San Diego @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 30, 2012 ) San Diego 11, Cincinnati 5
Homer Bailey will have one last chance to make his case for National League Pitcher of the Month honors as he attempts to get the Cincinnati Reds back on track after having their 10-game win streak snapped in Tuesday's series opener against the visiting San Diego Padres. The Reds, who lead the National League Central by 2 1/2 games over Pittsburgh, are a half-game behind Washington for the best record in the majors.
The Padres' already have fallen victim to Bailey's hot streak once this month. He held them to two earned runs over 6 2/3 innings in the Reds' 6-5 win on July 7 in San Diego. Bailey has been one of few pitchers who has cooled off the Padres lately. They've scored six or more runs in nine of their last 16 games, including an 11-5 win in the series opener.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports San Diego, Fox Sports Ohio
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Jason Marquis (4-5, 3.48 ERA) vs. Reds RH Homer Bailey (9-6, 3.53)
After losing four straight decisions, Marquis has won his last three starts. He was especially good Wednesday at San Francisco, striking out eight and allowing one earned run on three hits over 7 1/3 innings. Marquis is 7-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) against the Reds. He faced Cincinnati on July 8 in San Diego and took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits in five innings.
Bailey is 4-0 with a 1.43 ERA in five starts this month, and he has 34 strikeouts and eight walks in 37 2/3 innings over that span. He missed out on his fifth win of the month Wednesday at Houston despite tossing seven scoreless innings. Bailey is 4-0 with a 3.35 ERA in six starts against the Padres.
WALK-OFFS
1. Reds 3B Scott Rolen is riding an eight-game hit streak. Rolen is 6-for-33 (.182) against Marquis, but has three homers among the six hits.
2. Padres 1B Yonder Alonso, a former Reds prospect, has a franchise-record nine games with multiple doubles this season. He tied a club record with three doubles Monday.
3. San Diego's 11 runs Monday matched a season high set May 24 against the Mets. Six of the Padres' top 13 scoring outputs this season have come in July.