Philadelphia @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 29, 2011 ) Philadelphia 3, Cincinnati 2

THE STORY: Roy Halladay hasn't pitched in an eternity. OK, it's only been eight days, but creature-of-habit Halladay saw his scheduled start on Monday pushed back in favor of the returning Cole Hamels. Well, the 2008 World Series MVP didn't disappoint as he tossed six strong innings and the Phillies scratched out a 3-2 triumph in the opener of a four-game set against the Cincinnati Reds. On Tuesday, Halladay will get his chance to rock the Reds, who saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, WPHL, FSOH

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Roy Halladay (15-5, 2.56 ERA) vs. Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (8-10, 5.02 ERA).

Halladay collected his 15th win over three weeks ago and hasn't won since. OK, the drought has only spanned two starts and has been affected by the persistent rain that has followed the Phillies over the last few weeks. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner pitched only five innings in his last outing, which resulted in a no-decision against the Washington Nationals. Halladay is 1-1 in his regular-season career against the Reds. He settled for a no-decision after allowing three runs on a season-high 11 hits on May 25. Of course, his career mark doesn't include his brilliant no-hitter during Game 1 of the 2010 National League Division Series.

Arroyo posted his first victory in nearly two months when he tossed eight scoreless innings in an eventual 3-2 triumph over the Florida Marlins on Wednesday. Prior to that outing, the 34-year-old Arroyo last won on June 25. Arroyo has struggled against the Phillies, recording a 1-6 career mark with a bloated 7.13 ERA. He permitted season highs in both runs (nine) and hits (10) in 2 2/3 innings of a 10-3 loss to Philadelphia on May 23.

ABOUT THE PHILLIES (84-46): Shane Victorino snapped a tie with a two-run homer in the eighth inning on Monday. Mired in an 0-for-11 slump, Victorino deposited a breaking ball from Homer Bailey into the seats in right field for his 15th home run of the season. Hunter Pence slipped on the warning track in the fourth inning, resulting in a leadoff triple and eventual run scored for Brandon Phillips. At the plate, Pence extended his modest hitting streak to five games with a single. He is 11-for-32 (.344) in his career against Arroyo.

ABOUT THE REDS (67-67): Yonder Alonso made his first career start at third base on Monday. While he wasn't needed to make any defensive plays, Alonso struggled at the plate, striking out three times. Phillips extended his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games with the aforementioned questionable triple. He is now 23-for-52 during the streak, which has coincided with him being elevated to the leadoff spot. Phillips has struggled versus Halladay, going 5-for-17 with four strikeouts. Catcher Ryan Hanigan, who also collected two hits Monday, is riding a 15-for-28 stretch in his last eight starts. He is 0-for-3 in limited duty versus Halladay.

FINAL PITCH: Ageless lefthander Jamie Moyer has begun rehabbing at the Phillies' spring training complex. Moyer left ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" behind in favor of a visit to Clearwater, Fla. The 48-year-old Moyer underwent Tommy John surgery in December and eyes a potential return to the power-packed rotation by spring training.