Cincinnati Reds: Joey Votto’s hot bat looks to ground the Cardinals

Joey Votto is proving the skeptics wrong…again

There’s been a small, but loud, contingent of Cincinnati Reds fans who seemed more than happy to write Joey Votto’s obituary as a Reds mainstay. Over the first six weeks of the season they continually shoveled more dirt on his perceived grave. I’m not saying I told you so, but Joey Votto is beginning to have the last laugh.

In his last 9 games, Joey Votto is hitting .410 with a .419 OBP. Having reached base in 17 consecutive games, he’s showing signs of the old Votto. Granted the power has not been there, but hitting second in the lineup in front of Eugenio Suárez and Derek Dietrich, the most important job he has at this point of his career is reaching base.

Speaking of the top of the order has anyone checked in on Nick Senzel lately? If not, you’re missing out. The 23-year-old rookie is slashing .288/.345/.481 in his last 12 games. In those contests, Senzel added 5 doubles, a triple, and a homer. Nick Senzel just keeps getting better every week.

Amir Garrett is proving that you can always count on AG. In 24.2 innings, the southpaw has fanned 37, while compiling a 1.82 ERA. The 27-year-old left-hander has been a nightmare for the Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter. In 13 career at-bats Carpenter has 1 hit and has whiffed 5 times.

Prediction

As the Cincinnati Reds play the St. Louis Cardinals for the second time this season, expect things to go a little bit differently this time. After dropping 2-of-3 in April, look for the Reds to take the opener Tuesday and pull out another game in set. Two wins in St. Louis and no Yadier Molina is almost too good to be true.