Cincinnati @ Milwaukee preview
American Family Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2010 ) Cincinnati 4, Milwaukee 3
The Cincinnati Reds, now with their magic number sitting at four, have the playoffs in sight as they head into Wednesday’s series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Reds (86-66) got eight innings of three-hit, one-run ball from Tuesday’s starter Edinson Volquez to book a 4-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, their seventh consecutive win over the Brew Crew.
The St. Louis Cardinals lost against Pittsburgh on Tuesday and fell eight games back of Cincinnati.
The Reds will send out Johnny Cueto (12-5, 3.35 ERA) in looking to close out a three-game sweep. Cincinnati pitchers have enjoyed a ton of run support this season from the league’s top offense that produces 4.9 runs per game with a .271 team batting average.
The Reds are averaging 6.24 runs in Cueto’s starts this season, but haven’t been nearly as supportive lately. Cincinnati has managed just seven runs over Cueto’s last three starts. Cueto, who hasn’t won since Aug. 27, is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA over two starts against the Brewers this season.
Cueto faces off against Milwaukee starter Randy Wolf (12-11, 4.32 ERA), who is coming off a complete-game shutout against the San Francisco Giants in his last start. Wolf gave up three hits while striking out six to nail down the 13th complete game and ninth shutout of his career.
The veteran left-hander has been fantastic since getting hammered for 12 runs in a 15-3 loss to Pittsburgh on July 21, going 5-2 with a 2.66 ERA over his last 10 starts. He has owned the Reds throughout his career, posting a 9-2 record and a 3.17 ERA in 18 lifetime starts.
The Reds hope to have Joey Votto back in the lineup against Wolf. Votto, who is hitting .457 with three home runs and 12 RBIs against Milwaukee this season, was a late scratch for Tuesday’s game with a sinus infection and was replaced at first base – albeit briefly – by Jim Edmonds.
Edmonds was forced to leave the game in the second inning when he strained his right lower leg during his home run trot after blasting his 11th dinger of the year. Miguel Cairo came on for Edmonds and had two hits and an RBI for the Reds. Both Votto and Edmonds are considered day-to-day.
Milwaukee (69-81), meanwhile, is waiting for Prince Fielder to snap out of his slump against Cincinnati pitching. He is batting .212 with only one RBI against the Reds this season, but does have seven hits and a pair of homers in 20 career at-bats against Cueto.