Reds at Cardinals (Game 1)
The Cincinnati Reds and host St. Louis Cardinals will try to muster some energy Sunday when they play their second straight doubleheader to finish off a busy weekend at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals took both meetings Saturday, cruising to a 10-6 triumph in the afternoon before rallying for two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to steal the nightcap 3-2.
The doubleheader sweep left St. Louis with a 2 1/2-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the race for the National League Central division crown. Kolten Wong went 3-for-6 with a pair of RBIs in Saturday's doubleheader for the Cardinals, while Tommy Edman was 4-for-8 and scored three times, including two of his team's three runs in the night game. Joey Votto slugged a solo homer for the Reds in the second game, improving to 5-for-16 with six runs scored over a four-game span. Tyler Mahle and Luis Castillo will be on the mound Sunday for Cincinnati opposite Miles Mikolas and Daniel Ponce de Leon, respectively, for the hosts.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Tyler Mahle (2-10, 4.93 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (8-13, 4.32)
Mahle will be making his first start in the majors since July 19 when he gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Cardinals. He was placed on the injured list after that outing before making three starts in the minors, including one Monday in which he spun five scoreless innings. The 24-year-old has a 6.10 ERA in four career starts versus St. Louis.
Mikolas won for the first time in six starts Tuesday at Milwaukee, allowing one run in six innings and striking out a season-high 10. His last loss came at Cincinnati on Aug. 17 when he gave up five runs in five frames. Eugenio Suarez is 4-for-8 with a home run while Josh VanMeter is 3-for-4 with a homer against Mikolas, who owns a 4.83 ERA in nine games (seven starts) in his career against the Reds.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals OF Lane Thomas (wrist) was placed on the 10-day injured list and OF Tyler O'Neill (wrist) was activated from the IL.
2. Wong is 9-for-15 during a five-game hitting streak.
3. Suarez has five home runs over his last seven games.