Brewers at Reds
The Milwaukee Brewers went from playing some of the best baseball in the majors to setting or tying some dubious team records, so a visit to Cincinnati to face the Reds' major-league worst pitching staff couldn't have come at a better time. After finding their offense following a brutal showing in their last series, the Brewers eye back-to-back victories Tuesday when they continue a three-game set in Cincinnati.
Milwaukee steamrolled its opposition 45-14 during an eight-game winning streak that allowed it to briefly climb atop the National League Central, but the Brewers' bats quickly cooled off in Chicago as the Cubs held them to a total of two runs (tied for worst in club history for a four-game series) and 14 hits (worst) en route to a sweep. The offense snapped out its doldrums Monday on Manny Pina's fourth-inning solo shot to end a 23-inning scoreless streak, and Milwaukee used a three-run seventh to rally for a 6-5 win. The Reds, who own a National League-worst 5.32 ERA, fell to 4-4 since beginning the season by losing 18 of their first 21. Eugenio Suarez nearly carried Cincinnati to victory by himself in the opener, driving in all but one of the team's runs courtesy of a pair of two-run doubles.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (2-2, 2.86 ERA) vs. Reds RH Homer Bailey (0-3, 4.19)
Anderson maintained his excellence on the road despite taking the loss Thursday versus the Cubs, giving up only a solo homer among five hits he allowed across seven innings. The 30-year-old Oklahoma product is 1-1 with a 0.93 ERA in three turns away from Miller Park, allowing opponents to bat .127 against him on the road. Anderson didn’t factor into the decision in either of his two outings versus the Reds last season, but he is 2-1 with a 2.68 ERA in seven starts against them.
Bailey continued to struggle with the long ball Thursday but escaped with a no-decision against Atlanta, permitting four runs - including two homers - and seven hits while throwing only 50 pitches in five frames. The 12-year-veteran has surrendered two home runs in consecutive outings and five in his last three turns after giving up only one in his first three trips to the mound. Ryan Braun is 16-for-47 with four home runs versus Bailey, who is 7-9 with a 4.65 ERA in 26 starts against Milwaukee.
WALK-OFFS
1. Suarez is 8-for-22 with three doubles and seven RBIs since returning from the disabled list five games ago.
2. Milwaukee LHP Josh Hader on Monday became the first pitcher since saves became an official statistic in 1969 to strike out at least eight batters in a save of fewer than three innings.
3. Cincinnati's 7-22 record matches the worst 29-game start in franchise history (1931, 1934).