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

Pitching preview: Reds vs. Cardinals

Tyler Mahle (11-5 3.76 ERA) takes the mound tonight as the Cardinals counter with Jon Lester (5-6 4.89 ERA). However, if the Reds had to pick one guy to throw at St. Louis, the California native might be just the person.

Making three starts versus the Redbirds in 2021, Mahle is 2-0 and has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his outings. Additionally, the right-hander has fanned 22 Cardinals in only 17 innings this year.

In his last three appearances, veteran southpaw Jon Lester has allowed just three runs in 16.2 frames. Additionally, he’s dominated the Redlegs the last two times they’ve met. Hurling 11.1 frames, the 37-year-old left-hander has yielded just one base hit.

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Saturday night finds Luis Castillo (7-15 4.20 ERA) toeing the rubber as he opposed Miles Mikolas (0-2 5.06 ERA) of the Cardinals. La Piedra was better in his outing, allowing only one earned run in six innings against the Detroit Tigers; however, it wasn’t enough to spare him from his fifth defeat in his last six starts.

Let’s hope St. Louis has aging backstop, Yadier Molina, in the lineup Saturday night. The 38-year-old catcher, who has been an above-average hitter just once in the last five seasons, is 4-for-30 lifetime against Castillo.

After battling numerous injuries the past two seasons, Miles Mikolas is still seeking his first victory since the 2019 campaign. If recent history is any indication, that first win isn’t arriving Saturday night. The right-hander is winless in his last five starts against the Redlegs with an eye-popping 6.84 ERA.

Sunday afternoon’s matinee series finale features Sonny Gray (7-6 3.88 ERA) battling struggling lefty J.A. Happ (8-8 6.24 ERA). In his last four starts, the Cincinnati right-hander has allowed just four earned runs in 23 innings.

Gray has been a road warrior for the Redlegs this season. Making 10 starts, he’s compiled an impressive 3.02 ERA and has surrendered just four gopher balls in 53.2 frames away from Great American Ball Park.

How bad was J.A. Happ’s last outing versus the Reds? Seven runs in one inning bad. It was so awful, St. Louis manager Mike Shildt’s feelings were so bruised he asked the home plate umpire to examine Nick Castellanos’ bat following his second homer in as many innings against the 38-year-old southpaw. Never change, St. Louis. Never change.