Cincinnati @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2011 ) Philadelphia 6, Cincinnati 4
After completing a successful homestand in walk-off fashion, the National League Central-leading Cincinnati Reds will visit the City of Brotherly Love to begin a four-game set with the Philadelphia Phillies. Dusty Baker's club won for the eighth time in 10 contests after Ryan Hanigan's walk-off single gave the Reds a 5-4 triumph over the Chicago Cubs. Cincinnati has flourished on the road, winning 12 of its last 16.
Domonic Brown drove in four - highlighted by a bases-clearing double - as Philadelphia salvaged a split of its four-game series with Milwaukee with an 8-0 triumph Sunday. Despite their lot in the standings and being sellers at the trade deadline, the Phillies have won 19 of 34 since the All-Star break. Jimmy Rollins will be honored prior to the contest for surpassing Larry Bowa's mark for most games played by a Phillies shortstop.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSOH (Cincinnati), CSN (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mike Leake (5-7, 4.29 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Roy Halladay (6-7, 3.80)
Leake recorded his second complete game of the season after handcuffing the New York Mets in a 6-1 win Wednesday. The 24-year-old did not issue a walk for the first time in seven outings. Leake is 0-1 with a 6.64 ERA in three career starts versus the Phillies.
Halladay saw his modest two-game winning streak come to an end after he yielded three runs in seven innings of a 9-2 loss to Miami. The two-time Cy Young Award winner has pitched well versus Cincinnati. In addition to a no-hitter versus the Reds in the 2010 NLDS, Halladay has won two of three regular-season contests.
WALK-OFFS
1. Citizens Bank Park has been a house of horrors for Cincinnati, which is 9-20 all-time at the Phillies' current home. The Reds haven't won a series in Philadelphia since 2003.
2. Phillies 3B Placido Polanco could return to the club after playing a couple of rehab games with Class-A Clearwater. Polanco has been sidelined since July 23 with lower back inflammation.
3. Philadelphia 2B Chase Utley was given Sunday off after 30 consecutive starts. Utley is expected to be back in the lineup Monday.