Reds host Wainwright’s Cards in opener
The new-look Reds are ready to face a very familiar antagonist this evening.
Cincinnati will try to devise a way to stop Adam Wainwright, St. Louis’ resurgent ace, when the two division rivals kick off a three-game series at 7:10 p.m. ET. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv prefer the visiting Cardinals, whereas Bryan Price’s club represents a +143 underdog. The over/under run total holds steady at 8.5.
Price’s job became even harder following Monday’s trade of mainstay Jay Bruce. The right fielder went to the power-starved Mets in exchange for prospects Dilson Herrera and Max Wotell. Bruce spent the majority of eight seasons in the Queen City, racking up 233 homers and 718 RBIs for the franchise.
He certainly would’ve come in handy against Wainwright, too. Mike Matheny’s gang is 14-3 in the righty’s past 17 starts. Narrowing the scope, the three-time All-Star has captured six of his last seven road assignments. If Wainwright unspools that ultra-tight curve tonight, the Reds may struggle to get on the scoreboard.
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Wainwright’s counterpart takes the form of Dan Straily, who encounters a dinged-up St. Louis batting order. Stud rookie shortstop Aledmys Diaz suffered a hairline fracture in his right thumb over the weekend, joining Matt Carpenter and Jhonny Peralta on the shelf. The organization does plan on activating slugging first baseman/outfielder Brandon Moss (17 dingers in 250 plate appearances) from the disabled list for the opener, however, and he’s a natural fit at Great American Ball Park.
Matheny also expects to give Zack Duke his first taste of National League action since 2014. The durable lefty was recently acquired from the White Sox for farmhand Charlie Tilson. Duke needn’t worry about a high-leverage situation right away, though, because Wainwright’s poised to carve up Cincy’s compromised attack.
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