San Diego @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2013 ) Cincinnati 4, San Diego 1
The Cincinnati Reds appear to be on the rebound after a dismal stretch as they open a three-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres on Friday. Cincinnati swept a two-game series from the Oakland Athletics after being mired in a tailspin in which it lost seven of nine games – including two of three games in a visit to San Diego. The Padres were swept by Baltimore in a two-game set and are beginning a six-game road trip.
Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin has missed six consecutive games and could be headed to the disabled list if the team deems he won’t be available for the Cincinnati series. San Diego is also without All-Star shortstop Everth Cabrera after he drew a 50-game suspension for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal. Cincinnati has a 4 1/2-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the battle for the National League’s second wild-card berth.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Andy Cashner (8-5, 3.80 ERA) vs. Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (9-9, 3.62)
Cashner is 3-0 since the All-Star break, allowing eight runs in 19 innings during the stretch. He beat the New York Yankees in his last outing when he gave up two runs and seven hits in seven innings. Cashner has never started against the Reds but has a 3.60 ERA in six relief appearances against Cincinnati.
Arroyo was rocked for seven runs and eight hits in a season-low 3 2/3 innings in a loss to St. Louis last Friday. He has lost back-to-back outings, giving up 10 runs and 16 hits in nine innings. Arroyo is 6-7 with a 4.20 ERA in 15 career starts against the Padres.
WALK-OFFS
1. Reds 3B Todd Frazier is hitless in 31 at-bats, his last hit coming on July 25.
2. Padres 1B Yonder Alonso went 5-for-12 in the recent three-game series against Cincinnati and is batting .385 in 11 career games against his former organization.
3. Cincinnati OF Jay Bruce went 5-for-11 in the late-July series in San Diego.
PREDICTION: Reds 4, Padres 2