Cincinnati @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 3, 2012 ) Cincinnati 1, LA Dodgers 3
The Cincinnati Reds have been up and down through the first six games of their 11-game West Coast jaunt. The Reds will look to win their three-game series on Wednesday when they play the finale versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Luis Cruz ripped an RBI double to snap a tie and then stole home in the seventh inning as Los Angeles posted just its third victory in 15 games with a 3-1 triumph on Tuesday.
Although Cincinnati fell short, it did receive a solid performance from Joey Votto. The Toronto native had a pair of hits in his return from a two-game absence due to inflammation in his left knee. The setback dropped the Reds into a first-place tie with surprising Pittsburgh atop the National League Central, and leaves them 3-3 so far on the trip.
TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, FSOH (Cincinnati), FSPT (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mike Leake (3-5, 4.12 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Aaron Harang (5-5, 3.68)
Leake has clearly put his early-season struggles behind him. The 24-year-old was simply dominant in his last outing, permitting just one run in a complete-game victory over San Francisco on Friday. Leake, who has not lost since May 11, has split a pair of decisions in his career versus Los Angeles.
Harang yielded five runs on seven hits in a lopsided 9-0 loss to the New York Mets on Friday. The 34-year-old has struggled with his control in his last four starts by walking 18. Harang won his lone career decision versus Cincinnati, allowing just one earned run and striking out six in as many innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Juan Uribe is nursing a sprained right ankle, which allowed Cruz to start on Tuesday. X-rays of Uribe's ankle were negative.
2. Cincinnati's Drew Stubbs can't seem to buy a break. He went 0-for-4 on Tuesday and is hitless in his last 24 at-bats. Stubbs hasn't faced Harang, but Ryan Ludwick is 14-for-33 with three homers in his career versus the hurler.
3. Los Angeles placed reliever Todd Coffey on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow soreness and recalled fellow RHP Shawn Tolleson from Triple-A Albuquerque.