Cardinals at Reds, Game 2 - Preview and Lineups

The Cincinnati Reds did not win a baseball game yesterday. They didn’t the day before, either, nor the day before that. In fact, at the absolute crux of their season, they’re mired in a 2-7 stretch, and have done that while watching injury after injury sap the momentum out of this season.

If ever there was going to be a time to get hot and save the season, it absolutely has to begin tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals. At 43-51, the Reds have the worst record in the National League this side of the woeful Miami Marlins, and they sit a full 8 games back of the Chicago Cubs in the one-time tightly-packed NL Central.

They’ll have to do it with Tyler Mahle on the mound, the current owner of the highest ERA of their starting rotation. Of course, that’s due in large part to the 10 run (6 ER) outing in his most recent start, a shelling by the Colorado Rockies in Coors Field, and he’ll hope to regain the form that was much more promising earlier this season. Adam Wainwright will go for the Cardinals opposite Mahle.

Nick Senzel is still out of the starting lineup, meaning the Reds are again choosing to roll with Jesse Winker as their CF, which is still a baffling decision in my mind. Derek Dietrich remains out of the starting lineup, too, though recent acquisition Ryan Lavarnway is scheduled to make his first start as a Red.

First pitch is at 7:10 PM ET.

Go Reds. Please, please go.

Cincinnati Lineup

St. Louis Lineup