The Cincinnati Reds (71-75) aim for a series victory as they face off against the St. Louis Cardinals (72-72) in the concluding game of their three-game series on Thursday afternoon. The matchup will take place at Busch Stadium, starting at 1:15 PM ET.
Sonny Gray, boasting a record of 12-9 with a 3.84 ERA, is set to pitch for the Cardinals. The Reds have yet to announce their starting pitcher for this crucial contest.
Cincinnati holds a slight edge with a 6-4 record in their last ten meetings against St. Louis.
**This preview was drafted prior to Wednesday’s game.**
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Reds Pursuing Their Second Series Win Against Cardinals
The Reds recently bounced back from a series loss to the Mets with a win in their makeup game against the Braves and a victory in the series opener against the Cardinals. A win on Thursday would mark their second consecutive series win over their long-standing rivals.
Cincinnati’s offense averages 4.42 runs per game, but their .233 batting average ranks 26th in the league. They maintain a .306 on-base percentage (21st) and a .395 slugging percentage (18th).
Leading the Reds, Tyler Stephenson holds a .260 batting average, while Elly De La Cruz tops the team with 23 home runs. Spencer Steer is the standout in RBI, driving in 86 runs this season.
On the pitching side, Cincinnati has been solid, allowing 3.99 runs per game. Opponents have a .238 batting average against them, placing them 11th in the league. Their ERA stands at 4.06, ranking 16th, while their WHIP is 1.25, good for 12th.
The pitching staff’s recent performances have been commendable, and they will need to sustain this level of play to secure a win against the Cardinals.
Cardinals Aiming to Revive Their Playoff Aspirations
The Cardinals are in a precarious position following a phase where they won six of eight games, only to lose three out of their last four. This slump has dropped them to sixth place in the NL Wild Card race, trailing the Mets by 6.5 games for the final playoff spot. A win on Thursday is essential if they wish to keep their playoff hopes alive.
St. Louis scores an average of 4.11 runs per game with a .247 batting average, which ranks 13th in the league. Their on-base percentage of .310 is 15th, while their slugging percentage of .388 is 21st.
Masyn Winn leads the Cardinals with a .273 batting average, while Alec Burleson has contributed significantly with 21 home runs and 73 RBIs.
The Cardinals’ pitching staff has also performed well, allowing 4.13 runs per game. Opposing teams have a .249 batting average against them, placing St. Louis 23rd in the league. Their ERA of 4.17 ranks 19th, and their WHIP stands at 1.27, also 18th.
Sonny Gray’s recent performance was impressive; he yielded only four hits and one run across seven innings in a victory against the Brewers. A repeat of this effort will be crucial for the Cardinals to secure a win.
Best Betting Insights for Reds vs. Cardinals
The Reds have triumphed in three of their last four games on the road, while the Cardinals have stumbled, losing three of their past four at home. Offensively, neither team has been firing on all cylinders; the Reds scored just seven runs in their last four away games, while the Cardinals managed the same in their last four home outings.
Cincinnati holds an offensive advantage in this matchup, having excelled against right-handed pitchers. They have faced Gray earlier this season, scoring 12 runs in two contests against him. With St. Louis’ bullpen struggling, they may find it challenging to contain the Reds’ offense. Meanwhile, the Cardinals continue to face difficulties at the plate, tallying only ten runs in their last five games.
Given Cincinnati’s strong pitching performances recently, along with their bullpen’s solid showing of just one run allowed in their last three games, they are likely to keep the Cardinals’ offense in check. Betting on Cincinnati to win seems to be a sensible choice.
