Arizona @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 16, 2012 ) Arizona 5, Cincinnati 3

Cincinnati’s six-game winning streak ended in Monday’s series opener, but that was not the worst news of the night for the Reds. All-Star first baseman Joey Votto was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee. Votto, sixth in the majors in hitting (.342), will undergo surgery Tuesday and will miss 3-to-4 weeks. Arizona scored only three runs in three losses to the Cubs to start the second half of the season, but scored that many on Miguel Montero’s double in the first inning Monday.

Arizona’s bullpen allowed only one hit and one walk in 3 1/3 innings Monday. After Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo lasted only three innings, the Reds’ bullpen held the Diamondbacks scoreless across the final six innings. Cincinnati turns to Johnny Cueto, who was scratched from Sunday’s start with a blister on his right index finger. The Diamondbacks counter with rookie Trevor Bauer, who makes his fourth major-league start.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Arizona RH Trevor Bauer (1-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. Cincinnati RH Johnny Cueto (10-5, 2.39)

Bauer earned his first major-league victory in his last start July 8, holding the Dodgers to two hits and no earned runs in a 7-1 victory. Bauer walked one and struck out six in his third major-league start. He worked much better with catcher Montero, a by-product of a 15-minute meeting the day before his start in which Bauer and Montero discussed how to attack Los Angeles’ hitters.

Cueto snapped a two-start losing streak July 8, allowing seven hits and two earned runs at San Diego. Cueto walked two and struck out five in the victory, moving within two victories of his career high (set in 2010). Right-handers are hitting only .179 off Cueto this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cueto swapped rotation spots with Homer Bailey on Sunday. The Reds and Marlins are the only two teams in the majors to use only five starting pitchers this season.

2. Todd Frazier, who primarily has played third base for the Reds this season, played first base for Votto on Monday.

3. Arizona reliever Takashi Saito pitched a perfect inning in the Arizona League on Friday and Sunday. Saito has missed all season with a right calf strain and a respiratory illness.