After winning consecutive road games for the first time this season, the St. Louis Cardinals will try to capture their first road series victory Thursday when they finish a four-game set with the Cincinnati Reds.
The Cardinals entered a day-night doubleheader on Wednesday with a 2-12 mark away from Busch Stadium following a 3-1 loss in Cincinnati on Monday. They broke out for six homers and 15 runs and swept the twin bill by scores of 6-0 and 9-1 to double their season road win total.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, who provided some fire to his team by getting ejected in the eighth inning of the first game, rearranged his batting order for the doubleheader. Marmol slotted Masyn Winn into the second spot in the batting order for the first time in his career, and the shortstop responded with two solo home runs in the first game and two more hits in the second game.
Willson Contreras was dropped to the middle of the lineup for both games in a search for power. He socked a three-run homer in the first inning of the second contest.
“We want to inject some speed into that No. 2 spot with Masyn, who has been getting closer to doing what he wants with the bat,” Marmol said. “Not having (injured catcher Ivan Herrera) has been a factor (in the team’s lack of power), but I really do believe that Contreras and (Nolan Arenado) will turn it on. I truly believe that Contreras will look very different than what we’ve seen, and we’ll get some real production out of them.”
The Cardinals will send Matthew Liberatore (2-2, 3.19 ERA) to the mound in the series finale. The left-hander allowed two runs — one earned — and five hits over six-plus innings in his latest start, earning a 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. Liberatore, who has thrown at least six innings in all five of his starts, has shown outstanding control, striking out 28 and walking just two in 31 innings.
Liberatore will be making his first career start against Cincinnati. He is 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA in seven career relief appearances vs. the Reds.
The Reds will counter with lefty Andrew Abbott (2-0, 3.60 ERA), making his fourth start of the season.
Abbott was roughed up for four runs on five hits over just four innings on Friday and received a no-decision in Cincinnati’s 8-7 road win over the Colorado Rockies. Abbott did not have his command in Denver, walking five and striking out four in his shortest outing of the season.
Abbott is 3-2 with a 4.94 ERA in five lifetime starts against St. Louis.
The Reds are trying to figure out how best to use Alexis Diaz after the one-time closer endured an ugly start to the season.
Diaz, a 2023 All-Star, was clobbered for three consecutive home runs in the ninth inning of Cincinnati’s Game 1 loss on Wednesday. He yielded five runs in the frame as the Reds lost any chance at a rally.
“It was tough,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “You’d like to keep it 1-0 and give yourself a chance to make them use their closer.”
In six appearances, Diaz has allowed eight hits, eight runs, four homers and five walks while striking out three. He has a 12.00 ERA, and opponents are batting .308 against him.
“He said he loves to pitch,” Francona said.
–Field Level Media
