Minnesota @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 23, 2012 ) Minnesota 0, Cincinnati 6
After watching Johnny Cueto dominate the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, host Cincinnati turns to Mike Leake in the rubber game of the three-game series. Cueto tossed seven shutout innings as the Reds snapped a season-high four-game losing streak and remained one game ahead of Pittsburgh in the NL Central. Minnesota has lost seven of its last 10 games after starting June with a 7-3 record.The Twins’ Joe Mauer went 1-for-4 Saturday in his first start since June 17. Mauer, who had been out with a bruised right thigh, got the start at first base while Justin Morneau was given a day off. Morneau is hitting .236 and is just 3-for-14 in his last four games. The Reds are expected to get CF Drew Stubbs (oblique) back on Monday after he plays in three rehab games for Class A Dayton. Chris Heisey has received most of the starts in center field in place of Stubbs, who was batting .235 with seven homers and 13 stolen bases before his injury.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FSN (Minnesota), Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Scott Diamond (5-2, 2.13 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mike Leake (2-5, 4.70 ERA)
After allowing a total of eight earned runs over his first seven starts, Diamond has given up eight in his last two outings. Diamond boasts a 30-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and he’s posted a quality start in six of his nine starts. He’s 2-2 with a 3.43 ERA in four road starts.
Leake was originally scheduled to start Monday, but he’s moving up a day since manager Dusty Baker doesn’t want Leake and Bronson Arroyo back-to-back in the rotation. Leake, who is making his first career appearance against the Twins, is 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA in his last seven starts.
WALK-OFFS
1.Twins utilityman Jamey Carroll scored the 500th run of his career in Friday’s series opener.
2. Reds 2B Brandon Phillips is hitting .302 (26-for-86) with five homers and 19 RBIs in 20 games this month.
3. While Minnesota has used 10 different starting pitchers, the Reds have used only five through 70 games.