Cincinnati @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2010 ) Cincinnati 11, Houston 1
The Cincinnati Reds have been pounding their way to victories all season. A few more and they’ll be pounding their way into the playoffs.
The Reds will be looking to pull one step closer to the franchise’s first postseason berth since 2000 when they close out a three-game set against the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Cincinnati leads the National League in batting average, runs scored and slugging percentage and has used that offense to overcome some of the struggles of their young pitching staff this season. That strategy looks like it’s paying off, as the Reds cut their magic number to clinch the National League Central to eight with an easy 11-1 victory over the Astros on Saturday.
Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs and Jim Edmonds homered and Ryan Hanigan added three hits and two RBIs for Cincinnati, proving once again that the club’s lineup isn’t just about Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Scott Rolen.
Currently two games into a nine-game road trip that will take them through Milwaukee and San Diego, the Reds should have the division wrapped up by the time they head home on Sept. 28, giving the team plenty of time to line up its pitching for a first-round playoff matchup.
Cincinnati’s offense will face a tough test Sunday when Houston right-hander Brett Myers (12-7) gets the call. The veteran has been one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball this season and, in fact, in history. Myers has made 30 starts this season and gone at least six innings in each of them - something only six other pitchers have done in the last 90 years.
That consistency has turned into wins lately, as Myers has gone 4-0 in his last five outings. He is coming off a win over the Brewers on Monday in which he allowed one run on six hits in seven frames while striking out 10. He is undefeated at Minute Maid Park this season, posting a 7-0 record with a 2.16 ERA in 13 home starts.
Myers has yet to face Cincinnati this season, owning a career mark of 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA in nine games - seven starts.
The Reds will counter with rookie Travis Wood (5-3). The 23-year-old left-hander has been pretty consistent himself in his young career, allowing three earned runs or less in 12 of his first 14 starts, though he hasn’t been able to match Myers’ ability to work deep into games. Wood has lasted only five innings in each of his last two outings, surrendering three earned runs in each.
One his worst starts came against the Astros back on July 23, when he was touched for four runs on nine hits in six innings of a no-decision at Minute Maid Park.