Cincinnati @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 1, 2018 ) Milwaukee 2, Cincinnati 8

The Milwaukee Brewers were watching their postseason hopes slip away before they managed to pull out a win on Sunday, avoiding a sweep and pushing them back into second place in the National League Central. The Brewers will try to build off that triumph when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Monday for the opener of their three-game series.

Milwaukee dropped three straight to slip behind St. Louis in the division before edging the Cardinals 2-1 on Sunday, leaving it tied for a wild-card spot in the NL. "We showed them today that we're not going nowhere, we're still in second place, we're still going to fight for the race," Brewers reliever Jeremy Jeffress told reporters after Sunday's triumph. "This win felt great." The Reds are trying to play spoiler in the playoff race and may have knocked San Francisco out of the picture in the NL West by recording a three-game sweep over the weekend. Cincinnati's pitchers held the Giants to a total of six runs in that series, and the beleaguered Homer Bailey will try to maintain that run of success when he starts opposite Milwaukee's Chase Anderson on Monday.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (1-10, 6.33 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Chase Anderson (7-7, 3.97)

Bailey is winless in his last seven outings and struggled in each of the last two. The veteran, who is allowing opponents to bat .308 against him, was reached for 10 runs and 21 hits over 8 2/3 innings in setbacks against the New York Mets and Cleveland. Bailey also had difficulty in a start against Milwaukee on May 1, when he was reached for five runs on six hits and a walk in five frames to absorb a loss.

Anderson failed to make it through five innings in each of his last two outings but was bailed out by his offense in both and settled for no-decisions. The 30-year-old surrendered eight runs on 10 hits and six walks over 8 2/3 frames in those two turns. Anderson started at Cincinnati on June 29 and registered a win after giving up just one run and two hits in six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds speedy CF Billy Hamilton recorded two triples for the first time in his career on Sunday.

2. Milwaukee C Manny Pina (shoulder) has sat out the last three games and remains day-to-day.

3. Cincinnati 3B Eugenio Suarez drove in two runs on Sunday to take over the NL lead with 91.

PREDICTION: Brewers 9, Reds 5