Houston @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2011 ) Houston 4, Cincinnati 6

THE STORY: The Cincinnati Reds took care of business Tuesday in their quest to post back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1999-2000. Now they just have to win all seven of their remaining games. Brandon Phillips has been on a home run binge and is looking like he could join teammates Jay Bruce and Joey Votto in the 20-homer club. The Houston Astros are struggling through the end of the worst season in franchise history but continue to get encouraging if inconsistent performances from a host of young players. The Reds will be looking to keep hope alive when they host the Astros in the rubber match of the three-game series on Wednesday.

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, my20 (Houston), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (8-12, 5.34 ERA) vs. Astros LH Wandy Rodriguez (11-10, 3.55).

Arroyo is struggling through his worst season as a full-time starter and has a good chance at setting the major league record for home runs allowed. The veteran righthander sailed past Eric Milton’s club record of 40 last time out when he surrendered four in 6 1/3 innings to suffer a loss to Milwaukee. With 44 total, Arroyo is four short of Jose Lima’s NL record and six behind Bert Blyleven’s major league mark with two starts to go. The Astros happen to be one of only three teams Arroyo has faced this season and not allowed a homer, tossing eight innings in a no-decision Aug. 1. Rodriguez could be down to his last couple starts for Houston, which tried to move him at the trading deadline and figures to be aggressive again over the winter. The veteran lefthander has allowed three runs in each of his last four starts but has made it through the seventh inning only once in that span. Rodriguez was knocked around by Cincinnati for five runs in five innings to suffer a loss Aug. 2.

ABOUT THE ASTROS (53-101): Looking for the positives, Houston has graduated a host of players from the minors who look like they have already locked up jobs for 2012. J.D. Martinez is among the pleasant surprises, batting .282 with six homers and 33 RBIs in 46 games. Martinez went 3-for-5 with a homer, two RBIs and two runs scored Tuesday and has multiple hits in each of his last three starts. Bud Norris, a third-year player, looked like he hit the wall Tuesday. Starting the night 30 innings over his total from 2010, Norris lasted only 2 2/3 innings while yielding seven hits and walking a pair. The Astros removed the burly righthander with shoulder discomfort.

ABOUT THE REDS (75-80): Cincinnati is trying to salvage a disappointing season with a late run. The schedule includes three games each against the Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates after Wednesday’s finale, making a winning streak seem like a possibility. Phillips has been on a tear lately, hitting six homers in his last nine games to bring his fourth career 20-homer season within shouting distance. Cincinnati will have to continue without promising rookie Yonder Alonso, who may be done for the season because of a sore right ankle.

FINAL PITCH: Cincinnati made some announcements concerning their pitching staff for both the remainder of the season and the future. Johnny Cueto, who suffered a lat strain last week, is officially out for the rest of the season with Travis Wood and Dontrelle Willis penciled in as starters for the weekend. Additionally, the team is considering sending Aroldis Chapman to winter ball with the intention of stretching him out to start in 2012.