Cincinnati @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( May 16, 2016 ) Cincinnati 6, Cleveland 15

The Cleveland Indians had been struggling to score runs before getting up for the battle of Ohio and pushing across 15 in Monday’s triumph. The Indians will try to earn a sweep of their home portion of the home-and-home series when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.

Cleveland totaled four runs in back-to-back losses to the struggling Minnesota Twins on Saturday and Sunday and fell into a 4-0 hole on Monday before the offense exploded. Yan Gomes and Marlon Byrd each homered as part of the 19-hit attack and Francisco Lindor collected three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored during the onslaught. The Reds own the worst bullpen in the majors and did not get much out of starter John Lamb in the series opener. Cincinnati, which will host the final two games of the home-and-home series later in the week, is just 3-13 on the road in 2016 and has lost six of seven in the interleague series against its intrastate rival dating back to last season.

TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), SportsTime (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Alfredo Simon (1-3, 8.67 ERA) vs. Indians RH Danny Salazar (3-2, 1.90)

Simon is beginning to settle down after a rough start to the season and posted his second consecutive quality start by holding the Pittsburgh Pirates to three hits on Wednesday. All three of those hits left the yard for solo home runs, and the Dominican Republic native has been reached for nine blasts in his last 21 1/3 innings. Simon spent last season in the American League Central with the Detroit Tigers and went 4-0 with a 2.64 ERA in five starts against Cleveland.

Salazar struck out a season-high 10 but also issued six walks in five innings at Houston on Wednesday, allowing one run without factoring in the decision. The 26-year-old has yet to surrender more than three earned runs in a start this season and has 53 strikeouts in 42 2/3 total innings. Salazar faced Cincinnati once previously and was reached for five runs on five hits in four innings to suffer a loss.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds CF Billy Hamilton was activated from the bereavement list and could return to the lineup on Tuesday.

2. Cleveland RHP Carlos Carrasco (hamstring) threw off a mound on Monday and will pitch in a simulated game later in the week.

3. Cincinnati 3B Eugenio Suarez is 5-for-11 with two home runs and five RBIs in the last two games.

PREDICTION: Indians 6, Reds 3