Cardinals vs Reds Preview: Young Arms Look to Spark Weekend

The Cardinals roll into Cincinnati with a 28-21 record looking to bounce back from two straight losses. Kyle Leahy takes the mound for St. Louis, and he'll need to deliver a strong start. The Cardinals are missing some serious firepower right now. Nathan Church is sidelined with a lower body injury, and Ramon Urias can't play because of elbow trouble. That means their lineup is thinner than usual. St. Louis counts on young arms like Matthew Liberatore and Dustin May to prove themselves game after game. The pitching staff is their backbone this season. If Leahy pitches well today, the Cardinals have a real shot to steal this game despite their injuries.

The Reds are 26-24 and riding a two-game winning streak into this matchup. Chase Petty gets the ball for Cincinnati. The Reds' bullpen has taken some hits with injuries. Emilio Pagán, their closer, is working his way back from a hamstring strain and can't pitch yet. Hunter Greene, the ace, had elbow surgery and won't return until sometime after June. That puts major pressure on the rotation early in the season. Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo must shoulder extra responsibility right now. The Reds' young offense has been exciting, and they'll need those hitters to carry the load while the pitching staff gets healthy. Today's game is crucial.

Both teams sit at 5-5 over their last ten games. They're roughly equal right now, and that makes Saturday's game genuinely competitive. The Cardinals need to prove their young pitchers can handle pressure situations. The Reds need their offense to dominate while injuries pile up on the mound. Each team has a clear identity. St. Louis leans on developing talent and solid execution across the board. Cincinnati counts on exciting young hitters to carry them through a tough pitching situation. Watch for how both offenses attack early. Whoever scores first and builds momentum might grab the edge in this tight battle at Great American Ball Park.