Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals 9/16/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The St. Louis Cardinals host the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 16 for the second game of a five-game series. St. Louis led the season series 9-5 entering Thursday.

The Cardinals lead the National League Central by eight games at 84-59 and are 48-25 at home. The Reds are 30 games under .500 at 56-86 and are 27-43 on the road.

Jack Flaherty is scheduled to make his third start since returning from the injured list. Flaherty has allowed 4 earned runs in 10 innings over his last two starts. His last outing against Pittsburgh was not great as he gave up six hits, four walks, two home runs and three earned runs in five innings without striking out a single Pirate.

Cincinnati had yet to name a starter for Friday prior to the start of Thursdays game.

St. Louis first baseman Paul Goldschmidt continues his march toward the National League Most Valuable Player award. He leads the NL with a .412 on-base percentage and .603 slugging percentage. His .324 batting average trails only the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman (.329). Goldschmidt is also second in runs batted in with 109, two behind the Mets’ Pete Alonso. He is tied with Alonso for third in home runs with 35, one behind Atlanta’s Austin Riley and two back of Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber.

Cincinnati does not have an MVP candidate, but TJ Friedl and Jake Fraley have hit well of late. Friedl has hit .318 in 88 at bats since the All-Star break, while Fraley has hit .292 with an on-base percentage of .390. Friedl’s OPS of .995 leads Reds regulars in the second half with Fraley second at .957.