Adams hits ahead of Peralta to break up righties

CINCINNATI -- With Matt Carpenter and Kolten Wong hitting atop the lineup, the Cardinals had one other left-handed bat to fit into their Opening Day slate. After weighing his options, manager Mike Matheny decided that Matt Adams best belonged behind catcher Yadier Molina and ahead of shortstop Jhonny Peralta in the sixth spot.

Placing Adams in front of Peralta breaks up what would have otherwise been a string of four consecutive right-handed hitters in the heart of St. Louis' order. Matheny said Adams' past results in Great American Ball Park also factored into his decision on where to bat his first baseman.

Adams has one double and three homers in 19 previous at-bats in the Reds' ballpark. Two of those home runs came in extra innings of the Cardinals' Sept. 4 victory over the Reds last season, a game Adams entered to replace an injured Allen Craig.

While Adams is in the Opening Day lineup for the first time in his career, Peralta represents the eighth Opening Day shortstop to start for the Cardinals over the past eight seasons. Though Peralta hit seventh on Monday, the Cardinals will consider batting him as high as second as the season progresses.