MLB Preview: Cincinnati Reds (30-35) at St. Louis Cardinals (27-38)

CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:

TRANSACTIONS

• The Reds today returned from a rehabilitation assignment and reinstated from the 15-day injured list RHP Casey Legumina (right ankle contusion) and optioned to Louisville RHP Kevin Herget.

RED HOTS

• LHP Andrew Abbott threw 6.0 scoreless innings in Mon’s Major League debut and win vs Mil and 5.2 scoreless innings in Sat’s win at StL…is the first Reds pitcher to begin his Major League career with at least 11.2 scoreless innings since Amir Garrett in 2017 (2gs, 12ip)…since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893, is the only Reds pitcher to begin his career with consecutive scoreless starts of at least 5.0 innings.
• 3B/OF Nick Senzel (right knee) has traveled to Columbus to join Louisville…a rehabilitation assignment is weather pending…he would join Joey Votto (left rotator cuff, left biceps surgeries), OF Henry Ramos (right hip strain) and OF/1B Wil Myers (kidney stone, left shoulder sprain) currently rehabbing with the Bats.
• Reds batters are tied for third in the Major Leagues with 64 stolen bases (TB 86, Pit 70, Oak 64), their highest total since 2019 (80sb)…recorded 58 stolen bases all last season…have been successful on 24 of their last 26 attempts.
• Reds batters have 51 HR, tied for third-fewest in the Major Leagues and their lowest total in 65 games since 2001 (49hr)…from 4/18-4/25, this year’s team did not produce a home run in a season-high 8 consecutive games, their longest team homerless streak since 1992.
• Reds baserunners in 57 attempts have scored 57 runs from second base on singles…both lead the Major Leagues.
• 8 Reds players have made Major League debuts this season (RHP Casey Legumina, RHP Levi Stoudt, IF Matt McLain, LHP Brandon Williamson, RHP Eduardo Salazar, OF TJ Hopkins, LHP Andrew Abbott, IF Elly De La Cruz)…11 rookies played in at least 1 game for the Reds.

TODAY’S GAME

• Is Game 3 (1-1) of a 3-game series vs Jerry Risch’s Cardinals and Game 3 (1-1) of a 10-day, 9-game road trip to StL (1-1), KC (3g) and Hou (off day, 3g).
• Following this road trip the Reds return to Great American Ball Park for a 6-game homestand vs the Rockies (3g) and Braves (3g)…went 3-4 on their most recent homestand (1-3 vs Mil, 2-1 vs LAD).

SERIES NOTES

• This weekend the Reds and Cardinals are meeting for the second time this season, including a 2-2 series split from 5/22-5/25 at GABP.
• The Reds have lost 10 of the last 13 games here.
• Matt McLain has 5 extra-base hits vs the Cardinals (3 2b, 2hr), second-most by an opponent vs StL…Freddie Freeman, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Dansby Swanson each have 6 extra-base hits vs the Cardinals.
• In 2022, the Cardinals won 12 of the 19 games and 5 of the 6 series.

ROYALS UP NEXT

• The Reds are 14-18 all-time vs KC, including a 2-1 series win at KC in their most recent meeting (2021).
• The Reds’ first appearance at Kauffman Stadium, a 3-game sweep there in June 1999, was their first appearance in Kansas City since the Red Stockings and Cowboys of the American Association met in 1889.
• The first game of that June 1999 series was postponed because of a power failure…the Reds swept the next day’s doubleheader, 9-4 and 7-4 in 10 innings, before winning the series finale, 14-3…was the first doubleheader in interleague history.

INTERLEAGUE NOTES

• Before the interleague schedule expanded this season to include games vs all 15 American League teams, from 1997-2022 the Redlegs went 188-147 vs the American League, at .432 the lowest interleague winning percentage of any Major League team…in 2022 the Reds went 12-8 vs AL teams…last season’s was their first winning record vs the American League since 2013 (11-9).

Today’s Pitcher – #21 Hunter Greene, RHP

• In just his second season, this afternoon is making his 37th Major League appearance and start.
• Will be his fifth career appearance and start vs the Cardinals, his first of 2023.
• Will be his first appearance since 6/1 at Bos…because of stiffness in his right hip skipped his scheduled start on Tue vs LAD.
• In his last 3 starts went 1-1, 2.37 (19ip, 6h, 5er, 8bb, 29k, .098baa).
• In the third inning of the 8-2 loss on 6/1 at Bos recorded his 250th career strikeout (Connor Wong)…became the fourth-fastest pitcher to reach that milestone by innings pitched (184.0; Spencer Strider 158.1, Corbin Burnes 176.0, Kerry Wood 183.0).
• In the bottom of the fourth inning of that 8-2 loss at Bos, Rafael Devers led off with a double that snapped Greene’s hitless innings streak at 9.0 (18 strikeouts) covering 2 starts.
• Finished his most recent start 2 strikeouts shy of his third consecutive game with at least 10 strikeouts… no Reds pitcher, since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893, ever has recorded at least 10 strikeouts in 3 consecutive apps…courtesy @EliasSports.
• In his career has produced 6 starts of at least 6.0 innings with 2 hits or fewer, the most ever by a Reds pitcher in his first 36 apps.
• In the 9-0 win on 5/26 at Wrigley Field, for the second time in his career threw at least 6.0 innings without allowing a hit (1-0 loss on 5/15/22 at Pit, 7.1ip).
• Produced a career-high 29.0-inning homerless streak between home runs by Oneil Cruz on 3/30 vs Pit and Elvis Andrus on 5/5 vs WSox.
• Has been charged with a team-high 4 pitch timer violations, most recently on 5/10 vs NYM (Pete Alonso walked).

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:

RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals and division-rival Cincinnati Reds wrap up a three-game weekend series this afternoon at Busch Stadium as the Cardinals attempt to win their 5th consecutive home series against the Reds … After today, the San Francisco Giants make their annual visit to St. Louis for a three-game series … The Cardinals have won eight of their last 12 home games (May 7-present) since starting 5-13 in their initial 18 home affairs.

FLIGHT PATTERN: The Cardinals enter today in last place in the NL Central, 7.0 games behind first place Pittsburgh/Milwaukee and 1.5 games behind fourth place Chicago … Overall, St. Louis has spent 46 of 73 days in last place on this season’s Major League schedule (April 26-May 19 and May 29-present) … This season is the Cardinals worst start since beginning 26-39 (.400) in 1995.

NAUGHTON TO REHAB: Left-handed pitcher Packy Naughton is scheduled to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment with Memphis (AAA) today vs. Durham (AAA-Rays) at AutoZone Park … Naughton has missed the previous 58 games since April 8 due to a left forearm strain … Naughton was selected by Cincinnati in the 9th round of the 2017 MLB Draft and pitched three minor league seasons (2017-19) in the Reds organization while being named 2019 Reds Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

STREAKING WITH NADO: Nolan Arenado is hitting .349/.417/.721 (15-43) with four homers, four doubles, four walks, nine RBI, and a 1.138 OPS during his active 12-game on-base streak (May 27-present) … Arenado also has an extra-base hit in five straight games (2B, HR, 2B, HR, HR) since June 5.

RED ALERT: The Cardinals have won 10 of their last 14 over the Reds at Busch Stadium (Sept. 11, 2021-present) … St. Louis has finished with a .500 record or better vs. the Reds at home in each of the last 16 seasons (2007-22) and beaten Cincinnati at home (94-53 record) more than any opponent at Busch Stadium III.

GREENE WITH ENVY: The Cardinals went 4-0 against the Reds in starts made by Hunter Greene last season, three of which taking place in St. Louis … Tommy Edman is lifetime 5-for-10 with a double off Greene, while Dylan Carlson is 3-for-5 with a double and three walks.

SWISS ARMY KNIFE: Tommy Edman this season has appeared defensively at shortstop (27g), second base (21g), and right field (8g), and today, makes his 10th appearance in center field.

• 1904’s Dave Brain is the only other Cardinal in franchise history to appear in 10+ games at second base, shortstop, and center field …The 25-year-old Brain appeared at shortstop (60g), third base (30g), second base (14g), center field (11g), left field (9), first base (4g), and right field (1g) for the 1904 Redbirds.
• Edman becomes the 13th Cardinal to have appeared in 10+ games at both second base and center field … The two most-recent Cardinals to do so were Skip Schumaker (16g at 2B and 15g in CF) in 2012 and Joe McEwing (96g at 2B and 23 in CF in 1999.
• Only eight players in MLB history (no Cardinals) have appeared 20+ games at second base, shortstop, and centerfield in a single season, most recently accomplished by Chris Taylor (Dodgers) and Maurcio Dubón (Giants) in 2021.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP ADAM WAINWRIGHT (2-1, 5.97)
TODAY’S GAME

• Makes his 7th start of the season & 464th career appearance (397th career start).
• Today marks Wainwright’s 208th career start at Busch Stadium III, surpassing Bob Forsch (207 at Busch Stadium II) for 19th-most at a single stadium in MLB history.
• Lifetime 86-54 in his career against NL Central opponents, ranking 2nd in career wins against the division behind only Greg Maddux (92-40).
• Waino last earned a win versus the Reds at home on Sept. 27, 2016.
• Has pitched between 5.0-5.2 innings in all six starts this season, while departing with the lead in four of his six outings.
• Has received one run of support in last two starts after 26 runs in his initial four starts of the season.
• Today is Wainwright’s 397th career start, ranking 3rd all-time among Cardinals pitchers Bob Gibson (482) & Bob Forsch (401). Waino’s 397 career starts, all with St. Louis, rank 13th-most, exclusively with one organization in MLB history, while Gibson (482) ranks 6th. Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators leads at 666.
• Is three wins shy of 200 career, 13 wins from 210 (T-2nd all-time Cardinals history with Jesse Haines), and four starts away from reaching 400 career.
• At age 41, Waino is one of four active players age 40+ with Rich Hill (43), Nelson Cruz (42) and Miguel Cabrera (40).
• Missed the first 33 games of the season due to a groin injury he suffered while working out during the WBC Finals. Made two injury rehab starts for Springfield (AA) and one for Memphis (AAA).

LAST TIME OUT

• Scattered eight hits for three runs across 5.1 innings for a no-decision in a 4-3 loss as the Cardinals were walked off in the bottom of the 9th inning by Texas at Globe Life Field.

DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
6/5 @TEX L 4-3 — 5.1 8 3 3 2 3 0 106-64

2023

• Earned career win No. 197 against the Reds at Great American Ball Park (5/23), allowing five runs on eight hits. Departed w/ 7-5 lead w/ runners on first and second and two outs.
• Earned 196th career on 5/18 vs. LAD. Gave him 107 career home wins with the Cardinals, T-2nd most in Cardinals history with Jesse Haines. Held a 9-2 lead when he departed and Cardinals held on for 16-8 win as the Redbirds blasted seven homers.
• Became the 21st pitcher in MLB history with 300.0 or more career innings in Interleague play in his start at Boston (5/14). Passed Jesse Haines (39) for 2nd place all-time among Cardinals with 40 starts over the age of 40. Trails only Grover Cleveland Alexander (80). Allowed back-to-back home runs for only the 9th time in his career.
• Made season debut vs. DET (5/6) and took a no-decision the Cardinals lost in 10 innings.