Surging Cards, Alec Burleson open 5-game set at Reds with doubleheader

It's been quite a month of August for Alec Burleson. Just over halfway through the penultimate month of the major league season, the St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman is slashing .340/.441/.780 in 50 at-bats over 14 games.

He has six home runs on 17 hits with 19 RBIs and 13 runs scored this month.

It's a run he and his teammates hope will continue when they open a five-game visit to the Cincinnati Reds with a doubleheader on Monday.

Burleson helped power the Cardinals to an 11-4 victory against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, going 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, four RBIs and two runs scored. His homer was his 21st of the season, matching his career high set in 2024.

"I know what August can do to you," Burleson said. "I know what September can do for you. I understand what that looks like, and so I think I've just taken that next step."

The 27-year-old has already established career bests with 90 RBIs and 31 doubles. He's just 12 hits shy of matching his career high (147) reached in 2024 and, with 70 runs scored, is one away from matching his total from that season, as well.

"This is a guy that knows what he needs to do," St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. "You give him enough time and he'll figure it all out."

Sunday's game allowed the Cardinals to win a fourth straight series and improve to 9-4 over their past 13 games after going 4-12 in the first 16 coming out of the All-Star break.

Quinn Mathews (0-1, 3.60 ERA) will start the first game. It'll be the second major league appearance for the left-hander, who gave up two runs on six hits over five innings against the Toronto Blue Jays in his debut on Aug. 1.

Righty Andre Pallante (12-6. 3.46) will get the nod in the second game.

Whom the Reds plan to counter with for the opener hadn't been announced as of Sunday evening, but they'll be hoping for a quality start to minimize the need from the bullpen after relievers struggled to keep the game close in a 7-1 loss to the visiting Miami Marlins on Sunday.

Nick Lodolo went five innings in his second start since returning from injury as he continues to work his way back after a month-long absence. He held Miami scoreless on three hits.

"I would like to go six innings, especially with what we have ahead (Monday)," Lodolo said. "But I understand it, it's a process, and I'm building up."

Julian Garcia picked up where Lodolo left off, retiring six of the seven batters he faced in the sixth and seventh innings. But Tejay Antone took over in the eighth and gave up a home run and two walks, including one with the bases loaded that put St. Louis down 2-0. Then, after Tyler Stephenson homered to cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the eighth, the Marlins capitalized against Ron Marinaccio and a shaky Reds defense to blow the game open.

Cincinnati has dropped two of its past three series and six of its past nine games.

Rhett Lowder (4-18, 5.15) is expected to be on the mound for the second game. The 24-year-old righty is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in three career starts against the Cardinals.

--Field Level Media