2020 MLB – St. Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is St. Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds taking place? Thursday 26th March, 2020 – 21:10 (UK)
Where is St. Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds taking place? Great American Ball Park
What is the expected weather for St. Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds? Rain, 12c
What television channel is St. Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds on? BT Sport 1 showcases MLB games in the UK so it would be useful to check their schedule
Where can I stream St. Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds? BT Sport subscribers can stream the match live via the BT Sport website or app in the UK / MLB.tv in the US
Where can I get tickets for St. Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds? https://www.mlb.com/tickets/season-tickets
What was the outcome in the last meeting? St. Louis Cardinals 3 – 5 Cincinnati Reds
THE TEAM NEWS
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
- The Cardinals shocked the entire National League with their 2019 performance as, while they were expected to be among the teams battling for a NL Wild Card spot, they performed above expectations and won the NL Central title with a 91-71 record. They reached the NLCS but lost to the Washington Nationals in disappointing fashion.
- St. Louis have not made many moves during the 2020 offseason, which suggests they should remain one of the best teams in the National League. They should be among those battling for either the NL Central crown, or a NL Wild Card spot.
- The Cardinals lost Marcell Ozuna, who was a big bat in the middle of the lineup, and traded away Jose Martinez for prospects. However, they signed veteran Adam Wainwright for another year while also bolstering their pitching depth with the arrival of Kwang-Hyun Kim. The biggest bat in the lineup should be Paul Goldschmidt once again.
CINCINNATI REDS
- The Reds finished fourth in the NL Central during the 2019 season with a 75-87 record but that shouldn’t have surprised anyone given they were clearly below the levels of the Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers.
- Having said that, the Reds look like one of the teams that could be ready to take considerable steps forward in 2020. The NL Central will be one of the toughest divisions in MLB this upcoming season, but Cincinnati might be ready to battle for a Wild Card berth if their new signings perform as expected.
- The Reds signed Wade Miley to bolster their pitching staff behind Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray, while Mike Moustakas and Nicholas Castellanos should anchor the lineup alongside veteran first baseman Joey Votto. Japanese slugger Shogo Akiyama also signed with Cincinnati as a free agent.
THE PREDICTION
The Cardinals are clear candidates to win the NL Central this season but they didn’t make too many changes to their roster and also lost the presence of slugger Marcell Ozuna, who is one of the best, most consistent outfielders in the league. Meanwhile, the Reds have improved massively during the offseason and there’s no question they are on the rise, particularly in offense with the addition of names such as Castellanos, Moustakas and Akiyama. Cincinnati could debut with a win here.
