Milwaukee @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2012 ) Milwaukee 1, Cincinnati 3
The Milwaukee Brewers' streak of three straight series wins against National League Central opponents is on the line, and the Brewers' slim hopes of working back into the playoff picture might not be far behind if they can't make a move soon. That might require a couple of wins this weekend against the Reds, who hold a slim half-game lead over Pittsburgh and an 8 1/2-game cushion over Milwaukee.
The Reds slammed three home runs in a 3-1 win in the series opener Friday, including a 442-foot blast by Jay Bruce, whose 21 home runs against the Brewers are his most against any team. Bruce is 10-for-23 (.435) with two homers against Saturday starter Yovani Gallardo.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Fox Sports Ohio, MLB Network
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (8-6, 3.59 ERA) vs. Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (4-6, 4.03)
Gallardo has recorded seven consecutive quality starts - and 16 in 19 outings this season - and he racked up a career-high 14 strikeouts Sunday against Pittsburgh. Gallardo is 4-4 with a 4.95 ERA in 13 starts against the Reds and has split two outings against them this season. He beat Cincinnati on May 8 in Milwaukee and lost June 25 at Cincinnati, allowing two runs over six innings in both games.
Coming off a three-hit shutout, Arroyo suffered his shortest outing of the season Monday against Arizona, lasting just 48 pitches and allowing five runs in three innings. The loss snapped a streak of three straight quality starts. Arroyo is 12-8 with a 3.70 ERA in 26 games (23 starts) against the Brewers and has turned in two strong outings against them this season. He allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings in a win May 7 at Milwaukee and gave up three runs in 7 2/3 innings in a no-decision June 26 in Cincinnati.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brewers LF Ryan Braun, who collected his 1,000th hit Friday, has four homers in 48 plate appearances against Arroyo, including one earlier this season.
2. Reds C Devin Mesoraco has hit safely in eight straight games despite not being Cincinnati's everyday catcher. The streak dates to June 29.
3. There has been at least one home run in the past 73 games at Great American Ball Park, the longest streak in the majors since an 80-game streak at Coors Field in 2002-03.