Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 2, 2010 ) Cincinnati 4, Pittsburgh 0

The Cincinnati Reds are back in first place in the NL Central and looking to feast on another division opponent when they resume their series with the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday at PNC Park.

The Reds won the opener, 4-0, on Monday as Miguel Cairo drove in two runs, All-Star Brandon Phillips scored twice and Travis Wood, Russ Springer and Arthur Rhodes combined on a three-hitter.

Cincinnati is 5-1 in its last six games and took over the NL Central lead on Monday with its win over the Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals' 9-4 loss to the Houston Astros. The Reds, who are a half-game in front of the Cardinals, have recorded half of their 60 wins against division foes.

They have a good chance to add to that win total on Tuesday, especially if Mike Leake can keep building on what has been a stellar rookie season thus far.

Skipped in the rotation in Atlanta as the club monitors his innings, Leake will be making his 20th start of the season. The eighth pick in the 2009 draft, Leake (7-2, 3.57 ERA) has started two games against the Pirates this season and has pitched well. Although the Reds have lost both times, Leake has walked away with a pair of no-decisions.

Leake has pitched 14 1/3 innings against Pittsburgh and has allowed four runs and 17 hits for a 2.51 ERA. The Reds have scored just four runs for Leake in those two outings, but it is the Pirates who have scoring issues now.

Pittsburgh has dropped five straight and is 2-8 in its last 10 games. The Pirates have scored just five runs during their current losing skid and have been shut out twice while being outscored, 34-5.

Headed for an 18th straight losing season, Pittsburgh is playing out the string once again and sends Paul Maholm (6-9, 4.52 ERA) to the mound.

A high draft pick in his own right - eighth overall in 2003 - Maholm has dropped two straight starts and five of his last seven decisions. In 17 career sgtarts against the Reds, Maholm is 5-4 with a 3.69 ERA.

Possibly distracted by trade talk during his last start, Maholm is coming off a horrible outing against the Colorado Rockies. There were various reports that had Maholm headed to the NL West-leading San Diego Padres, but that didn't happen.

What did happen was Maholm was shelled by the Rockies, as he gave up eight runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings.