Chicago @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 7, 2018 ) Cincinnati 12, Chi. White Sox 14

Interleague play is sweeping Major League Baseball early this week, but some of the matchups are not of the marquee variety. The Chicago White Sox will play one such game when they visit the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game set on Monday.

The Reds (36-48) and White Sox (29-54) are a combined 37 games under .500 but both are coming off wins, with Cincinnati battling a pair of first-place teams in its last two series. "I think everybody is feeding off each other the way we keep winning games and beating good teams," Reds right-hander Matt Harvey told reporters. "The last couple of series we've been playing really well. That's motivation to go out there and keep that rolling and do my part to go deep into games as much as possible and keep runs off of the board." The White Sox avoided a sweep with a 10-5 win at Texas on Sunday but are 4-3 in their last seven games. Chicago will send James Shields to the mound on Monday opposite Cincinnati fellow right-hander Luis Castillo.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH James Shields (3-9, 4.29 ERA) vs. Reds RH Luis Castillo (5-8, 5.85)

Shields is coming off his best outing of the season after scattering four hits over seven innings in a win over Minnesota on Wednesday. The 36-year-old bounced back after surrendering eight runs - two earned - over 4 2/3 innings against Oakland on June 22. Shields spent 1 1/2 seasons in the NL with the San Diego Padres and is 0-2 with a 6.08 ERA in two career starts against Cincinnati.

Castillo has failed to complete six innings in any of his last three starts and was reached for five runs - four earned - on six hits and a walk over four innings at Atlanta on Wednesday. The 25-year-old has surrendered at least three runs in each of his last six starts and yielded 18 home runs in 87 2/3 total innings. Castillo is making his first start against the White Sox and is 0-1 with a 12.00 ERA in two interleague starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. White Sox RF Avisail Garcia went 4-for-5 on Sunday and is enjoying an eight-game hitting streak.

2. Cincinnati SS Jose Peraza is 10-for-26 with three home runs over the last six contests.

3. Chicago 2B Yoan Moncada is 2-for-18 with eight strikeouts in the last four games.

PREDICTION: Reds 6, White Sox 5