Colorado @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 3, 2013 ) Colorado 0, Cincinnati 3

The Cincinnati Reds are winning games in the simplest way possible lately - by not allowing any runs. Cincinnati, which has recorded three shutouts in its last four games, will try to make it six straight victories over the visiting Colorado Rockies on Tuesday. The Reds also have a hot hitter on their hands in Jay Bruce, who delivered a two-run homer among his three hits in Monday's 3-0 victory over Colorado and has gone deep eight times in his last 23 games.

Cincinnati will likely be without second baseman Brandon Phillips, who missed the last two games after getting struck in the left forearm by a pitch against Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Rockies, who have lost seven of their last 10 games, have scored 32 runs in their last 12 road contests and are 4-8 in those games. Colorado's Juan Nicasio is 1-2 in his last six starts and will oppose Homer Bailey, whose last outing ended abruptly when he allowed five consecutive RBI hits.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Colorado), Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Juan Nicasio (4-2, 4.79 ERA) vs. Reds RH Homer Bailey (3-4, 3.84)

Nicasio led 3-1 through five innings before allowing five runs and seven hits in five-plus frames in the Rockies' 7-5 loss to Houston on Thursday. The 26-year-old Dominican Republic native yielded two runs over 11 innings in his two previous turns, including six shutout frames in a 5-0 victory over San Francisco on May 19. Nicasio, who has not pitched more than six frames in a game this season and allowed 57 hits in 56 1/3 innings with a 1.42 WHIP, has never faced the Reds.

Bailey retired the first seven batters and recorded two outs in the fourth inning before the Indians scored six runs during their next five at-bats en route to a 7-1 victory on Thursday. The 27-year-old La Grange, Texas, native was 2-0 in his previous three turns while recording quality starts in each outing. Bailey, who has 68 strikeouts in 68 innings, is 1-2 with a 5.47 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and a .355 batting average against in five starts against Colorado.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Reds improved to 21-7 at Great America Ball Park - the best home record in baseball.

2. Colorado rookie 3B Nolan Arenado, who started his major-league career 10-for-31, is 19 for his last 100.

3. Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Monday and did not reach base for only the fifth time in 58 games.

PREDICTION: Reds 3, Rockies 2