Cincinnati @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2013 ) Cincinnati 1, Milwaukee 5

The Cincinnati Reds are starting to hear footsteps in the postseason chase as they continue their nine-game road trip against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. Friday's 5-1 loss to the Brewers cut Cincinnati's lead to 4 1/2 games over Washington in the race for the National League's second wild card and dropped the Reds 3 1/2 games behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central. The Reds are 35-38 away from home with eight games remaining on their road swing.

Milwaukee is fighting to stay out of the basement in the NL Central but has stalled Cincinnati's playoff drive by beating the Reds in five of eight meetings since the All-Star break. The start of a 10-game homestand invigorated center fielder Carlos Gomez, who had three hits and tied a career high with five RBIs after failing to get an extra-base hit or drive in a run in his previous eight games. Aramis Ramirez could miss Saturday's game with a left wrist contusion.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Fox

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (10-10, 3.39 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Johnny Hellweg (1-3, 8.64)

Bailey is riding a five-game winning streak and has allowed only two runs in 21 1/3 innings over his last three starts. He did not factor in the decision last time out against the Los Angeles Dodgers after giving up a pair of runs and striking out nine in seven innings. Bailey won at Milwaukee on Aug. 18, allowing only one run on three hits to improve to 2-7 lifetime against the Brewers.

Hellweg picked up his first major-league win in his last start, going six innings and giving up three runs on four hits to beat the Chicago Cubs. It was the longest outing in five appearances (four starts) by Hellweg, who lost to the Red in his previous start in July, getting tagged for four runs in 4 1/3 innings. Control has been a major issue for Hellweg - he has 16 walks and four strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee starters have six straight quality starts and 10 in 11 games this month.

2. Bailey is 5-8 with a 3.61 ERA in 15 road starts.

3. Gomez needs one homer to become the third player in franchise history with 20 blasts and 30 stolen bases in a season.

PREDICTION: Reds 5, Brewers 3