Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz throughout a sport between the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds at American Household Area on Sunday, August 11, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Cruz, 44) ran to 3rd base. Two division rivals within the Nationwide League wild-card race will conflict Monday evening when the visiting St. Louis Cardinals tackle the Cincinnati Reds in a three-game sequence.
St. Louis has Sunday off after Saturday’s 8-3 loss to the Kansas Metropolis Royals, leaving them simply 1 1/2 video games behind the Atlanta Braves for the third and remaining wild-card spot within the Nationwide League. Cincinnati is three video games behind the Cardinals and 4 1/2 out of the ultimate playoff spot.
St. Louis is 7 1/2 video games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers within the NFC Central. The Reds trailed by 10 1/2 video games.
Cincinnati has gained 4 of its seven-game street journey, most lately a 4-3 victory over Milwaukee on Sunday. The Reds are completely satisfied to nonetheless be in competition as they attempt to make the playoffs for the primary time since 2020.
“That is an excellent factor … we’re nonetheless enjoying significant video games,” Reds receiver Luke Mellor stated. “Regardless of our file, regardless of (the very fact) we nonetheless face an uphill battle, it is nice to have the chance to compete each evening.”
Spencer Steele took the lead on a sacrifice fly within the seventh inning on Sunday. Tyler Stephenson singled within the fifth inning and Cincinnati notched its third win in 9 video games this 12 months in opposition to the Brewers.
“We would have liked this,” stated Reds infielder Santiago Espinal, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run. “We have to return residence and (play) St. Louis. One other must-win sequence.”
Left-hander Andrew Abbott (9-9, 3.70 ERA) will begin for Cincinnati in Monday’s sequence opener. He’ll face former Reds right-hander Sonny Grey (11-6, 3.65).
Abbott is coming off Wednesday’s loss to the Miami Marlins wherein he allowed six runs and 6 hits in 5 innings.
Abbott has been roughed up in 4 profession begins in opposition to St. Louis, going 2-2 with a 6.10 ERA.
Grey spent three seasons in Cincinnati (2019-21), compiling a 23-20 file with a 3.49 ERA. In his first 12 months with the Reds, he was chosen as a Nationwide League All-Star.
Grey was 0-2 with a 3.75 ERA in opposition to Cincinnati twice. He began each of his appearances in opposition to the Reds.
The Cardinals have been counting on Grey to eat up loads of innings recently, with the right-hander holding on for at the least two-quarters of the final 5 video games. Grey allowed two runs on 4 hits in seven innings final Tuesday in a win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
After giving up a two-run homer to Brandon Lowe within the first inning, Grey bounced again properly and blanked Tampa Bay the remainder of the way in which.
“We would have liked it,” St. Louis supervisor Oliver Marmore stated of Grey’s seven innings. “He did an excellent job of navigating the lineup. He did every part proper, blended it up nicely, made good pitches when he wanted to. Two-run homers after which not quite a bit.”
–Scene-level media
