Chris Paddack on the mound is the storyline you can't ignore. The Reds scooped him up after Miami designated him, and his line still reads 0-5 with a 7.07 ERA. His Cincinnati debut against Cleveland on May 18 actually went okay — 5 innings, 2 earned runs — but the bullpen blew it in a 7-4 loss. Terry Francona pulled him at 78 pitches, which tells you exactly how much rope this rotation is willing to give him before things get scary.
Andre Pallante is the steadier hand here. He's gone at least 5 innings in every start this year and just punched out 7 over 6.2 frames against Kansas City on May 17. A 4.04 ERA isn't sexy, but compared to what's coming the other way, it might as well be Cy Young material.
Pinnacle has the Cardinals as run-line favorites at -1, which is the market's way of saying it expects Paddack to leak. The moneyline is essentially a coin flip, though, because Great American Ball Park doesn't care who's pitching — it turns warning-track flies into souvenirs. Eugenio Suarez is also reportedly back in the Cincinnati lineup after an oblique stint, which gives the Reds at least one bat that scares somebody.
- Day-To-DayPacky Naughton (RP) — Naughton will undergo surgery next month to repair the damaged UCL in his left elbow, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.05/14
- Day-To-DaySem Robberse (SP) — Robberse (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayVictor Santos (RP) — The Red Sox traded Santos (undisclosed) and Nick Robertson to the Cardinals on Friday in exchange for Tyler O'Neill (foot), Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayIxan Henderson (SP) — Henderson (elbow) is starting the season on the 60-day injured list at Triple-A Memphis.05/08
- Day-To-DayZack Thompson (RP) — The Cardinals reassigned Thompson (shoulder) to minor-league camp Monday.05/08
- 10-Day-ILNathan Church (LF) — Church (lower body) is expected to be placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.05/22
- 10-Day-ILRamon Urias (3B) — Urias (elbow) will begin taking dry swings this week, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.05/21
- 60-Day-ILLars Nootbaar (LF) — The Cardinals are eyeing June 1 as a target date for Nootbaar's (heels) activation from the 60-day injured list, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.05/21
- Day-To-DayConnor Burns (C) — no05/08
- Day-To-DayJosh Staumont (RP) — The Twins reinstated Staumont (calf) from the 15-day injured list Friday and optioned him to Triple-A St. Paul, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILKe'Bryan Hayes (3B) — Hayes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.05/22
- 10-Day-ILJose Trevino (C) — Trevino is expected to miss 3-to-4 weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.05/18
- 15-Day-ILRhett Lowder (SP) — Lowder (shoulder) is expected to face hitters early next week, Charlie Goldsmith of of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.05/21
- 15-Day-ILEmilio Pagan (RP) — Pagan (hamstring) is throwing from his knees in order to keep throwing while not putting stress on his strained hamstring, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox19.com reports.05/20
- 15-Day-ILCaleb Ferguson (RP) — Ferguson (oblique) walked one over a scoreless inning for Triple-A Louisville on Friday.05/10
- OutCarson Spiers (SP) — The Reds re-signed Spiers (elbow) to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training Monday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILHunter Greene (SP) — Greene (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session May 26, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.05/14
- 60-Day-ILBrandon Williamson (SP) — The Reds transferred Williamson (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08
Both injury lists are ugly. Cincinnati is without Hunter Greene, Rhett Lowder, and Jose Trevino, and now Ke'Bryan Hayes is sitting too. St. Louis is missing Nootbaar, Urias, and Nathan Church. Whoever can patch together 9 innings of competent bullpen work probably wins this one — and given Cincinnati's pen torched Paddack's last start, the smart read is that Pallante has the easier path.
Game 2 follows at 7:15 PM. Get your nap in between.