Reds at Cardinals 9/1/18 - MLB Picks & Predictions

On Saturday, the Cincinnati Reds play the second game of a three-game series on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Reds lost Wednesday 13-12 to Milwaukee in a slugfest that lasted 10 innings. Reds closer Raisel Iglesias served up a home run to Jesus Aguilar in the 10th. Cincinnati hit five homers in the loss, including home run No. 30 on the season for the Reds Eugenio Suarez.

St. Louis lost Wednesday 2-0 to Pittsburgh. The loss dropped the Cardinals to 4 ½ games behind the first place Cubs in the National League Central. St. Louis has lost just 4 of its last 20 overall and holds the top NL wildcard spot a half-game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers. Scooter Gennett leads Cincinnati with a .314 batting average and team high 154 hits. Eugenio Suarez is the Reds’ leader in home runs with 30 and RBIs with 95. Cincinnati has a team batting average of .259 while opposing hitters are averaging .271 at the plate against Reds pitching. On Saturday, the Reds will send Luis Castillo to the mound. The right-hander this season is 7-11 with an ERA of 5.07, 131 Ks and 41 BBs.

Jose Martinez leads St. Louis with a .309 batting average and in RBIs with 75. Matt Carpenter is the Cardinals leader in home runs with 34. St. Louis has a team batting average of .251 while opposing hitters are averaging .242 at the plate against Cardinals pitching. On Saturday, the Cardinals will send Daniel Poncedeleon to the mound. The rookie this season is 0-0 with an ERA of 2.08, 18 Ks and 10 BBs.