna is 13-for-41 against Roark, who is 2-3 record with a 6.58 ERA in seven appearances (five starts) versus the Reds.
WALK-OFFS
1. Wainwright needs one win to reach 150 for his career.
2. Votto batted only .228 against the Cardinals last year but he has reached saely in 16 straight games against them.
3. Cardinals SS Paul DeJong extended his hitting streak to nine games by going 9-for-13 with eight runs scored versus the Dodgers.