Reds vs. Cardinals: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

Previewing the pitching matchups: Reds vs. Cardinals.

Sonny Gray (0-0 4.15 ERA) makes his second start of the season opposing Kwang Hyun Kim (0-0 9.00 ERA) in Friday night’s opener. As expected, Gray was rusty in his 2021 debut. Tossing 4.1 innings against the Indians, the Gray allowed two runs on six hits but did record a half dozen punch outs while throwing 71 pitches. Expect to see Sonny go deeper into the game this evening.

Over his last 23.1 innings versus St. Louis, Gray has not surrendered a home run. If there’s one Cardinal, the Vanderbilt alum can’t wait to see step into the box; it’s Paul Goldschmidt. The slugging first baseman is hitless in a dozen at-bats in their encounters.

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Left-hander Kwang Hyun Kim will also be making his second start of the young campaign. Let’s hope the Reds don’t see the same Kim they saw last year. In two starts against the Redlegs, he threw 11 shutout innings while earning victories in both games.

Southpaw Wade Miley (2-1 2.25 ERA) takes the mound Saturday afternoon, squaring off against John Gant (0-2 3.21). Miley has been excellent to begin his second year in the Queen City. Tossing 16 frames, he’s been touched for just nine hits and has fanned 14 against only three walks.

In recent years the Cajun has found Busch Stadium to his liking. Over his last 15 innings pitching in the shadow of the Arch, he’s yielded four earned runs with 16 strikeouts. For his career, Miley is 2-3 with an excellent 3.18 ERA in five starts in St. Louis.

It’s been a strange season so far for John Gant. Even though his ERA is superb and he’s allowed just one gopher ball, he’s also walked 11 in 14 innings. However, control problems have always been an issue for Gant.

During his six-year career, the right-hander has allowed 4.6 free passes per nine innings. One Redleg Gant has handled with ease is Eugenio Suarez. Geno is hitless with four strikeouts in nine at-bats in their battles.

Sunday’s matinee series finale will star Luis Castillo (1-1 6.05 ERA) toeing the rubber opposite Jack Flaherty (3-0 3.80) in a rematch of their Opening Day meeting. We can only hope it goes better for the Cincinnati right-hander.

Before the Reds stepped in the batter’s box to start the 2021 season, they were already facing a six-run deficit. Unfortunately, catastrophic opening innings have been a recurring problem for La Piedra.

In his four starts, Castillo has absolutely buried the Reds in the opening frame. He’s been knocked around for 10 earned runs and 12 hits. Interestingly the only other inning in which La Piedra has given up a run is the fourth. Perhaps pitching coach, Derek Johnson needs to whisper in his ear it’s the second inning as he takes the mound.

Before Cardinals fans gloat too much over Castillo’s Opening Day start, Jack Flaherty was far from sharp. Despite being handed a six-run advantage, the right-hander could not escape the fifth inning and failed to earn what should have been an easy victory.

Eugenio Suarez might struggle mightily versus John Gant, but the same cannot be said for Flaherty. The slugging shortstop has taken the St. Louis Cardinals ace deep three times in 15 career at-bats.