Milwaukee @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( May 12, 2013 ) Milwaukee 1, Cincinnati 5

The Cincinnati Reds helped the Milwaukee Brewers stay out of last place in the National League Central by taking three of four from the Chicago Cubs this week. The Reds will attempt to push them back to the bottom when they host the Brewers for the opener of a three-game series on Friday. Cincinnati is hoping to keep pounding on the bottom of the division before another crucial series against the Pittsburgh Pirates starts next week.

Milwaukee has actually done quite well for itself lately with wins in five of the last six games. Ryan Braun has missed three straight with a thumb injury but the Brewers have been able to lean on Carlos Gomez and Jonathan Lucroy. Milwaukee has averaged 6.3 runs in the last six contests and will be going up against a Reds staff that ranks in the top five in the majors in ERA.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Kyle Lohse (2-6, 4.03 ERA) vs. Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (6-5, 3.35)

Lohse snapped a seven-start winless streak last time out by holding the Philadelphia Phillies to one run on four hits in a season-high eight innings. The veteran right-hander had a small slip with his command in the middle of May but has walked only two batters over his last four starts. Lohse pitched for Cincinnati in parts of the 2006 and 2007 seasons and owns a 3-3 record with a 3.34 ERA in 11 career starts against his former team.

Arroyo has gone 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA in his last six starts and is coming off a six-inning effort against St. Louis in which he allowed two runs. The crafty right-hander began his current stretch of good fortune against Milwaukee on May 12, scattering five hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win. Arroyo is 14-10 with a 3.75 ERA in 30 career games against the Brewers and has been tough on Gomez (1-for-12) in the past.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Reds swept a three-game set from the Brewers at home by a combined 22-11 from May 10-12.

2. Gomez has seven RBIs and eight runs scored in his last four games.

3. Cincinnati RF Jay Bruce recorded four hits on Thursday and has multiple hits in four of the last six games. He has 22 home runs in 65 career games against Milwaukee.

PREDICTION: Reds 6, Brewers 4