Houston @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2012 ) Cincinnati 5, Houston 3
The Cincinnati Reds have a comfortable 8 1/2-game advantage in the National League Central and their star first baseman back in the lineup after more than seven weeks on the disabled list. Now, they have a three-game set against the struggling Houston Astros to help them build toward their second division title in three years. Cincinnati has won nine of 12 meetings this season against Houston, which is 9-42 since the All-Star break and has lost 16 of 19. The Reds could use a visit from the worst team in the majors after scoring just six runs while dropping two of three to Philadelphia earlier in the week.
Astros right-hander Lucas Harrell hopes to get better run support than he has received in his last two starts against the Reds. He held Cincinnati to one run on seven hits over seven innings on July 24 and posted the same line Saturday, but he didn't get a decision in either game. His counterpart, Reds righty Homer Bailey has suffered the same fate, allowing just one run over 15 innings in two starts against the Astros this season but not registering a decision in either.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Houston, Fox Sports Ohio
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Lucas Harrell (10-9, 3.81 ERA) vs. Reds RH Homer Bailey (10-9, 4.09)
Harrell has been Houston's most consistent pitcher, accounting for nearly 25 percent of the team's wins. The 27-year-old rookie hasn't won since Aug. 14, though, in large part because the Astros have scored a total of three runs in his past three outings. Harrell is 0-1 with a 3.80 ERA in four games (three starts) against the Reds.
Bailey set a career high with his 10th win on Aug. 10, but he hasn't won in four starts since. He certainly pitched well enough to win Saturday against the Astros, allowing one run on three hits over eight innings, but Harrell was equally good and Houston squeaked out a 2-1 win. Bailey is 4-0 with a 1.29 ERA in seven starts against Houston.
WALK-OFFS
1. Reds OF Jay Bruce is hitting .476 (10-for-21) during a six-game hitting streak and has homered in four straight games. Bruce is 4-for-7 with a homer against Harrell.
2. Harrell has allowed two runs or fewer in nine of his past 10 starts.
3. Votto went 2-for-3 with a walk Wednesday in his first game since July 15. He his hitting .346 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs. The Reds were 33-16 during his absence.