After his staff endured a three-game sweep in opposition to the Athletics over the weekend, Cincinnati Reds supervisor Terry Francona shuffled his batting order in opposition to the Cardinals in St. Louis.
He moved slumping shortstop Elly De La Cruz out of his normal No. 3 slot for the primary time this season. De La Cruz walked twice and hit a double whereas batting seventh because the Reds rolled to an 11-6 victory on Monday.
The Reds will attempt to maintain that offense Tuesday night time within the center recreation of a three-game set.
Cincinnati (75-75) and the San Francisco Giants (75-75) are each two video games again of the New York Mets within the race for the ultimate Nationwide League wild-card slot. In the meantime, the Cardinals (73-78) have fallen 4 1/2 video games again due to shedding six of seven video games.
De La Cruz has not hit a homer since July 31, and that was his lone lengthy ball in his previous 71 video games courting again to June 24.
Francona sought to take stress off De La Cruz whereas giving his offense a brand new look.
“I worth consistency a lot,” the supervisor mentioned. “Generally, I feel that may flip into stubbornness. I consider in Elly a lot, and I do not need individuals pointing fingers at him as a result of we’ll do issues as a ballclub — good issues and after they do not go so properly.
“However I do suppose this could take a little bit little bit of the glare off of him.”
The Reds will give the ball on Tuesday to Andrew Abbott (9-6, 2.79 ERA). The left-hander held the San Diego Padres to at least one run on 5 hits in eight innings in his newest begin, a 2-1 victory on Wednesday. He struck out six and walked two.
This season, Abbott is 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA in three begins in opposition to the Cardinals. He struck out 13 in 16 innings throughout these contests, however he walked eight.
Abbott is 4-3 with a 3.74 ERA in eight profession begins in opposition to St. Louis.
He might need Spencer Steer within the lineup behind him on Tuesday. The primary baseman might return to motion after he was scratched on Monday due to neck spasms.
The Cardinals obtained Nolan Arenado again on Monday for the primary time since July 30. He went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI after lastly recovering from shoulder soreness.
“I cherished it,” Cardinals supervisor Oliver Marmol mentioned. “He did a pleasant job at third, he did that each one 12 months, then swung the bat properly, drove in that run. I am actually pleased to see him again within the lineup.”
On the flip aspect, the Cardinals misplaced first baseman Willson Contreras to proper biceps tightness within the recreation.
“I feel he’ll have a pair days off to let that factor sort of die down a little bit bit,” Marmol mentioned.
The Cardinals will begin rookie Michael McGreevy (6-3, 4.44 ERA), who allowed only one run on 5 hits in six innings at Seattle in his newest begin on Wednesday. He struck out 4 Mariners and walked none.
McGreevy had an analogous outing in opposition to the Reds in his lone profession begin in opposition to them. He earned a 4-2 victory on Aug. 30 at Cincinnati whereas permitting one run on 5 hits in six innings. The 25-year-old right-hander walked two with out recording a strikeout.
–Subject Degree Media
