Reds at Brewers
The Cincinnati Reds have had their offense abandon them of late. The Reds will try to find some runs and avoid a three-game sweep when they finish up a road series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. Cincinnati still sits among the leaders in runs scored in the National League but has been held to three or fewer in six of the last seven games, including three straight losses.
The Brewers are in last place in the NL Central but keep receiving encouraging signs from their young players. It was Wily Peralta’s turn on Tuesday, and the right-hander struck out six while posting the team’s first shutout since April 5, 2011. Milwaukee has not swept a series since taking three straight from the Chicago Cubs from April 19-21.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mike Leake (7-4, 2.73 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Johnny Hellweg (0-2, 12.79)
Leake had allowed three or fewer earned runs in nine straight starts before running into trouble against Seattle last time out, when he surrendered four runs in five frames. The 25-year-old completed at least seven innings in each of his previous four turns. Leake has faced Milwaukee three times in his career, posting a 4;91 ERA without receiving a decision.
Hellweg will be making his third major-league start after two largely unimpressive outings. The 24-year-old lasted only 1 2/3 innings in his first turn and made it 3 2/3 last time out while surrendering seven runs (three earned) on seven hits and five walks. Hellweg sandwiched a relief appearance between those starts and has allowed a total of 16 runs (nine earned) in 6 1/3 frames in the majors.
WALK-OFFS
1. Reds LF Chris Heisey left Tuesday’s game after being hit by a pitch on the elbow. X-rays were negative.
2. Milwaukee LF Ryan Braun (thumb) returned to the lineup Tuesday but is playing at less than 100 percent, according to manager Ron Roenicke.
3. Cincinnati All-Star 2B Brandon Phillips is hitting .130 in his last six games.