Cincinnati @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2013 ) Cincinnati 0, Milwaukee 2

The Cincinnati Reds came into Milwaukee aiming to take advantage of a last-place team. After dropping two games in a row, the Reds just want to leave with a split of the four-game series when they visit the Brewers for the finale on Sunday. Cincinnati is 3 1/2 games behind first-place Pittsburgh in the National League Central and five ahead of Arizona for the second wild-card slot.

The Reds were beaten by a walk-off home run on Friday and held to five hits in a 2-0 shutout on Saturday as Yovani Gallardo picked his way through the Cincinnati lineup. The win pushed the Brewers ahead of the Chicago Cubs and out of last place in the division. The Reds have a four-game series coming up against Arizona on Monday and could use a win in the finale to ensure at least a five-game edge over the Diamondbacks heading into that set.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (7-10, 3.81 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Wily Peralta (8-12, 4.30)

Bailey surrendered three home runs at Chicago on Tuesday and was charged with four runs in 6 1/3 innings. The Texas native is allowing opponents a .306 batting average while going 2-4 with a 4.40 ERA in seven starts since throwing a no-hitter on July 2. Bailey followed up that no-hitter at Milwaukee on July 8 and was reached for four runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings to suffer the loss.

Peralta is aiming for a third straight quality start after holding Seattle to two runs on four hits in eight innings last Sunday. The 24-year-old struggled through two starts at the end of July but picked it up when the calendar flipped, yielding a total of three runs in 14 1/3 innings over two August outings. Peralta’s lone career shutout came in his last start against Cincinnati, a three-hit effort in which he struck out six on July 9.

WALK-OFFS

1. Brewers LF Ryan Braun has been reaching out to teammates and other team personnel to explain himself in the wake of his suspension.

2. Cincinnati LF Ryan Ludwick (shoulder) recorded his first two hits of the season on Saturday.

3. Milwaukee rookie LF Khris Davis has scored at least one run in eight of the last nine games.

PREDICTION: Reds 7, Brewers 4