San Francisco @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2018 ) San Francisco 1, Cincinnati 7

The San Francisco Giants are slipping out of the race in the National League West as they struggle to take advantage of the relatively light portion of their schedule. The Giants will try to avoid a three-game sweep when they visit the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday for the finale of their three-game series.

San Francisco fell two games below .500 with Saturday's 7-1 loss, which marked a fourth consecutive game in which it failed to score more than three runs. San Francisco intended to climb up the standings in the NL West with series against Cincinnati, the New York Mets and Texas but instead began that stretch by managing two runs in the first two meetings with the Reds. Cincinnati sits in last place in the NL Central but is getting a chance to play spoiler with series coming up against Milwaukee (twice), the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis over the next two weeks. San Francisco will try to avoid the sweep behind Andrew Suarez while the Reds counter with Luis Castillo.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Andrew Suarez (4-8, 4.40 ERA) vs. Reds RH Luis Castillo (6-10, 5.04)

Suarez followed a pair of losses with a strong start against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Tuesday, when he scattered two hits and three walks over six scoreless innings. The 25-year-old, who did not factor in the decision versus the Dodgers, was roughed up for 11 runs and 17 hits over 10 frames in his previous two turns. Suarez suffered a loss at home against Cincinnati on May 16, when he was reached for five runs - four earned - and eight hits in six innings.

Castillo had his streak of six straight starts with three or fewer runs allowed come to an end against Arizona last Sunday, when he was reached for five runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings of a loss. The 25-year-old has failed to complete six frames in eight of his last 10 turns. Castillo is making his first career appearance against San Francisco and is 4-4 with a 3.94 ERA in 11 home outings this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds RF Scott Schebler (AC joint) is expected to begin a rehab assignment on Sunday.

2. San Francisco SS Brandon Crawford is 2-for-22 over his last six contests.

3. Cincinnati 2B Scooter Gennett has gone 8-for-13 with four runs scored over his last three games.

PREDICTION: Giants 3, Reds 1