Cincinnati @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Mar 16, 2010 ) Cincinnati 13, Arizona 7
If the Cincinnati Reds have true aspirations of making the postseason, they’ll need to make sure to take care of teams they are supposed to beat. They’ll also have to do it on the road.
First-place Cincinnati will get a great opportunity to do both as the team opens up a nine-game road trip Tuesday by facing the last-place Arizona Diamondbacks in the first meeting between the squads on the season.
The Reds (67-51) have regrouped nicely following what could have been a devastating three-game sweep at the hands of the rival St. Louis Cardinals a week ago.
In getting swept, the Reds were outscored 21-8 and momentarily lost their grip on the top spot in the National League Central. But they followed up with three straight victories over the Florida Marlins to regain a one-game advantage over St. Louis in the standings.
The Reds can make it four wins in a row when they square off against Arizona (47-72), which enjoyed just its second road winning trip of the campaign by going 4-3 with stops in Washington and Milwaukee. It didn’t help improve their spot in the standings as the Diamondbacks own the second-fewest wins in the NL.
Working in the Reds’ favor is the fact that Bronson Arroyo (12-7, 3.94 ERA) will toe the rubber in the opener as he looks to maintain his road excellence. Over his past six outings away from home, the right-hander is 4-1 and owns a 1.60 ERA.
Arroyo had won two straight before taking a loss to the Cardinals in his last start, allowing four runs and six hits over five innings.
In his career, he has faced the Diamondbacks eight times - six starts - with a record of 1-3 and a 5.23 ERA.
Arizona will turn to its newest starter Daniel Hudson (3-0, 1.59 ERA), who has been more than a pleasant surprise since arriving from the Chicago White Sox in a deal for Edwin Jackson before the trade deadline.
Hudson has gone over seven innings and allowed three total runs in earning wins in each of his first three starts with his new club. The right-hander, who has never faced Cincinnati, gave up two runs and seven hits in seven frames for the victory over Milwaukee in his last appearance.
Hudson will have his hands full against a potent Cincinnati lineup that ranks among the league’s best in average (.271), RBIs (558) and home runs (132).
The two teams squared off for a three-game set in Arizona last season, with the Reds earning the sweep.