Astros vs. Reds
The Cincinnati Reds attempt to bounce back from a devastating loss when they host the Houston Astros in Friday’s opener of a three-game series. Cincinnati closer Sean Marshall allowed a three-run homer in the ninth to San Francisco’s Angel Pagan to turn a two-run lead into a 6-5 loss. The defeat was just the second in seven games for the Reds. Houston is moving left-hander Wandy Rodriguez up in the rotation after Kyle Weiland came down with shoulder soreness.
Rodriguez has been terrific in four starts and threw seven shutout innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. The Astros defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 7-5 on Wednesday for just their third win in 11 games. Houston leadoff man Jordan Schafer has reached base safely in all 19 games, the best season-opening streak by an Astros player since Ricky Gutierrez had a 23-game streak in 1998. Cincinnati is waiting for star first baseman Joey Votto to find his stride. Votto has fanned 22 times and has homered just once in 19 games.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Houston, Fox Sports Ohio
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Wandy Rodriguez (1-2, 1.42 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mike Leake (0-2, 6.50 ERA)
Rodriguez has allowed one earned run or less in three of his four outings. He has allowed just 20 hits in 25 1/3 innings and nobody has homered off him. That’s a big improvement after he gave up 25 homers last season. He is 7-9 with a 4.17 ERA in 23 career starts against Cincinnati.
Leake has allowed five runs in back-to-back starts. He gave up 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings while losing to the Chicago Cubs in his last outing. Leake has just eight strikeouts in 18 innings and opposing hitters are batting .310 against him. He is 2-3 with a 4.45 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts) against the Astros.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Cincinnati is 17-5 in its last 22 home games against Houston.
2. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is batting .377 after having a career-best four hits against the Brewers on Wednesday.
3. Reds outfielder Jay Bruce is 1-for-26 with 13 strikeouts against Rodriguez.