Houston @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2010 ) Houston 2, Cincinnati 3
Armed with their first division championship since 1995, the Cincinnati Reds will spend the rest of the regular season preparing for a greater goal.
They will be looking to set themselves up for a deep playoff run when they face the Houston Astros again on Wednesday.
Cincinnati clinched its first National League Central title since 1995 in dramatic fashion Tuesday night when Jay Bruce lifted a solo homer off Tim Byrdak in the bottom of the ninth for a 3-2 victory.
Bruce raised his arm in the air as he began to race around the bases, sparking a large celebration by the Reds and their fans at Great American Ball Park.
Bruce is one example of a powerful young lineup that Cincinnati has used this season, with MVP candidate Joey Votto leading the way. That lineup leads the NL in runs scored and is the biggest weapon they have against opponents like Philadelphia and San Francisco, which boast strong pitching staffs.
With four games remaining on the regular season schedule, Reds manager Dusty Baker will have the luxury of resting players like Bruce, Votto and veteran slugger Scott Rolen while setting his rotation in advance of the playoffs.
Johnny Cueto will be looking to cement his place in Cincinnati’s playoff rotation when he takes the mound today.
The 24-year-old right-hander has shown flashes of dominance this season and might be the Reds’ best pitcher on his best day, though Edinson Volquez, Bronson Arroyo and Homer Bailey could each lay that claim as well. But Cueto is coming off one of the worst starts of his career last week, when the Milwaukee Brewers touched him for eight runs on eight hits in just 1 1/3 innings.
Cueto pitched well against Houston on Sept. 17, allowing three runs and five hits in six innings of a no-decision. In nine career starts against the Astros, Cueto owns a 1-4 record with a 4.36 ERA.
Houston will counter with right-hander Nelson Figueroa, who has struggled of late. The veteran journeyman has lost his last two, allowing a total of 10 runs - eight earned - in 10 1/3 innings. Trying to impress the Astros enough to earn a spot on next year’s team, Figueroa will need a strong start today.
He lost to Cincinnati on Sept. 18, allowing five runs - three earned and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. In 12 career games - two starts - he owns a 1-1 record with a 4.44 ERA against the Reds.