Houston @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2012 ) Houston 5, Cincinnati 3
The Cincinnati Reds are still firmly in command of the National League Central, and it's a good thing, because otherwise Friday's series-opening loss to the visiting Houston Astros would really sting. The Reds will look to bounce back from a rare blown save by Aroldis Chapman and a loss to the worst team in the majors when the series continues at Great American Ball Park. The Astros are trying to claim just their second series win since the All-Star break and their first since taking two of three from Milwaukee from Aug. 10-12.
Houston starter Bud Norris hopes a date with the Reds will be the ticket to ending his winless drought. Norris is 0-2 with a 4.55 ERA in six starts against the Reds, but he has allowed just one run in 13 innings over two starts against them this season. That's bad news for the Reds, who have managed just nine runs over their past four games, three of them losses. The latest defeat was a tough one to swallow, as Chapman suffered his first blown save since June 24, allowing a three-run homer to Matt Dominguez in the ninth to end a streak of 27 consecutive saves. Cincinnati has won nine of 13 meetings this season against Houston, which has lost 16 of 20 and is 10-42 since the All-Star break.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Bud Norris (5-11, 4.80 ERA) vs. Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (11-7, 3.76)
Norris started the season 5-1 but has not won since May 21, a string of 16 starts without a victory. Norris has pitched well enough to end the streak recently, posting quality starts in three straight outings and six of his last eight, but he hasn't gotten much support. He threw six innings of three-hit, shutout ball Sunday against Cincinnati but still couldn't manage a win.
Arroyo has won four straight decisions and seven of his last eight, and he pitched well enough to add another win to the list Sunday. He allowed one run on three hits over six innings against Houston but didn't get a decision. Arroyo is 12-7 with a 4.16 ERA in 30 games (24 starts) against the Astros.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cincinnati's Jay Bruce and Chris Heisey are both riding seven-game hitting streaks. Bruce is 2-for-13 against Norris while Heisey has not faced the right-hander.
2. Reds utility man Todd Frazier has reached base in 29 consecutive games, the team's longest streak this season.
3. The Astros' active roster is a collective 19-for-100 with 20 strikeouts against Arroyo. No Houston player has more than two hits against him.