Scouting report • The Cardinals welcome division foe Cincinnati for their first weekend series of the season. St. Louis lost two out of three in their opening series against the Chicago Cubs while still getting solid starts from Carlos Martinez, Adam Wainwright and Lance Lynn.
After not starting Thursday’s game with a cheek contusion from getting hit in the helmet by an errant throw, Stephen Piscotty should start Friday’s opener against the Reds. Piscotty, who came in as part of a double switch in Thursday’s loss to the Cubs, passed all tests and won’t have any restrictions going forward.