Milwaukee @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2019 ) Milwaukee 9, Cincinnati 2

With a playoff berth on the line, the Milwaukee Brewers left little to chance with their biggest first inning in 13 months to clinch their second consecutive trip to the postseason for the first time since 1981-82. Already assured of at least the second wild card, the red-hot Brewers go for a three-game sweep of the host Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon.

Ryan Braun went deep for the second time in as many nights, launching a grand slam to ignite a six-run first inning as Milwaukee drew within 1 1/2 games of first-place St. Louis in the National League Central. Braun's second grand slam in 11 days also kept the Brewers one game behind Washington for the top wild card with four games remaining. Winners of six in a row and 17 of their last 19, Milwaukee sends right-hander Chase Anderson to the mound against 15-game winner Luis Castillo in the series finale. Eugenio Suarez swatted his career-best 49th homer -- second in the majors to Pete Alonso -- for the Reds and his ninth blast in 18 games versus the Brewers this season.

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (7-4, 4.30 ERA) vs. Reds RH Luis Castillo (15-7, 3.25)

Anderson is one of the reasons why Milwaukee entered the series with a major league-best 2.77 ERA in September, blanking Pittsburgh on three hits over six scoreless innings on Friday to halt a four-start winless drought. It marked the fourth consecutive outing in which the 31-year-old permitted two runs or fewer, although he pitched only four innings in the previous three appearances. Phillip Ervin is 4-for-9 with a homer off Anderson, who is 0-1 with a 5.51 ERA in three starts versus the Reds in 2019.

Castillo was denied in his bid for his 16th victory against the New York Mets on Saturday when he was victimized by a pair of home runs and charged with three runs and three hits over seven innings. He fell to 2-2 over his four starts this month despite allowing three runs or fewer in each, and is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts against the Brewers this season, striking out 26 while giving up 11 runs and 12 hits over 21 innings. Castillo has stymied Braun and Eric Thames, holding them to a combined 1-for-22.

WALK-OFFS

1. Braun's homer was his 45th versus Cincinnati and 28th at Great American Ball Park -- his most against any team and at any opposing venue, respectively.

2. Reds C Tucker Barnhart has hit safely in five straight games and has an RBI in three in a row.

3. Brewers rookie 2B Keston Hiura hit his 19th home run in his 80th game of the season.

PREDICTION: Reds 4, Brewers 3