Reds vs. Cardinals: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

The Reds visit St. Louis in a battle for playoff positioning.

It’s become a common refrain, but the Cincinnati Reds (74-67) suffered another devasting blow in their pursuit for the final playoff spot in the National League. For the second time in three weeks, the Redlegs dropped two of three to a Chicago Cubs ballclub who has absolutely nothing to play for as the conclusion of the 2021 campaign draws near.

Despite losing five consecutive series and dropping 10 of their last 15 contests, the Reds find themselves trailing the San Diego Padres by just one game for the remaining postseason birth in the senior circuit. As the Redlegs prepare for a weekend tilt in St. Louis, the Friars head north to battle an excellent Los Angeles Dodgers squad.

Believe it or not, despite their recent horrid play, the Reds still have believers. Entering play today, Baseball-Reference gives the Redlegs a 59.9% chance of qualifying for the postseason.

Unfortunately, the Reds have much more to worry about than the Padres. Cincinnati holds a slim, two-game margin over the host Redbirds in the Wild Card race and can ill afford to allow them to draw any closer.

The St. Louis Cardinals (71-68) took two of three from the Cincinnati Reds last week in the Queen City. However, the last time the two clubs met along the banks of the Mississippi River, the Reds swept a four-game series from their hospitable hosts.

As the teams meet for the final time in the 2021 season, the Redlegs hold a 9-7 advantage over the Cardinals. If the Reds capture just one game this weekend, it will give them their first season series victory over St. Louis since the 2011 campaign.