Cincinnati @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2012 ) Cincinnati 5, Arizona 2
The Cincinnati Reds attempt to complete a sweep of their three-game series against the sliding Arizona Diamondbacks when the clubs square off at Chase Field on Wednesday afternoon. National League Central-leading Cincinnati posted a 5-2 triumph Tuesday behind Johnny Cueto, who won his major league-leading 17th game. The Reds, who increased their division lead over St. Louis to seven games, have won six of their last eight road contests.
Arizona fell 8 1/2 games behind first-place San Francisco in the NL West as it dropped to 2-7 on its 10-game homestand. The Diamondbacks continued to struggle offensively, scoring fewer than five runs for the eighth time in their last nine contests. The club registered only four hits Tuesday and Justin Upton went 0-for-4, ending his home hitting streak at 20 games. Both teams boast closers on a roll as Cincinnati's Aroldis Chapman has converted 25 consecutive save opportunities while Arizona's J.J. Putz has nailed down 17 in a row. Chapman is tied with Texas' Joe Nathan for the longest current saves streak in the majors.
TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, FSN (Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mat Latos (10-4, 3.84 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (5-5, 3.91)
Latos is hoping to rebound from a loss to St. Louis on Friday in which he surrendered seven runs over five innings. The 24-year-old had gone 3-0 over his previous six starts, allowing two earned runs or less in each outing. Latos, who is 4-1 in 11 road starts, yielded five runs over 4 2/3 frames in a loss to the Diamondbacks on July 18.
Corbin suffered his first loss as a starter since May 21 on Friday, when he allowed four runs over four innings against San Diego. The 23-year-old won three of his previous four outings after making five relief appearances. Corbin, who is 2-1 in four home starts, will be facing the Reds for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto, who has been sidelined since mid-July with a knee injury that required surgery, went 0-for-1 with a walk in a rehab game with Single-A Dayton on Tuesday.
2. RHP Matt Lindstrom allowed two runs and three hits over one inning in his debut with the Diamondbacks.
3. Arizona has lost five consecutive games and seven of nine.