Johnny Cueto has been very solid this season, but he was awful in two starts vs. the Cardinals last year and he is catching a St. Louis lineup that has been killing right-handers. Joel Pineiro has pitched well vs. the Reds so far.
The St.Louis Cardinals (19-10) have a divisional battle today on hand with the Cincinnati Reds(15-13) Taking the mound for the Cards is Joel Pineiro (4-1 3.24 ERA), as he goes up against Johnny Cueto (2-1 1.65 ERA) for the Reds.
Cueto has struggled against the Cards going 0-2 with a 16.20 ERA. In two starts against them, he has given up 12 earned runs and 13 hits in just 6 innings pitched. He also struggled with 9 walks and just 4 strike outsin those games last year.
The young 23 year old has been solid all year posting 29 strikeouts and just nine walks. He has a lot on his shoulders in the hitter friendly ballpark tonight against the Cards whose bats are hitting .292 vs. right handed pitchers this season. Cincinnati sluggers Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips both missed Thursday's game due to the flu and are questionable tonight according to Coach Dusty Baker.
Pineiro is 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in four career starts against the Reds, with two victories coming at hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark. He is coming off of his first loss of the season to the Washington Nationals last Saturday. He pitched seven innings giving up seven hits, one earned run, four strikeouts, and one walk. In 33.1 innings pitched he has only given up two home runs this season. His off-speed stuff has been very solid so far.
A couple of nice little trends to back us too, the Cards are 8-2 this season in Game 1 of a series. They are also 7-3 in Pinerio's last 10 starts as an underdog.
We'll back the St. Louis Cardinals as underdogs.
Free Pick: Cardinals +120