Cincinnati @ San Francisco preview
AT&T Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 28, 2014 ) Cincinnati 7, San Francisco 3
Homer Bailey has experienced many fond memories when facing the Giants in his career, which also describes how the Cincinnati Reds have felt after leaving San Francisco in recent years. Bailey looks to remain undefeated against the Giants on Sunday as the Reds attempt to complete a four-game sweep of San Francisco. Bailey is 3-0 in seven career turns against the struggling National League West leaders, with two of those victories coming in his last two starts against them.
Bailey threw the second of his two career no-hitters on July 2, 2013, versus the Giants and posted another victory against them in his first start of this month. Cincinnati has experienced similar success in San Francisco, winning 10 of its last 12 at AT&T Park (including postseason) following a 7-3, 11-inning victory on Saturday to improve to 13-4 over its last 17 contests. The Giants, who led their division by 9½ games June 8, have dropped 14 of 18 since and are in danger of falling out of sole possession of first place for the first time since May 7 with another loss Sunday.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (7-4, 4.80 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Hudson (7-4, 2.62)
Bailey saw his four-game winning streak and six-game undefeated streak come to an end following Tuesday’s 7-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. The 28-year-old Texas native started off with three perfect frames, but ended up surrendering four runs on four hits and a pair of walks over 5 1/3 innings. Bailey has struck out at least seven in each of his last three outings against San Francisco, including a no-decision during the 2012 NL Division Series in which he allowed one hit and fanned 10 over seven frames.
After allowing no earned runs in three of his previous four turns, Hudson was pounded for the second straight time in Tuesday’s 7-2 home loss against San Diego. The three-time All-Star was tagged for six runs (four earned) on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings, six days after giving up season highs in runs (seven) and hits (12) in a road setback against the Chicago White Sox. Hudson has won each of his last two outings versus the Reds and is 5-1 with a 3.20 ERA in eight all-time starts against them.
WALK-OFFS
1. Giants C Buster Posey is batting .367 with 12 extra-base hits in June, but is 1-for-11 in his career against Bailey.
2. The Reds are batting .327 with runners in scoring position in June.
3. San Francisco 1B Brandon Belt is expected to return to the lineup Sunday after missing 45 games with a broken left thumb.
PREDICTION: Reds 4, Giants 3