St. Louis right-hander Adam Wainwright might be just the pitcher Cincinnati wants to face as the Reds look to avoid their 12th straight loss in Sunday’s game against the visiting Cardinals.

The Reds, mired in one of their worst starts in franchise history, have fared very well against the veteran Wainwright. He is only 10-15 with a 5.29 ERA in 36 appearances, including 31 starts, all time against Cincinnati. That’s his most losses to any team in his career.

But Wainwright (2-1, 2.81 ERA) was stellar in his last outing, allowing a run on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks in a 5-1 win at Miami on Tuesday.

He’ll be opposed by Cincinnati rookie lefty Nick Lodolo (0-2, 8.00), who hasn’t gone beyond five innings in either of his first two starts of the season. He’s allowed three homers and five walks to go with 12 strikeouts in nine combined innings in losses to the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Guardians.

The Reds’ 2-13 start matches their second-worst, from 2018, and is four losses shy of tying the team-record 2-17 start in 1931. They’ve lost 11 straight games for the first time since May 2016.

“We have a lot of competitive guys who care a lot,” Reds manager David Bell said after his team fell 5-0 on Saturday. “We got beat today. There is nothing good about it. We continue to be tested. We have to come out (Sunday) and focus.”

During their current losing streak, the Reds became the only National League team ever to lose nine consecutive games in which they registered seven or fewer hits in each game. The Reds ended that streak on Friday night, when they tallied nine in their 4-2 defeat.

Meantime, the Cardinals are headed in the opposite direction after opening the series with back-to-back wins. They’ll head into Sunday’s series finale having won six of their past eight games and outscoring the opposition 33-16.

“Our players and our staff have the right mindset, regardless if we’re home or away,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. “The preparation has been elite. I’ve been very impressed by it.”

Wainwright will look to mirror the performance given by Dakota Hudson (1-1) on Saturday. Hudson yielded just two hits — a double by Nick Senzel and a single by Aramis Garcia — to go along with four strikeouts and four walks before being relieved by Andre Pallante with two outs in the seventh.

Offensively, Paul Goldschmidt blasted a two-run double. He recorded two hits, as did Andrew Knizner and Dylan Carlson, while Tommy Edman went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI single.

The Reds finished with just three hits.

–Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles will rely on their center fielders in Sunday’s finale of their three-game series in Anaheim, Calif.

The Angels’ Mike Trout, who homered twice in Saturday’s 5-4 loss to the Orioles, is a three-time MVP and nine-time All-Star, but the Orioles have an emerging star in Cedric Mullins.

Mullins had a breakthrough season in 2021, joining the 30-homer, 30-stolen-base club while racking up 37 doubles, five triples and an .878 OPS. He was an All-Star and won a Silver Slugger award.

Mullins, however, is off to a slow start in 2022 but showed flashes Saturday of what he can bring to the Orioles. He led off the game with a walk, stole second and third base and then scored on a single. In all, he went 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and two stolen bases. But his season numbers still are a work in progress.

He’s hitting .190 with 639 OPS. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said the league has made adjustments to Mullins, and now is the time for his 27-year-old center fielder to make adjustments of his own.

“Teams have a long time to game plan for good players,” Hyde said. “Teams now have departments of people to dissect how to get hitters out. They’re going to expose your weaknesses, and that’s what good hitters do in this league, is constantly making adjustments. Ced’s in that category right now where there’s going to be adjustments he’s got to make back to the league.”

Mullins is used to making adjustments. Before the 2021 season, he was a switch hitter. But he became a left-handed hitter only last year, and it paid off.

Right-hander Chris Ellis (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his second start of the season for Baltimore. He scattered four hits over 4 1/3 scoreless innings Tuesday against the Oakland A’s.

Ellis has faced the Angels once in his career, receiving a no-decision after giving up three runs and five hits in three innings.

Angels first baseman Jared Walsh is expected in the lineup with the Orioles throwing a right-hander. Against left-handers, the left-handed-hitting Walsh has been on the bench this season despite an All-Star season last year in which he hit .277 with 29 homers, 98 RBIs and an .850 OPS.

Against lefties, he hit .170 with 10 homers, 30 RBIs and a .565 OPS, so he said he isn’t one to complain to manager Joe Maddon.

“No, no, no, I’m trying to stay out of trouble,” Walsh said. “If I make it an issue, it’s an issue, so it falls on me. I have the right attitude, and I’m a firm believer in that it’s all gonna work out in the end. I can’t control it. I don’t write the lineup. I respect management’s decision. I come in and bust my butt.”

Left-hander Jose Suarez (0-1, 5.19) will make his third start of the season for Los Angeles. He hasn’t gotten through five innings in either of the first two starts.

Suarez has made one career start vs. Baltimore, receiving a no-decision after giving up two runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings in July 2019.

–Field Level Media

After stretching their pitching staffs to their limits Saturday night, the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are hoping to get quality innings out of their starters in the rubber game of a three-game series Sunday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla.

They plan on putting their trust in a pair of left-handers — Boston veteran Rich Hill and Tampa Bay’s young ace Shane McClanahan.

Their bullpens can use a break. In Saturday night’s 3-2, extra-inning win, Tampa Bay used seven pitchers. Boston used five.

That wasn’t all that surprising because both teams employed the “opener” concept, which was made popular by Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash in 2018, to compensate for injuries to their pitching staffs.

The Red Sox got more than they expected out of Garrett Whitlock, who was making his first career start. Whitlock was only expected to throw two or three innings. But he went four scoreless innings and allowed just one hit while striking out seven. But Whitlock’s effort was wasted as the Rays scored three runs in the bottom of the 10th.

With Tampa Bay’s J.P. Feyereisen making only his second career start, he combined with five relievers to hold the Red Sox without a hit through the first nine innings.

The Red Sox scored a pair of runs on two hits off Matt Risler in the top of the 10th, with Kevin Kiermaier hitting a three-run homer in the bottom half of the inning to end the game.

But the Red Sox and Rays are ready to get back to their regular starting rotations, and Hill and McClanahan will be asked to go more than a few innings. That shouldn’t be a problem for either.

Hill (0-1, 7.00 ERA), now 42, is in his 18th season in the majors and will be making his 198th career start. Hill’s career record is 74-53 with a 3.82 ERA.

Hill has played for 11 teams — Tampa Bay is one of them — and is in his third stint with the Red Sox. Against his former team, he’s made 12 appearances (three starts), and is 2-0 with a 4.01 ERA. Hill is coming off the bereavement list after attending funeral services for his father. Hill started last Monday’s game shortly after his father’s passing.

“The job is to be a professional and show up,” Hill told the Boston media last week. “No matter what circumstances there are outside of the clubhouse, or outside of the lines, you show up and you’re a pro.”

McClanahan, 24, is in his second season, was the Opening Day starter and has earned the trust of the Rays. In his most recent outing, McClanahan (0-1, 2.40) held the Cubs to two runs (one earned) in six innings. He allowed four hits and had a career-high nine strikeouts. McClanahan has allowed three or fewer runs in all three of his starts.

In three starts and 16 career innings against Boston, McClanahan is 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA. On Sunday, he’ll be trying to become the first Tampa Bay starter to get a win. All eight victories have been by the bullpen.

“Mac is doing some special things through three starts,” Cash said.

–Field Level Media

Miguel Cabrera became the 33rd major-leaguer to reach 3,000 career hits and the Detroit Tigers routed the visiting Colorado Rockies 13-0 in the first game of a split doubleheader Saturday.

Cabrera, 39, grounded a first-inning single to right field off right-hander Antonio Senzatela to join an exclusive club. The two-time AL MVP is the seventh player in major league history with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. He also became the first Venezuelan player to reach 3,000 hits.

After receiving a lengthy ovation from the Comerica Park crowd, Cabrera later scored on Spencer Torkelson’s two-out, three-run homer to right field.

Harold Castro went 4-for-5 with two runs scored for Detroit, which out-hit the Rockies 20-7 and set season highs in runs and hits. Randal Grichuk had two hits for Colorado, which was playing just its third road game of the season.

Rockies 3, Tigers 2 (Game 2)

Austin Gomber tossed six strong innings, Charlie Blackmon and Connor Joe homered, and Colorado beat host Tigers to split their doubleheader.

Gomber (1-1) kept Detroit from mounting any kind of rally. He allowed four hits, retired 15 of the last 17 batters he faced and struck out eight over his six innings. Alex Colome got the final three outs for his second save for Colorado.

Austin Meadows had a two-run triple and Beau Brieske (0-1) allowed three runs on three hits in five innings for the Tigers in his major league debut.

Rays 3, Red Sox 2 (10)

Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning as Tampa Bay came from behind to defeat Boston in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The game had been scoreless through nine innings before Boston’s Bobby Dalbec tripled to score Jackie Bradley in the 10th inning.

Up to that point, six Tampa Bay pitchers had held Boston hitless. In the first nine innings, the Rays had been held to just two hits as the Red Sox had a strong pitching performance of their own.

Cubs 21, Pirates 0

Alfonso Rivas hit a three-run homer during an eight-run second inning and finished with five RBIs, while Nico Hoerner posted a career-high four hits as Chicago snapped a four-game losing streak with the rout of visiting Pittsburgh.

Starter Kyle Hendricks yielded two of Pittsburgh’s three hits over seven innings. Chicago posted its highest-scoring contest since a 26-7 win at Colorado on Aug. 18, 1995. The Cubs had 23 hits in the largest shutout victory since at least 1901.

According to STATS, this is the most runs Pittsburgh has allowed since a 21-4 loss to the New York Giants on May 25, 1954.

Orioles 5, Angels 4

Baltimore overcame two solo home runs by Mike Trout and beat Los Angeles in Anaheim, Calif.

The two homers marked Trout’s 21st career multi-homer game, setting a club record. Brandon Marsh’s two-run homer in the sixth gave the Angels a 4-2 lead before the Orioles went ahead with a three-run seventh inning. Two of those runs were driven in by Ryan Mountcastle, who had three RBIs for the game.

Orioles closer Jorge Lopez gave up a single to Trout in the ninth but nothing else and closed it out for his fourth save. Orioles reliever Bryan Baker (1-0) earned the win over Angels reliever Aaron Loup (0-1).

Padres 3, Dodgers 2 (10)

C.J. Abrams scored from third on Austin Nola’s walk-off sacrifice fly to left in the bottom of the 10th as host San Diego ended a 10-game losing streak to Los Angeles.

Jurickson Profar saved the Padres in the top of the 10th, throwing out ghost runner Chris Taylor at third trying to advance on a flyout by Gavin Lux. Padres reliever and winner Robert Suarez (1-1) then struck out Mookie Betts to end the inning. Betts whiffed four times, including leaving the bases loaded in the second.

Left-hander Justin Bruihl (0-1), the seventh Dodgers pitcher, suffered the loss. Trea Turner doubled and drove in both runs for Los Angeles. Padres starter Yu Darvish allowed one hit and three walks with seven strikeouts. Dodgers starter Tyler Anderson gave up two runs on four hits, with three walks and four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

Giants 5, Nationals 2

Alex Wood pitched five strong innings as visiting San Francisco defeated Washington.

Wood (2-0) allowed two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out five. His career ERA at Nationals Park actually rose to 2.86, good for second behind Jacob deGrom (2.80) among active pitchers with 40 or more innings at the stadium.

Former Giant Aaron Sanchez (0-1) was called up from Triple-A Rochester to make the start for Washington. He gave up four runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings.

Yankees 5, Guardians 4

Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a game-tying double off Emmanuel Clase, and pinch-hitter Gleyber Torres hit a game-winning RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning as host New York edged Cleveland.

Before the ninth-inning comeback, Cleveland’s Austin Hedges hit a go-ahead, two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning off Chad Green, but Miguel Castro (1-0) tossed a scoreless ninth. Clase (0-2) took the loss. Josh Naylor also hit a two-run homer for the Guardians.

Yankees starter Nestor Cortes pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed just Naylor’s two-run homer in the fifth. Cortes surrendered just one hit and two walks while striking out eight.

Twins 9, White Sox 2

Byron Buxton went 4-for-4 with a home run and a double and Luis Arraez had four hits and three RBIs to lead Minnesota to its third straight victory over visiting Chicago.

Buxton also was hit by a pitch and scored three runs to go with two RBIs, while Ryan Jeffers also homered, doubled and scored three times as the Twins finished with a season-high 14 hits.

Dylan Bundy improved to 3-0 by scattering four hits over five shutout innings. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out four while lowering his ERA to 0.59. Jose Abreu homered and had two RBIs for Chicago, which lost its sixth straight game.

Rangers 2, A’s 0

Brad Miller ended a scoreless deadlock with a two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning as Texas beat host Oakland in a pitchers’ duel that featured just eight hits.

After rival Martin Perez left following six shutout innings during which he allowed just two hits, A’s right-hander Frankie Montas (2-2) took a one-hit shutout into the eighth and got Kole Calhoun to ground out for the first out.

However, Adolis Garcia and Willie Calhoun followed with singles, prompting A’s manager Mark Kotsay to pull Montas in favor of Domingo Acevedo with runners at the corners. The reliever got Jonah Heim to ground out to first, advancing pinch-runner Eli White to second, and Miller followed with a liner the opposite way to left field for the game-winning blow.

Cardinals 5, Reds 0

Dakota Hudson allowed just two hits in 6 2/3 innings and Paul Goldschmidt blasted a two-run double to lead St. Louis to a victory over host Cincinnati, which lost its 11th straight game.

The Reds’ 2-13 start matches a franchise-worst 15-game start set in 1931 and equaled in 2018. The 1931 squad started 2-17 and the 2018 squad dropped 13 of its first 15 games.

The Cardinals are headed in the opposite direction. They have won six of their past eight games by a combined score of 33-16.

Brewers 5, Phillies 3

Hunter Renfroe homered, doubled, singled and scored two runs to lift Milwaukee past host Philadelphia.

Willy Adames added two hits for the Brewers, who scored four runs in the fifth inning and one in the sixth to erase a 3-0 deficit. Milwaukee starter Adrian Houser (1-2) tossed six innings and gave up five hits and three runs to go along with three strikeouts and one walk.

Phillies starter Zack Wheeler allowed seven hits and four runs in five innings. Wheeler (0-3) struck out five and walked none.

Blue Jays 3, Astros 2

Santiago Espinal homered for the second time in as many games and Toronto secured a series win over host Houston with a comeback victory.

Espinal snapped a 2-2 tie with his one-out shot to left field off Astros reliever Blake Taylor (0-1) in the seventh inning. Toronto trailed 2-1 after the first but rallied to remain unbeaten over the last 11 starts from right-hander Alek Manoah (3-0).

Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer, a three-time All-Star and 2017 World Series Most Valuable Player over seven years with the Astros, missed the series opener after being hit by a pitch on the wrist Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox. Springer made an immediate impact against his former team with his return to the lineup, slugging his 45th career leadoff home run.

Marlins 9, Braves 7

Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered and drove in three runs and visiting Miami broke out of its offensive slump to beat Atlanta.

Chisholm was 4-for-6 with three runs scored and two stolen bases, and he hit the game’s first pitch for a home run. It was his sixth multiple-RBI game of the season.

Chisholm sparked a 14-hit attack, which included two hits each from Jesus Aguilar, Jesus Sanchez, Avisail Garcia and Joey Wendle. It was the second-highest run total the Marlins have produced this season. The Marlins, who had totaled just six runs in their previous four games, scored three times in the sixth and three times in the seventh to take the lead for good.

Diamondbacks 5, Mets 2

Humberto Castellanos allowed two runs over five solid innings and earned his first win of the season as Arizona beat visiting New York in the middle game of a three-game series.

The Diamondbacks have won three of four. The Mets, who have yet to lose a series this season, lost for just the second time in seven games.

Castellanos (1-0) gave up four hits and one walk while striking out five. He retired nine in a row after walking leadoff batter Brandon Nimmo and didn’t allow anyone beyond first base until the fifth.

Mariners 13, Royals 7

Ty France had his first career five-hit game, including a home run, to lead host Seattle to a victory over Kansas City.

The Mariners have won the first two games of the series.

Jake Brentz (0-3) walked the first four batters of the eighth inning, with Julio Rodriguez’s walk pushing across the go-ahead run. After Brentz notched a strikeout, Jesse Winker’s two-run double broke open the game. France then hit a three-run homer to cap a six-run inning. Diego Castillo (1-0) earned the win.

–Field Level Media

Jazz Chisholm Jr., who awakened the Miami offense on Saturday, will try to help the visiting Marlins take the rubber game against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

Chisholm was 4-for-6 with a homer, three RBIs, three runs scored and two stolen bases in Miami’s 9-7 win over Atlanta on Saturday.

It was part of a 14-hit attack that saw the Marlins score their second-most runs of the season and emerge from a slump where they had scored only six runs in the previous four games.

“It’s good to see him continuing on what we talked about with him, just kind of staying in focus, don’t give at-bats away,” Miami manager Don Mattingly said. “We keep telling him, if he keeps doing that, staying focused, he’s going to have a good year.”

John Berti got the start at third base when Miguel Rojas was a late scratch due to flu-like symptoms. He walked three times and scored two runs, in addition to being stellar defensively.

The pitching matchup for the series finale features Miami left-hander Jesus Luzardo (0-1, 4.82) against Atlanta right-hander Bryce Elder (1-1, 4.30).

This will mark the third start of the season for Luzardo, who has yet to last more than five innings. He was impressive in his first appearance, gaining a no decision after allowing two runs — one earned — and striking out 12 in five innings against the Los Angeles Angels.

But he regressed in his most recent start Tuesday against St. Louis, as he was tagged for five runs — four earned — in 4 1/3 innings.

“A lot of missed spots for the most part, with the ball getting over the middle of the plate and not getting the height he wanted,” Mattingly said.

Luzardo has made one career start against the Braves. He gave up four runs in three innings, struck out four and walked five in a loss last August.

Elder will make his third major league start and first against Miami.

Elder took the loss in his last start last Sunday against the San Diego Padres. He allowed two runs on three hits, with five walks and three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

The Braves finally ended their string of solo home runs on Saturday. Alex Dickerson delivered two-run homer, his first with the Braves, to end the team’s streak of 16 consecutive solo homers. The Braves had not homered with a man on base since Austin Riley’s two-run homer on Opening Day. It was the team’s longest streak of solo homers since 1960.

Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson appears to be emerging from his season-long slump. He went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs and lifted his batting average to .182. It was as low as .143.

“I’ve seen him go through these stretches and he’s got the mental toughness to be able to work through it,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “The last couple nights he’s looked pretty good. He’s looked like his old self.”

The Braves could get right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. back in the lineup sooner than the May 6 target. Acuna will play at least three of four days next week for Triple-A Gwinnett.

If no problems develop, he may be cleared for a faster return.

–Field Level Media

Ty France had his first career five-hit game, including a home run, to lead the host Seattle Mariners to a 13-7 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.

The Mariners have won the first two games of the series.

Jake Brentz (0-3) walked the first four batters of the eighth inning, with Julio Rodriguez’s walk pushing across the go-ahead run. After Brentz notched a strikeout, Jesse Winker’s two-run double broke open the game. France then hit a three-run homer to cap a six-run inning.

Diego Castillo (1-0) earned the win.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez was hit on the hand by a pitch in the seventh inning and came out of the game.

The Royals’ bullpen saw their scoreless-inning streak snapped at 27 1/3 innings in the sixth. The streak began April 14.

Nicky Lopez led off the first for Kansas City with a walk and Whit Merrifield followed with a double. Andrew Benintendi’s RBI groundout scored Lopez.

France singled up the middle with one out in the bottom of the first. J.P. Crawford followed with a two-run homer.

The Mariners added two more runs in the second. Jarred Kelenic stroked a one-out single, scoring Tom Murphy. Kelenic scored one a two-out single by France.

Back-to-back doubles by Eugenio Suarez and Abraham Toro leading off the third gave the Mariners their fifth run and ended the night for Royals starter Kris Bubic.

In the fifth, Benintendi and Perez stroked one-out singles, chasing Seattle starter Matt Brash. Reliever Matthew Festa walked Santana to load the bases. Dozier hit an infield single, scoring Benintendi. A throwing error allowed Perez to score. Bobby Witt Jr. then drove in Santana with a single.

Suarez hit a one-out double in the sixth to put the Mariners up 6-4.

After Perez was hit leading off the seventh, Santana homered on the next pitch, tying the game at 6-6. Dozier followed with a double, and he scored on pinch-hitter Edward Olivares’ double.

France’s fourth hit, a two-out single on an 0-2 pitch, scored Rodriguez with the tying run in the seventh.

–Field Level Media

The Baltimore Orioles overcame two home runs by Mike Trout and beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-4 Saturday night in Anaheim, Calif.

The two homers marked Trout’s 21st career multi-homer game, setting a club record, but both came with the bases empty. Brandon Marsh’s two run homer in the sixth gave the Angels a 4-2 lead before the Orioles went ahead with a three-run seventh inning.

All three runs were unearned, the result of usually reliable third baseman Anthony Rendon, whose throwing error was the key to the inning.

Rendon had just made a diving catch of a line drive to rob Jorge Mateo of a hit when the next batter, Anthony Santander, hit a chopper to Rendon at third.

But Rendon’s throw to first was high and pulled first baseman Jared Walsh off the bag.

Trey Mancini’s sacrifice fly made it 4-3 before Ryan Mountcastle had a two-run single off Angels reliever Ryan Tepera, which proved to be the game-winner.

The Angels threatened to tie or go ahead in the eighth, putting runners on second and third with one out. But Baltimore reliever Joey Krehbiel worked his way out of the jam and held the lead.

Orioles closer Jorge Lopez gave up a single to Trout in the ninth but nothing else and closed it out for his fourth save. Orioles reliever Bryan Baker (1-0) earned the win over Angels reliever Aaron Loup (0-1).

The Orioles took the lead in the top of the first inning against Angels starter Noah Syndergaard, scoring two runs while getting only one hit – an RBI single by Mountcastle – in the inning. But they also got a walk, hit batsman, three stolen bases (two by Cedric Mullins) and a sacrifice fly.

The Angels got one run back in the bottom of the first on Trout’s first homer of the game off Orioles starter Spenser Watkins. Trout got Watkins again in the fifth inning with his second homer, also with no one on base, tying the game at 2-2.

Syndergaard, who won his first two starts of the season, struck out the first two batters in the sixth but gave up a walk and single to the next two hitters and was removed from the game.

Syndergaard went 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out six and making 88 pitches.

–Field Level Media