Cincinnati @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2013 ) Milwaukee 3, Cincinnati 1

The Cincinnati Reds begin their final road trip of the season Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers, who have won four of the last seven meetings between the teams. Rookie Billy Hamilton has provided a late-season spark for Cincinnati, which sits 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis and Pittsburgh for first place in the National League Central as well as the top wild-card spot. The 23-year-old speedster isn’t receiving much playing time in the field, but he already is 4-for-4 in stolen-base attempts.

Youth also is being served in Milwaukee, where rookies Scooter Gennett and Khris Davis are making a strong case to begin next season in the starting lineup. Gennett, who took over for an injured Rickie Weeks at second base last month, is batting .402 (43-for-107) with five homers over his last 32 games. Davis has missed the last six contests with a sore left wrist, but he’s hitting .298 with nine blasts in 33 games since taking Ryan Braun’s spot on the roster.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mat Latos (14-5, 3.02 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Kyle Lohse (9-9, 3.59)

Latos has been outstanding in 10 starts since the All-Star break, going 6-2 with a 2.15 ERA. The 25-year-old surrendered three runs over seven innings on Saturday against the Dodgers. Carlos Gomez and Norichika Aoki have combined to go 11-for-28 with four homers against Latos, who held the Brewers to two runs over seven frames in a 2-0 victory on Aug. 17.

Lohse aims to bounce back from a dismal outing against the Cubs last Friday, when he yielded seven runs on 11 hits over five innings. “I don’t know why he was struggling with his command, but we need to get him back on track again,” manager Ron Roenicke said. Jay Bruce is 10-for-31 with a home run against the 34-year-old, who surrendered two runs (one earned) over seven innings against the Reds on Aug. 15.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds closer Aroldis Chapman has struck out 11 while issuing one walk over his last five games.

2. Milwaukee’s starting pitchers have recorded nine quality starts in 10 games this month.

3. The Reds are 18-12 since LF Ryan Ludwick came off the disabled list on Aug. 12.

PREDICTION: Reds 5, Brewers 2