Reds at Brewers
Although Miller Park hasn't been kind to the Milwaukee Brewers, most venues haven't been hospitable for the Cincinnati Reds this season. The Brewers will look for just their third home win in eight outings on Monday when they open a three-game series versus the reeling Reds, who have dropped eight in a row to make themselves comfortable in the cellar of the National League Central.
The Brewers snapped the New York Mets' nine-game winning streak on Saturday, but those good feelings were lost in the cold the following day as they sustained their eighth loss in 13 outings with a walk-off homer in the finale. To add insult to injury, Eric Thames (team-leading five homers) exited Sunday's contest in the third inning with an ailing groin and Ryan Braun (club-best eight RBIs), who is another option at first base, is plagued by a balky back that forced him to sit out the finale. While Milwaukee has been limping physically, Cincinnati hasn't held a lead in a staggering 32 innings and has been battered on the scoreboard to the tune of 48-19 during its losing skid. Adam Duvall belted a solo homer among his two hits in Sunday's 3-2 setback to St. Louis, improving to 4-for-11 in his last three games after going 1-for-22 with 11 strikeouts in his previous seven.
TV: 7:40 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Luis Castillo (0-2, 7.31 ERA) vs. Brewers LH Brent Suter (1-1, 4.70)
Castillo overcame surrendering two homers for the second time in three starts to escape with a no-decision versus Philadelphia on Wednesday. The 25-year-old permitted season-low totals in runs (three) and hits (five) while failing to walk a batter in that outing. Orlando Arcia and Travis Shaw are both 2-for-5 versus Castillo, but the right-hander has limited the remainder of the Brewers' roster to going 3-for-30 with 12 strikeouts while posting a 1-0 mark with a 1.98 ERA in two encounters versus the club last season.
Like Castillo, Suter also authored his best start of the young season in his last outing as he yielded one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings of a no-decision at St. Louis on Tuesday. The 28-year-old kept the ball in the park for the second straight trip to the mound and permitted just one walk after issuing three in his previous start. Joey Votto is 3-for-6 with two doubles against Suter, but the left-hander has kept Billy Hamilton (1-for-7, four strikeouts) and Duvall (1-for-6) under wraps.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cincinnati's eight-game skid is one short of its longest losing streak of last season.
2. Milwaukee RF Domingo Santana is 8-for-25 with three runs scored during his six-game hitting streak.
3. Hamilton, who homered on Sunday, batted just .171 with 24 strikeouts in 76 at-bats versus the Brewers last season.