San Diego @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 8, 2012 ) Cincinnati 4, San Diego 2
Edinson Volquez will take a crack at snapping his former team's longest winning streak in 13 years when he and the San Diego Padres open a four-game road series against the Cincinnati Reds. The blistering Reds have won 10 straight for the first time since 1999 to open a three-game lead in the National League Central. They are tied for the best record in the majors at 61-40.
The Padres took two of three from the Reds earlier this month in San Diego, and they've had a good month, going 14-10 and 9-7 since the All-Star break. It will be Volquez's second shot this month at the Reds, who traded him to San Diego as part of a deal for fellow right-hander Mat Latos in the offseason. Volquez piled up a season-high 10 strikeouts and allowed just one run in seven innings July 5 in San Diego but did not factor in the decision.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports San Diego, Fox Sports Ohio
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Edinson Volquez (6-7, 3.30 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mike Leake (4-6, 4.12)
Volquez has won his last three decisions and has posted quality starts in five of his last six outings. He followed up a one-hit shutout against Houston on July 19 with another strong outing Tuesday at San Francisco, striking out eight and allowing two runs over seven innings. Volquez is 14-9 with a 4.38 ERA in 35 starts at Great American Ball Park.
Leake earned his first win of the month Tuesday at Houston, holding the Astros to two runs on seven hits over eight innings. It was his sixth quality start in his last seven outings. A San Diego native, Leake will face the Padres for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Reds are 11-2 without star 1B Joey Votto, who is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday but has not yet resumed baseball activities.
2. San Diego's backstop duo of Yasmani Grandal and John Baker is a combined 20-for-64 (.313) since the All-Star break.
3. Reds 2B Brandon Phillips left Sunday's game with cramping in his left calf but is not expected to miss any time. Phillips is hitting .464 (13-for-28) during a seven-game hitting streak.