Milwaukee @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 8, 2012 ) Cincinnati 2, Milwaukee 3
While the Cincinnati Reds have punched their ticket to the postseason by winning the National League Central, the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers are running out of time to join them in the second season. Milwaukee, which sits 3 1/2 games behind St. Louis in the race for the second wild card, will visit the Queen City to open a three-game set versus Cincinnati on Tuesday. The Brewers settled for a split of its four-game series against Washington after being throttled 12-2 on Monday.
Cincinnati can afford to rest some of its studs as it eyes the postseason. The Reds did precisely that on Sunday as Jay Bruce and closer Aroldis Chapman remained spectators during the team's 5-3 setback to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cincinnati may see the return of manager Dusty Baker, who was released from a Chicago hospital after suffering from an irregular heartbeat. Baker may return to the dugout as early as Tuesday night.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSWI (Milwaukee), FSOH (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Mike Fiers (9-8, 3.38) vs. Reds RH Johnny Cueto (18-9, 2.84)
Fiers struggled in his last outing, yielding three runs in as many innings before exiting with a no-decision against Pittsburgh on Thursday. The 27-year-old rookie evened his record versus Cincinnati at 1-1 after scattering three hits and striking out seven in a 3-1 win on Aug. 7. Fiers has insisted that he has not hit a wall despite throwing 172 1/3 innings this season between Milwaukee and Triple-A Nashville.
Cueto snapped a three-game losing skid after scattering five hits over six scoreless innings in a 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. The 26-year-old Dominican saw his career mark against Milwaukee even at 3-3 despite striking out nine in seven innings in a 3-1 setback on Aug. 7. Cueto was moved up in the rotation in favor of Mike Leake, who will pitch on normal rest.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto has 17 hits and 17 walks since returning from the disabled list. Votto has reached base in half his plate appearances (34 of 68) since his return.
2. Milwaukee's Ryan Braun went 2-for-4 on Monday to finish the series 8-for-14. The reigning NL MVP has struggled versus Cueto, going 7-for-32 with eight strikeouts in his career.
3. Bench coach Chris Speier has recorded a 7-2 mark while filling in for Baker as manager.