Cincinnati @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 22, 2012 ) Milwaukee 1, Cincinnati 2
The National League Central-leading Cincinnati Reds kick off a seven-game road trip when they take on the struggling Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of their three-game series. Cincinnati saw its division lead shrink to 4 1/2 games with a loss to second-place Pittsburgh on Sunday, a setback that completed a 5-2 homestand. Despite the defeat, the Reds have won 15 of their last 17 overall and nine straight on the road, their longest winning streak away from home since a 10-game run in 2005.
Milwaukee returns home after being swept of a three-game series in St. Louis. Sunday night's 3-0 loss was the Brewers' ninth in a row on the road and 12th in 16 overall contests. Reigning NL Most Valuable Player Ryan Braun went 0-for-4 on Sunday, keeping him one home run shy of his fifth year with 30 or more and one stolen base away from his third 20-20 season.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN (Cincinnati, Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (7-6, 3.87 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (9-8, 3.92)
Arroyo is seeking his fourth consecutive victory as he escaped with a win over San Diego on Wednesday after allowing four runs and seven hits in six innings. It marked only the second time in seven starts the 35-year-old surrendered more than three runs. He is 4-1 in that span. Arroyo improved to 13-8 lifetime against Milwaukee with a triumph on July 21 in which he yielded two runs over six frames.
Gallardo is coming off a bounce-back outing against Houston on Tuesday, when he held the Astros to one run and three hits over seven innings en route to victory. The 26-year-old Mexican had surrendered 11 runs in 10 2/3 frames over his previous two starts - both losses. Gallardo fell to 4-5 lifetime against the Reds by losing each of their last two meetings, including a showdown with Arroyo in Cincinnati on July 21 in which he yielded four runs over 5 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Arroyo will be facing the Brewers for the third time in eight starts and fourth time this season. He went 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA over the first three meetings.
2. Milwaukee 3B Aramis Ramirez returned to the lineup Sunday and went 1-for-4 after missing two games with a sore left wrist.
3. Cincinnati 2B Brandon Phillips has sat out five consecutive games with a strained left calf.