Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 1, 2013 ) Cincinnati 2, Pittsburgh 0

The Cincinnati Reds will try to continue their dominance over Pittsburgh when they go for a three-game sweep of the host Pirates on Sunday. Cincinnati registered back-to-back shutouts - 6-0 on Friday and 2-0 on Saturday - as Pittsburgh lost consecutive games for the first time since May 8-9 and has scored one run in its last 30 innings. Cincinnati's Mat Latos will put his undefeated record on the line when he opposes Jeanmar Gomez, who is coming off the best start of his career.

Cincinnati has won eight of its last 11 games overall and 14 of its last 20 on the road after starting 1-8 away from home. The Reds moved into sole possession of second place in the National League Central - one game ahead of the Pirates - and lead the NL with a .338 on-base percentage. While Pittsburgh has the second-best ERA in the majors at 3.15, it is hitting .219 with runners in scoring position - second-worst in baseball.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mat Latos (5-0, 3.01 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jeanmar Gomez (2-0, 2.30)

Latos allowed one run, five hits and walked a season-high four in an 8-2 victory over Cleveland on Tuesday to win his ninth straight regular-season decision. The 25-year-old Alexandria, Va., native, who has racked up four wins against the NL Central in 2013, allowed three runs and nine hits over 6 2/3 innings in Cincinnati's 10-7 loss at Pittsburgh on April 14. Latos is 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in seven career starts against Pittsburgh and has held its roster to a .209 batting average.

Gomez is 1-0 with a 2.15 ERA in six starts among his 11 appearances, serving as a fill-in No. 5 starter until one of several others work their way back from injury. The 25-year-old Venezuelan yielded three hits in seven scoreless frames - matching a career high for innings - but received a no-decision in the Pirates' 1-0 victory at Detroit on Tuesday. Gomez, who has held the Reds' roster to a .182 average in 22 at-bats, pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief against Cincinnati on April 14.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cincinnati 2B Brandon Phillips, who leads the NL with 45 RBIs, has been hit by a pitch in each of the first two games of the series.

2. Pittsburgh CF Andrew McCutchen, who popped up with runners at first and third and none out in the eighth inning Saturday, is 3-for-21 with seven strikeouts in his last seven games.

3. Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto leads the majors with a .462 on-base percentage and has reached base safely in 52-of-56 games.

PREDICTION: Reds 3, Pirates 2