St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds: Game 5 Preview

facebooktwitterreddit

The St. Louis Cardinals take on the Cincinnati Reds on the last game of what turned out to be a five-game road trip.

The Cardinals are off to a 2-2 start to begin the 2015 season while the Reds have started with a 4-1 record.

More from St Louis Cardinals News

Carlos Martinez will make his 2015 debut against Raisel Iglesias. The Cuban right-hander signed a seven-year deal worth $27 million and goes straight to the Major Leagues without playing for the Reds minor league organization. Iglesias’ professional baseball experience in the States has been limited to only playing in both the Arizona Fall League and Cactus League.

The Cardinals pitching staff has allowed just 17 hits to begin the season in their first four games. These are the fewest in Major League Baseball since the Chicago White Sox started the 1991 season by allowing 14 hits. However, the Cardinals are seeking to become the first club since 1991 White Sox (6 consecutive games) to open the season with five or more consecutive games of allowing six or fewer hits. The Los Angeles Dodgers own the record at eight games, which they set in 1965.

Neither Randy Choate or Trevor Rosenthal have allowed a run when pitching at Great American Ball Park.

The Cardinals lineup:
1. Matt Carpenter, 3B
2. Jason Heyward, RF
3. Matt Holliday, LF
4. Jhonny Peralta, SS
5. Mark Reynolds, 1B
6. Jon Jay, CF
7. Yadier Molina, C
8. Kolten Wong, 2B
9. Carlos Martinez, P

The Reds lineup:
1. Billy Hamilton, CF
2. Joey Votto, 1B
3. Todd Frazier, 3B
4. Brandon Phillips, 2B
5. Jay Bruce, RF
6. Brennan Boesch, LF
7. Brayan Pena, C
8. Zack Cozart, SS
9. Raisel Iglesias, P

The Cardinals and Reds will meet again during this upcoming weekend at Busch Stadium for a three-game series.

The club will send Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, and John Lackey to the mound this week as they face the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.