Arizona @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 18, 2012 ) Arizona 8, Cincinnati 7

Seven games out of the final NL wild-card spot and 6½ back in the NL West, Arizona can ill afford to slide further out of playoff contention. The Diamondbacks were swept in three games by the Cubs at Wrigley Field over the weekend, continuing their streaky play. Arizona won its final three games before the All-Star break, which followed a six-game losing streak. On the other hand, Cincinnati is surging, sweeping the Cardinals to extend its winning streak to six and move one game ahead of Pittsburgh in the NL Central.

Pitching continues to spark the Reds, who come into the week third in the majors in ERA (3.33). Johnny Cueto, scratched from the Reds’ start Sunday night with a blister, is scheduled to pitch Tuesday. Left-hander Wade Miley, Arizona's lone All-Star representative, looks to get the Diamondbacks back on track in the series opener against Bronson Arroyo.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona (Arizona), Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Arizona LH Wade Miley (9-5, ERA 3.04) vs. Cincinnati RH Bronson Arroyo (4-5, 3.73).

Miley won nine of his first 12 decisions to earn a berth on the NL All-Star squad. But he has lost his past two starts, ballooning his ERA from 2.19 to 3.04. He gave up eight hits and eight runs in 3 2/3 innings against Milwaukee on June 30, then allowed eight hits and four runs against Los Angeles on July 5.

Arroyo won in his last start before the break July 6, firing a three-hit complete-game shutout at San Diego. It marked the right-hander’s second victory since mid-May. Since allowing five runs in four innings June 20 at Cleveland, Arroyo has allowed just five earned runs and struck out 14 in 22 2/3 innings in his past three starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Arroyo has six no-decisions and one loss in seven starts at Great American Ball Park.

2. Arizona shortstop Stephen Drew is hitting .205 in his first 12 games since returning from a broken ankle suffered last summer. Drew had hits and RBIs in five of his previous six games before going 0-for-4 Sunday.

3. Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto, among the top 10 in the NL in many offensive categories, entered Sunday hitting .250 in his past 18 games. Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker indicated Votto likely will get a game off in the next few days.