After his team endured a three-game sweep against the Athletics over the weekend, Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona shuffled his batting order against the Cardinals in St. Louis.
He moved slumping shortstop Elly De La Cruz out of his usual No. 3 slot for the first time this season. De La Cruz walked twice and hit a double while batting seventh as the Reds rolled to an 11-6 victory on Monday.
The Reds will try to sustain that offense Tuesday night in the middle game of a three-game set.
Cincinnati (75-75) and the San Francisco Giants (75-75) are both two games back of the New York Mets in the race for the final National League wild-card slot. Meanwhile, the Cardinals (73-78) have fallen 4 1/2 games back thanks to losing six of seven games.
De La Cruz has not hit a homer since July 31, and that was his lone long ball in his past 71 games dating back to June 24.
Francona sought to take pressure off De La Cruz while giving his offense a new look.
“I value consistency so much,” the manager said. “Sometimes, I think that can turn into stubbornness. I believe in Elly so much, and I don’t want people pointing fingers at him because we’re going to do things as a ballclub — good things and when they don’t go so well.
“But I do think this can take a little bit of the glare off of him.”
The Reds will give the ball on Tuesday to Andrew Abbott (9-6, 2.79 ERA). The left-hander held the San Diego Padres to one run on five hits in eight innings in his latest start, a 2-1 victory on Wednesday. He struck out six and walked two.
This season, Abbott is 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA in three starts against the Cardinals. He struck out 13 in 16 innings during those contests, but he walked eight.
Abbott is 4-3 with a 3.74 ERA in eight career starts against St. Louis.
He might have Spencer Steer in the lineup behind him on Tuesday. The first baseman could return to action after he was scratched on Monday because of neck spasms.
The Cardinals got Nolan Arenado back on Monday for the first time since July 30. He went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI after finally recovering from shoulder soreness.
“I loved it,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “He did a nice job at third, he did that all year, then swung the bat well, drove in that run. I’m really happy to see him back in the lineup.”
On the flip side, the Cardinals lost first baseman Willson Contreras to right biceps tightness in the game.
“I think he’s going to have a couple days off to let that thing kind of die down a little bit,” Marmol said.
The Cardinals will start rookie Michael McGreevy (6-3, 4.44 ERA), who allowed just one run on five hits in six innings at Seattle in his latest start on Wednesday. He struck out four Mariners and walked none.
McGreevy had a similar outing against the Reds in his lone career start against them. He earned a 4-2 victory on Aug. 30 at Cincinnati while allowing one run on five hits in six innings. The 25-year-old right-hander walked two without recording a strikeout.