AP Photo/Tom Gannam
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams (32) celebrates as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, front, catch A.J. Ellis and umpire Eric Cooper watch his, three-run home run in the seventh inning of Game 4 of baseball’s NL Division Series Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, in St. Louis.
Sunday, April 12, 2015 | 2 a.m.
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Get to the sports book early on Sunday.
The South Point-lined Play of the Day, which started with $10,000 starting bankrolls, typically likes to focus on games later in the day but there’s a 10 a.m. contest on the docket that can’t be ignored today.
St. Louis Cardinals minus-115 at Cincinnati Reds: $460 to win $400
The Reds’ extraordinary run of good fortune to start the season ran out yesterday. It now might be time for it to swing the other way.
Cincinnati had won three straight games by one run before St. Louis mowed it down 4-1 Saturday afternoon behind a strong outing from Michael Wacha. The Reds might be facing an even more powerful 23-year-old pitcher today at Great American Ballpark.
Carlos Martinez could wreak havoc on a Reds lineup prone to striking out in bulk. While not quite as heralded as Wacha, Martinez throws harder and allows fewer balls in play.
He could quietly be primed for a breakout season. His chances are at least better than Cincinnati counterpart Raisel Iglesias.
The Reds were grooming the Cuban defector for a spot in their bullpen, but switched course at the end of spring training. They turned him into a starter, and Iglesias got shelled in three starts.
He could wind up serviceable by the end of the year, but this is a tough first assignment against the Cardinals. St. Louis has started the season 2-2, but its run differential is actually even with the Reds at plus-3.
The Reds won’t stay ahead of the Cardinals in the standings for long.
Standings: Standings: Keefer (75-71-2, $11,332), Bern (72-66-1, $9,946), Brewer (64-80-3, $1,345)
Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
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