Leahy, on the other hand, has won 3 straight decisions but the Reds specifically have his number. They torched him for 5 runs and 2 homers on May 23 in an 11-inning Cincinnati win, and across his career against Cincinnati he's carrying a 7.20 ERA without a decision. His last start was a clean 4.1 against the Cubs — 1 earned, 4 punchouts, 0 walks on 78 pitches — but the leash is short with a lineup that's already gotten to him once this month.
The bigger problem for the Reds is who's not in the box. Elly De La Cruz is on the 10-day IL with a Grade 1-2 hamstring strain, Ke'Bryan Hayes is out at third, Jose Trevino's down behind the plate, and the bullpen is shredded — Pagan, Johnson, and Ashcraft are all on the shelf, with Ashcraft now on the 60-day after a PRP injection on the elbow. Hunter Greene threw a bullpen this week, but he's not walking through that door tonight.
- 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-ILElly De La Cruz (SS) — Reds manager Terry Francona said Monday that an MRI on De La Cruz's right hamstring showed between a Grade 1 and Grade 2 strain, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.06/01
- 10-Day-ILJose Trevino (C) — Trevino (hamstring) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday, MLB.com reports.05/27
- 10-Day-ILKe'Bryan Hayes (3B) — Hayes is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.05/22
- 15-Day-ILRhett Lowder (SP) — Reds manager Terry Francona confirmed Wednesday that Lowder (shoulder) will be reinstated from the injured list to start Sunday's game in St. Louis, Charlie Clifford of NBC 5 Cincinnati reports.06/03
- 15-Day-ILEmilio Pagan (RP) — Pagan (hamstring) underwent an MRI exam Friday that showed positive results, MLB.com reports.05/31
- 15-Day-ILPierce Johnson (RP) — Johnson threw a scoreless seventh inning in Tuesday's win over the Phillies to pick up his fourth hold of the season. He struck out two while allowing a walk.05/30
- 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-ILGraham Ashcraft (RP) — Ashcraft (elbow) received a platelet-rich plasma injection Tuesday, MLB.com reports.06/03
- 60-Day-ILHunter Greene (SP) — Greene (elbow) threw a successful bullpen session Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.05/26
- 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
- Day-To-DayJJ Wetherholt (2B) — Wetherholt is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.06/04
- 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-ILRamon Urias (3B) — Urias (elbow) is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Memphis as soon as this weekend, Derrick Goold and Amber Winkler of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch report.06/03
- 10-Day-ILNathan Church (LF) — Church (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Thursday, Derrick Goold and Amber Winkler of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch report.06/03
- 60-Day-ILLars Nootbaar (LF) — Nootbaar (heels) "appears targeted" to be activated from the 60-day injured list before the start of Friday's series against the Reds, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.06/01
St. Louis has its own holes — JJ Wetherholt was scratched Wednesday, Ramon Urias is rehabbing — but Lars Nootbaar is reportedly targeted for activation before this very series, which would be a real shot in the arm for the lineup. Both teams come in at a combined 4-6 over their last 10, so this is two stumbling NL Central clubs trying to grab some footing before the schedule gets meaner.
The play here is probably the under at 9.5 (-117) given Singer's homer rate against a Cardinals offense that's averaged 3.2 runs over its last 5 — except Busch in June with the wind in the wrong direction can wreck a pitching matchup faster than you can pour a beer. Cardinals -1.5 at +144 is the price worth squinting at if you trust Leahy to navigate a hobbled Reds lineup the second time around.