Reds at Cardinals, Game One: Preview and Lineups

The Reds head into St. Louis for a three game set to finish up the “first half” of the season. The Reds pretty much always lose to the Cardinals in St. Louis, but this time they’re bringing in a team that’s playing as well as any Reds team has over the course of the last five or so years.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals are stuck in neutral a bit, and it sounds like their clubhouse isn’t exactly the best place to be right now. I’m sure you all feel very, very bad for those down-on-their-luck Cardinals. They just never catch a break, you know.

Carlos Martinez takes the hill for the Cardinals tonight. He’s very good, and he’s been very good this season. He spent some time on the DL, but otherwise he’s fired 85.2 innings of 2.94 ERA ball, and has a similar 2.70 ERA in three starts versus the Reds this season.

Matt Harvey will make another start for the Reds. He’s got a 1.50 ERA in his last 3 (18 IP) with 12 K and seems to be settling into his Reds uniform quite nicely. Reds management would certainly like to see him keep up those kind of results and they continue to show the former phenom to every contender in the league.

I really hope he goes back to New York. The Yankees trading for Harvey and having him start (and do well) in meaningful games down the stretch and into the playoffs would be so Mets-y.

Cincinnati lineup

St. Lou lineup