Reds at Cardinals (Game 2)
It will be an exceptionally busy weekend at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, where the Cardinals play consecutive doubleheaders against the Cincinnati Reds, beginning with the first twinbill Saturday. The teams were already expected to play a doubleheader Saturday but will now add another pair of games Sunday after Friday's affair was rained out.
"I mean it is what it is," Cardinals manager Mike Shildt told reporters of the situation before referening roster expansion Sunday that will help both teams navigate the difficult stretch. "We'll get a couple more pitchers on Sunday. Potentially have another guy tomorrow. I think either way you're looking at a lot of games in a short period of time." St. Louis had a six-game winning streak snapped Wednesday in Milwaukee and enters the weekend with a one-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central. Friday's scheduled starters - Trevor Bauer of the Reds and Dakota Hudson of the Cardinals - square off in the opener Saturday. Michael Wacha carries a stellar 12-2 record with a 2.83 ERA in his career against the Reds and will try to improve upon those numbers when he starts the nightcap opposite Sonny Gray.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Sonny Gray (10-6, 2.92 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (6-6, 5.24)
Gray is 4-0 with a 0.90 ERA in five August starts after picking up a win with six innings of two-run ball at Miami on Monday. He has 40 strikeouts in 30 innings during the month, including 10 in five scoreless innings against the Cardinals on Aug. 15 at home. Dexter Fowler is 5-for-10 against Gray, who has a 1.80 ERA in two career matchups with St. Louis.
Wacha is winless over his last six starts, with a victory coming out of the bullpen in between at Cincinnati on July 19. He picked up the loss while giving up two runs over five innings against the Reds opposite Gray on Aug. 15. The Texas A&M product will be wary of Eugenio Suarez and Joey Votto, who are a combined 25-for-67 with nine extra-base hits against Wacha.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong is 6-for-9 with a home run and two doubles during a three-game hitting streak.
2. Reds RF Aristides Aquino is 5-for-9 with two homers and six RBIs over his last two games.
3. Both teams also play day games Monday, giving them five first pitches in a span of roughly 49 hours.