Last Updated on September 28, 2016 3:35 pm by Brad Burns
Cards seek to build momentum against Reds
Jhonny Peralta’s had a tough time since returning from the disabled list on June 7. Perhaps, though, he’s rediscovering that familiar power stroke when it matters most.
Fresh off a clutch performance last night, the St. Louis third baseman leads his teammates into another battle against Cincinnati at 8:15 p.m. ET. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives the Cardinals odds of -155 to take the third contest of the series, while Bryan Price’s crew enters Busch Stadium as a +135 underdog. The over/under run total rests at 8.5.
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Still hindered by a bum thumb, Peralta’s (.259/.307/.415) clearly not the same hitter who appeared in the 2015 Midsummer Classic. Yet Tuesday’s three-run bomb off Matt Magill sent an undeniable surge through the Gateway City. The Dominican Republic native also added a sixth-inning RBI single, helping the host squad notch a vital 12-5 victory.
This evening, however, could present a far stiffer challenge. Anthony DeSclafani (8-5, 3.38 ERA) strides to the mound on a mission to snap a three-start losing streak. He’s 3-1 with a 1.03 WHIP in six career outings vs. the Redbirds.
Mike Matheny, on the other hand, will deploy the increasingly volatile Mike Leake (9-11, 4.72). Having gone 0-2 with a 5.95 ERA in September, the veteran righty should be on a very short leash. Rookie Luke Weaver, Matt Bowman and Jerome Williams are among the long-relief options if things quickly go south.
Of course, the Cards can hardly afford a misfire here. They sit a game back of the Giants and 1 ½ behind the Mets with five tilts remaining. In the end, expect a relatively low-scoring affair, with DeSclafani playing a starring role.
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