ST. LOUIS -- The Reds entered Friday losers of five consecutive series, including having dropped 10 of their previous 15 games, which takes on extra significance since they are trying to earn the second National League Wild Card spot.

But as he prepared to play the Cardinals on his 38th birthday, first baseman Joey Votto felt like his team could clear this rough patch and get back on track.

“Offensively, we’ve come up short some games, for sure. Games that we probably end up winning,” Votto said. “Every team is short of players at times during the season. Jesse [Winker] is, of course, a big part of our lineup.

“What do I see? I see this as part of the season. I see this as a good way to get ready for the playoffs. We’ve got a three-plus week stretch of games here that I think we’re going to play well and finish off strong.”

Cincinnati finished the 2020 season with a 31-29 record but played strong down the stretch to make the postseason. With most of last year’s team on the current roster, Votto felt that experience would be valuable over the final 21 games.

“I think it makes a difference, for sure,” said Votto, who entered Friday night batting .269/.368/.547 with 29 home runs and 86 RBIs. “We know what we’re gunning for. Now we have fans. Now protocols are much more modest, so we get to be closer to one another, we get to celebrate together. That’s what is on our minds.”

Votto ended a personal 16-game streak without a homer Wednesday when he cleared the fences vs. the Cubs in a 4-1 loss. He wasn’t lacking confidence from the power drought.

“It’s not good, but I’m going to homer a lot from now until the end of the season, so it’ll be all right,” Votto said.

Votto regrets St. Louis comments

The last time the Reds were in St. Louis and claimed a four-game series sweep June 3-6, Votto was spending his final days on the injured list with a broken left thumb. Cincinnati swept the series over the Cardinals.

Upon his return the lineup on June 8, Votto made some choice comments about St. Louis that drew attention.

“We had some [trash]-talking [stuff] in St. Louis after the first series sweep,” Votto said on June 8. “It's kind of nice to go on the road, at their ballpark, and let them have it. We had some people sweeping brooms and [stuff] like that while we were leaving. So how'd you like that?”

As his media session ended Friday, without prompting, Votto expressed remorse for his previous comments.

“I said something that I was a little bit regretful about,” he said. “So I was quoted speaking very vaguely about someone here in St. Louis. I didn't elaborate. There was someone behind the scenes, and I certainly won't mention who or what, but I just want to make it clear that what I said was absolutely not a commentary on the Cardinals' fans or anybody at all here in St. Louis. I'm very fond of coming to St. Louis.

“As I think you would all know, I'd be completely honest if I was not happy with something. I just hope that the people here don't think that I was speaking about them. It was something very much behind the scenes in terms of preparation for our games. But stuff like that happens. … I am regretful of saying those words and putting that out there because that's not really what I wanted to share. Forgive the vagueness, but I think you guys can fill in the gaps. The people in St. Louis have been great to me. Fans have been great.”

Barrero gets to play

With shortstop Kyle Farmer going home to Georgia on paternity leave Friday, Jose Barrero was recalled from Triple-A Louisville and started at shortstop vs. the Cardinals. Barrero has been on the taxi squad all week as Farmer waited for his wife, Courtney, to go into labor.

Barrero, 23, went 2-for-12 with a double in six games last month during his earlier callup.

“He’s been staying ready. Every opportunity we get to see Jose play and get him more experience here is really important for him,” Reds manager David Bell said. “We’ve been anxious to get him into our lineup and let him play more. We believe he can help us win. He’s had a great year. He hasn’t had much opportunity here just because of our other players and how guys like Farmer have done. That’s a good thing; it’s allowed us to be patient and take a little bit more time. But we have been looking forward to seeing Jose play and it happens at a really important time. And he’s ready for it.”