This one starts with both the park and the weather. We know Cincinnati is a hitters' park, perhaps second only to Coors Field. And of course the totals usually (always) reflect that, but here it shouldn't matter. Hudson had a nice start this season and has begun to regress. He can be a ground ball pitcher, but he also can put extra men on base as evidenced by his relatively high WHIP. He also faced and beat the Reds earlier this season, so there's more familiarity with him the second time around which is more relevant with a young pitcher. He hasn't pitched overly deep many times and of course in the wicked heat that's even less likely and the Cardinals bullpen has been below average, at best, lately. Roark has been simply destroyed is last game back, of course at Colorado, but he wasn't sharp the game prior to the break - and he's got to pitch in the same weather as Dakota. He IS a flyball pitcher more often than not, and someone most of the Cardinals have hit quite well. Then of course there's the Reds' pen which is brutal of late. There are some Reds that are questionable, but I seriously don't think it matters - and at the moment I am inclined to like the Cardinals.

07/18/2019 4:57 AM