Reds at Cardinals, Game Three - Preview and Lineups

It’s a bit telling when four of a team’s five starting rotation members were not originally drafted by said franchise. It’s even more telling when the most deserving next man up wasn’t drafted by them, either, or when the current member who’s least deserving of keeping his spot is the lone one picked by the club on draft day.

Such is life for the Cincinnati Reds in what’s been another lost season in the win/loss column. That said, there are still things we can see from this 2018 rendition that can at least give some promise for the future, and there’s a chance for that to happen against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

On Saturday, we saw just how good Luis Castillo can be, as he fanned a career best 11 in a dazzling 6.2 inning effort that got the Reds a rare win in #Bush. Seeing Anthony DeSclafani - who’s infinitely capable of another sterling outing - spin one back to back to take home a series victory from the Cards while they’re in the thick of a playoff race would certainly be the kind of thing that would make you think the team’s rotation going forward might - just might - have a pair of pitchers good enough to dig them out of last place in the NL Central standings for the first time in a half-decade.

One can hope, at least.

Luke Weaver will toe the rubber for St. Louis on Sunday. First pitch is set for 2:15 PM ET.

Cincinnati Lineup

St. Louis Lineup