Miami @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 20, 2013 ) Miami 2, Cincinnati 3

Shin-Soo Choo reached base a career-high six times and Joey Votto tallied four hits, but the Cincinnati Reds still struggled to defeat the Miami Marlins on Saturday. The Reds will attempt to be more efficient and take three of four from the Marlins at home when the teams conclude their series on Sunday. Votto homered while Choo had three hits and drew three walks, but Cincinnati went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 17 runners in the 3-2, 13-inning win.

Miami’s woeful offense continued its miserable pace in the loss, scoring more than three runs only twice through 18 games. Both of those outings have come when Sunday’s starter, Alex Sanabia, has taken the mound. The young right-hander has been given 13 runs of support in his three outings, one less than the rest of the rotation combined in their 15 starts.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida (Miami), Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati)

Sanabia has benefited from the two times Miami’s offense has given its starters decent run support, including his last outing against Washington. The 24-year-old allowed two runs and six hits over six innings in Tuesday’s 8-2 victory over the Nationals. He tossed six scoreless frames in his only road start against the New York Mets, but is allowing left-handed hitters to bat 8-for-24 against him – a troubling trend against a Reds team that features Choo, Votto and Jay Bruce at the top of the order.

Bailey enjoyed one of the best performances of his career in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over Philadelphia, but was stuck with a no-decision despite tying a career high with 10 strikeouts. The seventh overall pick of the 2004 draft allowed only two hits over eight innings, becoming only the second pitcher in the last 10 seasons to go at least eight innings and strike out 10 batters on fewer than 90 pitches. In four career starts against the Marlins, Bailey is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Reds' 17 stranded runners Saturday matched their highest total since May 25, 2011, in a 19-inning loss to Philadelphia.

2. Marlins LF Juan Pierre has struck out three times in each of the last two days after fanning three times in a game only four times over his first 1,896 career contests.

3. Cincinnati pitchers have allowed two runs or fewer in six consecutive games – the longest stretch since a six-game streak from July 10-19, 2010.

PREDICTION: Reds 4, Marlins 1