The Cincinnati Reds head into St. Louis with some rest after an off-day, but they also carry the frustration of losing four of their last six at home. The matchup now shifts to a Cardinals series opener that brings together Brady Singer and Kyle Leahy in a game that could matter for two clubs trying to steady themselves.
Cincinnati arrives with an offense that has had to work around major pitching problems. The staff has been stretched by constant roster shuffling, with arms such as Yunior Marte, Lyon Richardson, and Brandon Liebrandt cycling through the 40-man roster as the club searches for usable relief help.
The bullpen remains a major concern for the Reds because it has repeatedly spoiled close games. That issue showed again in the series finale against Kansas City, when Tony Santillan was hit hard in a 5-2 loss, even after the offense kept the game within reach.
Singer looks to reset after a rough stretch
Brady Singer gets the ball for Cincinnati, and his numbers show how difficult the season has been. Among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched, he entered Thursday with the worst home-run rate at 2.82 HR/9, along with a 6.18 ERA, a 6.49 xERA, and a 6.88 FIP that ranked last in that group.
Those numbers put immediate pressure on Singer to give the Reds length and control early in the game. If he struggles again, Cincinnati’s already taxed pitching staff could be forced into another long night against a Cardinals lineup that has already seen this club recently.
A familiar opponent after a weather-hit series
The Reds and Cardinals met only two weeks ago, although that series did not unfold normally. Friday’s game was postponed, Saturday turned into a doubleheader, and Sunday’s matchup was pushed back until later in the season because of weather complications.
That unusual setup makes the rematch a little less predictable, even if both teams now have a cleaner schedule. For Cincinnati, the challenge is simple: limit damage on the mound and avoid another game where the bullpen has to rescue a starter who cannot find rhythm.
Kyle Leahy will start for St. Louis, and first pitch is scheduled for 8:15 PM ET. The Cardinals will try to take advantage of Cincinnati’s pitching instability, while the Reds need Singer to stop the slide and give the offense a chance to build on a record that still sits above .500 at 31-30.
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