Miami @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 16, 2012 ) Cincinnati 5, Miami 4

There have been few positive moments for Miami in the first two weeks of the season, but Jose Fernandez has excelled in his first two major-league starts. As the struggling Marlins open a four-game series Thursday at Cincinnati, the 20-year-old Fernandez looks to continue baffling opposing hitters. Fernandez, who went 14-1 in Class A last season, has allowed five hits and one run with 13 strikeouts in 11 innings for Miami, which owns the majors’ worst record at 3-12.

Cincinnati capped a sweep of Philadelphia on Wednesday and is 7-2 at Great American Ball Park. Left-hander Tony Cingrani gets the call from Triple-A Louisville to make his first major-league start and take Johnny Cueto’s rotation spot. Cueto is on the disabled list with a strained right lat muscle. Cingrani, rated Cincinnati’s No. 3 prospect according to MLB.com, walked two while striking out 26 in three starts at Triple-A. Cingrani will be the first lefty to start a game for Cincinnati since Sept. 29, 2011.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Fox Sports Florida (Miami), Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jose Fernandez (0-0, 0.82 ERA) vs. Reds LH Tony Cingrani (0-1, 9.00).

Fernandez has displayed good control in his first two starts, walking three hitters. He allowed one earned run with eight strikeouts in five innings against the Mets on April 7, and pitched six shutout innings Saturday against Philadelphia. Opponents are hitting .132 against the left-hander.

Cingrani made three appearances out of the bullpen in 2012, allowing one earned run on four hits with nine strikeouts in five innings. Cingrani won the first International League Pitcher of the Week award of the season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami is last in the majors with three homers, while the Reds are seventh with 18.

2. The Reds needed nine minutes to finish Tuesday’s suspended game against Philadelphia, winning 1-0 on Jay Bruce’s ninth-inning single.

3. The Marlins and Reds split the season series 3-3 in 2012, with Miami outscoring Cincinnati 27-22.

PREDICTION: Reds 4, Marlins 1