Reds vs Cardinals: Preview, pitching matchups and prediction

Reds starter Trevor Bauer walks it like he talks it

Even though he’s not pitching this weekend, Trevor Bauer deserves some serious love from Reds Country. First of all, we’ll let the numbers do the talking. Following last night’s one-hit shutout of the Kansas City Royals, he’s 3-0 with a 0.68 ERA and has fanned a remarkable 41 in just 26.1 innings. If the Cy Young voting were held today, Bauer should be a unanimous choice.

The outspoken right-hander is never shy to share his opinions and has frankly been a breath of fresh air. Whether you agree or disagree with his many opinions on various topics, Trevor Bauer is willing to put himself out there and that’s to be commended.

The free agent to-be is making a strong case to be, perhaps, the most sought-after pitcher for the 2021 season. Previously, Bauer has been adamant about his desire to only accept one-year deals once he hits free agency. If I’m the Reds front office, I say give the guy a blank check and have him name his amount.

Currently, the Reds are on the cusp of being a contender for years to come. Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo, Wade Miley and Tyler Mahle are already locked in for next season. Cincinnati should do the smart thing and re-sign Bauer to ensure the best rotation in the division stays intact for another year.

Prediction

Reds Country knows the history with the St. Louis Cardinals. It’s not pretty. Even though the Reds won’t have Luis Castillo and Trevor Bauer at their disposal this weekend this is still a very winnable series.  After all, the Reds have the luxury of avoiding Cards ace Jack Flaherty.

An argument could be made that the Reds hold a starting pitching advantage in every game this series. Rest assured that Cincinnati won’t come close to sweeping the series but should earn a split before moving on to Milwaukee.