Milwaukee @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 24, 2013 ) Milwaukee 3, Cincinnati 6

The Cincinnati Reds look to move a season-high 19 games over .500 on Sunday when they face the visiting Milwaukee Brewers in the rubber contest of the three-game series. The Reds have won 10 of their last 14 to pull within 2 1/2 games of first-place Pittsburgh in the NL Central and hold a seven-game lead over Arizona for the second wild-card spot. The Brewers have lost four of their last six games, but they’ve been encouraged by the play of rookies Khris Davis and Scooter Gennett.

Jay Bruce is expected back in the Reds’ starting lineup after receiving a rare day off Saturday, when the Reds evened the series with a 6-3 victory. The right fielder, who is batting .205 with two homers over his last 20 games, entered Saturday’s action leading the majors in total innings played. Left fielder Ryan Ludwick, who missed the first four months of the season with a torn labrum in his right shoulder, belted his first homer since last October on Saturday and has hit safely in five of his last six games.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Marco Estrada (5-4, 4.80 ERA) vs. Reds RH Greg Reynolds (0-1, 9.00)

After beating Texas in his previous start, Estrada allowed four runs over six innings and settled for a no-decision against St. Louis last Monday. The 30-year-old is 1-3 with a 4.24 ERA in eight career games (four starts) against the Reds. Bruce is 6-for-14 with four homers against Estrada, and Brandon Phillips is 6-for-15 with one home run.

Reynolds is starting in place of lefty Tony Cingrani, who is expected to be placed on the disabled list with a lower right back strain. The 28-year-old Reynolds, a former first-round pick of the Rockies in 2006, has gone 12-3 with a 2.42 ERA for Triple-A Louisville this season. He’s making his second start for the Reds this year after yielding five runs over five innings against the Giants on July 23.

WALK-OFFS

1. Davis is batting .455 (15-for-33) during his 10-game hitting streak.

2. Cincinnati’s starting pitchers are 11-3 with a 2.64 ERA over the last 18 games.

3. Brewers 3B Aramis Ramirez is one home run shy of 350 for his career.

PREDICTION: Brewers 6, Reds 5