Reds at Rockies
All eyes will be on Todd Helton when the Colorado Rockies host the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday in the middle contest of a three-game series. The veteran first baseman, who is expected to retire at the end of the season, delivered a pair of three-run homers in Colorado's 9-6 victory Friday and is one hit shy of 2,500. The Reds are 3 1/2 games behind St. Louis and Pittsburgh in the National Central, but are six games clear of Arizona for the second wild card spot.
While Cincinnati (75-60) has lost five of its last seven games, Colorado (64-72) has the opposite record over that span as it tries to finish the season strong under first-year manager Walt Weiss. The Reds hope Greg Reynolds can eventually realize the potential that made him the No. 2 overall pick in the 2006 draft by the Rockies. He will oppose Juan Nicasio, who is unbeaten in four starts (2-0) and 4-2 in nine outings since returning from a demotion to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), ROOT (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Greg Reynolds (0-2, 5.73 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Juan Nicasio (8-6, 4.57)
Reynolds was recalled Sunday to replace the injured Tony Cingrani (back) in the starting rotation and allowed two runs and five hits in six innings en route to a 3-1 loss to Milwaukee. The 28-year-old was 12-3 with a 2.24 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with Triple-A Louisville this season. Reynolds, who is 5-10 in 29 career major-league games, was 2-8 with Colorado in 2008 before injuries sidelined him for two-plus seasons.
Nicasio, who will celebrate his 27th birthday on Saturday, struck out nine and allowed four hits in six shutout innings in Colorado's 6-1 victory over San Francisco on Monday. The Dominican is 4-1 with a 3.56 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 11 home starts - with the loss coming May 30 against Houston. Nicasio has held left-handed hitters to a .218 average, which is fifth-best among National League right-handed starters this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Helton, who drove in six runs to match a career high Friday, moved past Ted Simmons and into 74th place on the all-time RBI list with 1,393. Helton's last six-RBI game occurred May 29, 2003 in a 12-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
2. Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips has 97 RBIs - second in the NL to Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt - and is poised to become the first Reds second baseman to record 100 in a season since Joe Morgan totaled 111 in 1976.
3. Rockies LF Carlos Gonzalez, who hasn't played since Aug. 4 because of a sprained finger, is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend.