Cardinals at Reds
The first week after the All-Star break is doing little to sort out the National League Central, where all five teams remain separated by 7 1/2 games. The Cincinnati Reds, who sit in last place in the division, will continue trying to figure out their buying or selling plans ahead of the July 31 trade deadline when they host the third-place St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a four-game series on Thursday.
The Reds had a chance to make a statement in the division with a three-game series at first-place Chicago this week but dropped two of three, including an extra-inning setback on Tuesday and a 5-2 loss Wednesday in which an eighth-inning rally fell short. Cincinnati plays 10 of its 13 games through the end of July at home, where it owns a 24-21 record, and will face division foes Milwaukee and Pittsburgh in that stretch in addition to the Cardinals. St. Louis just finished up a series win over the Pirates and is 4-2 since the break to pull two games over .500 (48-46) but now faces eight games on the road at Cincinnati and Pittsburgh before coming home to host the Cubs and the American League West-leading Houston Astros in front of the trade deadline. The Cardinals will send right-hander Dakota Hudson to the mound on Thursday while the Reds turn to veteran righty Tanner Roark.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Dakota Hudson (8-4, 3.48 ERA) vs. Reds RH Tanner Roark (5-6, 3.99)
Hudson battled control issues Saturday against Arizona but limited the damage to two runs on three hits and four walks over six innings to earn the win. The 24-year-old went seven consecutive starts bridging May and June without allowing a home run but surrendered a total of five in his last four turns. Hudson owns a pair of wins in as many starts against Cincinnati this season, yielding a total of four runs and 12 hits - no home runs - in 12 innings.
Roark's name is already popping up in trade rumors as a veteran contending teams might want to add, but he will need a stronger start than last time out to impress opposing scouts. The 32-year-old was ripped for seven runs on 13 hits at Colorado on Saturday while surrendering three home runs - the second consecutive start in which he was taken deep three times. Roark kept the ball in the park at home against St. Louis on April 13, when he scattered one run and six hits over 5 1/3 innings without factoring in the decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Reds 1B Joey Votto is 3-for-24 since the All-Star break.
2. St. Louis OF Tyler O'Neill is 10-for-20 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in his last five games.
3. Cincinnati UTL Derek Dietrich (knee) left Wednesday's game after a hit by pitch and is day-to-day.