Cincinnati @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 1, 2011 ) Cincinnati 3, Houston 4

THE STORY: Houston looks to ride the momentum of a thrilling 10-inning victory when it hosts Cincinnati on Tuesday night in the second of a three-game series. The Astros posted a 4-3 win in Monday's opener, scoring the decisive run on a bases-loaded fielder's choice by Jose Altuve. The Reds dropped 7 1/2 games back of Milwaukee in the National League Central.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports (Cincinnati); Fox Sports, Dish 444/9514 & DirecTV 678 (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (5-5, 4.68) vs. Astros LH Wandy Rodriguez (7-7, 3.47)

Bailey had shown signs of progress with back-to-back quality starts before imploding in a July 28 home loss to the New York Mets, who shelled him for nine runs and 12 hits in just four innings. He'll be hoping for better results against the Astros, which he dominated in his first two starts of the year after coming off the disabled list in May (13 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 K). Current Houston batters are a combined 8-for-41 (.195) with just one RBI against Bailey.

After being dangled as trade bait for much of late July, Rodriguez looks to pick up where he left off before the deadline. The lefthander is coming off back-to-back quality starts, allowing five runs (three earned) in 14 innings while striking out 13 and walking two. Rodriguez did not earn a decision in his lone start this year against the Reds, giving up three runs in seven innings of a 4-3 Astros win on May 11. He is 7-7 with a 4.06 ERA in 21 career starts against Cincinnati, owning RF Jay Bruce (1-for-23, 13 K).

ABOUT THE REDS (53-56): Cincinnati has lost 4 1/2 games on Milwaukee in the last week and a half, slowly fading from contention in a division they were favored to win this season. The Reds rank second in the National League with 511 runs scored, but they have been held back by a lack of consistency from their pitching staff, which hasn't been able to rely on any starter other than RHP Johnny Cueto (7-4, 1.72 ERA). Ten different pitchers have started games for Cincinnati this year, with RHP Edinson Volquez bouncing back and forth between the big club and Triple-A Louisville.

ABOUT THE ASTROS (36-73): Houston had dropped three straight and eight of 10 before getting a much-needed lift with Monday's victory. The Astros shipped a number of key players before the trade deadline, but their young players have shown flashes of brilliance. 3B Jimmy Paredes made a splash in his major league debut Monday, lacing a two-run triple in his first at-bat, and 2B Altuve is batting .318 despite going 0-for-5 in the series opener. CF Jason Bourgeois is batting .344 with 22 stolen bases in 55 games.

FINAL PITCH: C Humberto Quintero was the only player in the Astros' lineup Monday that was an Opening Day starter at the same position.