It's early, but the Reds are looking forward to the three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals that begins today at Cinergy Field.

        The records of the two teams are the opposite of what experts predicted for them coming into the season.

        The Reds are 20-13 (.606) and leading the National League Central. The Cards are 15-19 (.441), in third place.

Kearns and Barry Larkin celebrate after scoring on a bases loaded double by Dunn in the sixth inning Wednesday night. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        St. Louis is banged up, with five pitchers on the disabled list. The Reds, with their solid starting pitching, continue to confound the experts, and their hitters are coming to life, totaling 37 runs and 48 hits in their last four games.

        Reds manager Bob Boone noted that his bullpen is pretty well-rested after the offensive explosion in the three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers.

        “We were able to keep Sully (Scott Sullivan) out,” Boone said. “That bodes well for this weekend.”

        The Reds are well aware that the Cardinals were the preseason favorite to win the NL Central.

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Adam Dunn takes one deep. (AP photo) WALLPAPER

        But, “I know if we put our "A' game on the field, we're going to be right there” in this series, Boone said.

        He played down the significance of winning the series.

        Reds fans are expecting the team to prove its record is no fluke; the Reds are expecting the fans to provide some support, as occurred two weekends ago in a three-game series against the Giants at Cinergy Field. The Reds won two of three in that series, and praised the fans' energy, saying they hadn't felt support like that at Cinergy since late in the 1999 season.

        The Cardinals are drawing much better at Busch Stadium than the Reds are at Cinergy Field.

        Through 15 home dates, St. Louis is averaging 34,873, eighth-best in the majors. Through 18 home dates, Cincinnati is averaging 18,790, 23rd-best.

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