Cincinnati @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 9, 2016 ) Cincinnati 2, Miami 4

The Miami Marlins look to record their first series sweep in over two months on Sunday afternoon when they host the reeling Cincinnati Reds in the finale of their three-game set. The Marlins have posted back-to-back two-run victories over the Reds to give themselves a chance to bring out the brooms for the first time since sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 3-5.

Veteran Martin Prado continued his hit parade with three in Saturday's 4-2 victory to increase his total to 17 in his last nine contests. Slugger Giancarlo Stanton added a run-scoring single to extend his hitting streak to six games, during which he is 9-for-23 with four homers, eight RBIs and six runs scored. While Miami's success versus Cincinnati has helped it turn the page from a disastrous 3-6 road trip, the latter has dropped 13 of 17 to have it crawling on its knees toward the All-Star break. Brandon Phillips, who is playing with a hairline fracture in his left hand, had an RBI single on Saturday and is 7-for-15 during his four-game hitting streak.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds LH Cody Reed (0-3, 9.00 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Tom Koehler (6-7, 4.40)

Reed lost his third straight start on Monday after allowing eight runs (four earned) on five hits in four innings of a 10-4 rout by the Cubs. Chicago took the rookie to task in back-to-back outings, accounting for 15 runs (11 earned) on 14 hits - including five homers - in eight frames. Positives have been few and far between for Reed, who has recorded 22 strikeouts in 20 innings.

Koehler has followed a three-game winning streak by going 0-1 in his last three outings, with a leaky bullpen squandering a four-run lead en route to a no-decision versus the New York Mets on Monday. The 30-year-old was taken deep twice for the second time in three outings and did not record a strikeout for just the second time in 17 starts. Koehler suffered a hard-luck loss in his last encounter with the Reds, permitting two unearned runs on five hits in seven innings on July 31, 2014.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cincinnati CF Billy Hamilton, who tweaked his right knee in the series opener, is 4-for-33 in his last nine games.

2. Miami SS Adeiny Hechavarria is 0-for-14 in his last four contests.

3. Reds OF Jay Bruce replaced injured Cubs OF Dexter Fowler on the National League roster for the upcoming All-Star Game.

PREDICTION: Marlins 5, Reds 3