Reds-Cardinals Game 2 Preview

The Cincinnati Reds and St Louis Cardinals meet once again tonight

Apr 3, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey (34) throws a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

, in their fifth game versus one another in this young season, with the Cards having a 3-1 advantage in the series so far. The Cards took game 1 of the three game set yesterday afternoon in their home opener 5-3 over Cincinnati.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco should be back in the lineup, and reliever Jonathan Broxton could be ready to serve as the Reds’ closer. Mesoraco was activated from the disabled list Monday but was not in the starting lineup. Broxton is a good bet for activation on Tuesday.

Broxton got a late start in camp after he had surgery in August to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right forearm.

One familiar sight on Tuesday will be the starting pitching matchup. The Cardinals are scheduled to start Lance Lynn against Homer Bailey, which was the matchup on Thursday, when St. Louis won 7-6. Bailey lasted only 4 1/3 innings and gave up four runs.

Lynn, who gave up three first-inning runs over his five innings of work, felt that the Reds did a good job fouling off his fastball all game.

First pitch is at 8:15pm, remember the game is on Fox Sports 1 only, if you don’t have that you catch on the radio (700 WLW), another must win for this ballclub, a loss tonight would guarantee this team another series lost in St Louis.

Three Reds core players, Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, combined to go 0-for-9 in Monday’s 5-3 loss. Phillips is batting .259 for the season, while Votto is off to a .240 start and Bruce is at .160.

Manager Bryan Price wasn’t overly concerned about their slow start but is hopeful things heat up soon.

“These are the guys that, when the season is over, they’re going to have their numbers,” Price said. “They will be the performers that we know they are. Right now, almost collectively, we’ve struggled to do anything with guys in scoring position and have any sustained rallies. That will change, but it’s tough to sit through it.”