Philadelphia @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2012 ) Philadelphia 1, Cincinnati 2
With the way that Jay Bruce has been swinging the bat, the Cincinnati Reds can afford to be patient with Joey Votto. Bruce homered for the third straight contest on Tuesday as the Reds reduced their magic number for winning the National League Central to 18 games with a 2-1 triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies. Bruce will look to match his season-best streak of four straight games with a homer when he faces Roy Halladay in Wednesday's rubber match of the series at the Great American Ball Park.
Votto was activated from the disabled list prior to Tuesday's tilt, but remained a spectator. The 2010 National League MVP had been sidelined since July 15 with damaged cartilage in his left knee, but the Reds have posted a 33-16 mark without him in the lineup. Cincinnati will look to keep on rolling against Philadelphia, which suffered its second loss in six games to put a crimp in its ever-so-slim postseason aspirations.
TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, CSN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Roy Halladay (8-7, 4.02 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mike Leake (7-8, 4.45)
Halladay struggled in his last start after winning four of his previous five outings. The two-time Cy Young Award winner allowed four runs and as many walks in 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision versus Atlanta on Friday. Halladay walked away with the victory over the Reds on Aug. 20 despite yielding five runs on 10 hits.
Leake carries a two-game winning streak into Wednesday's contest, but has dropped both career decisions to Philadelphia. The 24-year-old was battered for seven runs on 10 hits in a 12-5 setback to the Phillies on Aug. 20. Leake allowed multiple homers in that game - as well as three of his last six trips to the mound.
WALK-OFFS
1. Jimmy Rollins became the fourth member of the Phillies to reach the 2,000-hit plateau, joining Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt (2,234), Richie Ashburn (2,217) and Ed Delahanty (2,207). Rollins is just 2-for-10 versus Leake.
2. Bruce has enjoyed considerable success versus Halladay, going 7-for-19 with one homer and six RBIs.
3. Aroldis Chapman was named Major League Baseball's Delivery Man of the Month for August. The fireballer celebrated his second consecutive honor by striking out two in the ninth inning on Tuesday to record his 35th save in 39 opportunities.