Reds at Diamondbacks
After breaking out of an extended offensive slump with a total of 17 runs in back-to-back wins, the Arizona Diamondbacks aim for a sweep of their three-game series against the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Arizona improved to 21-3 when scoring four or more runs with Tuesday’s 5-2 victory.
Daniel Descalso hit a two-run homer and Brad Boxberger recorded his first save in two weeks on Tuesday as the Diamondbacks won for the fourth time in their last 19 games. Jarrod Dyson scored two runs while hitting leadoff in place of injured center fielder A.J. Pollock (broken left thumb) but is batting .185 with seven extra-base hits and eight RBIs in 119 at-bats. The Reds have the worst record in the National League at 19-37 but have the reigning NL player of the week in second baseman Scooter Gennett, who was 12-for-25 with three home runs and 10 RBIs over the six-game stretch. Left fielder Adam Duvall is trending in the opposite direction after going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on Tuesday, leaving him with 14 hits in 75 at-bats this month.
TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Sal Romano (2-6, 5.89 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (5-1, 2.47)
Romano’s rotation spot is in jeopardy after allowing 18 earned runs over 12 2/3 innings in his last three starts. The 24-year-old suffered his third straight loss last Friday, when he allowed five runs on eight hits with four walks over 5 1/3 innings. Romano, who is making his first career appearance against Arizona, owns a 2-2 record and 4.68 ERA in six starts at home this season compared to a 0-4 mark and 7.66 ERA in five starts away from Great American Ball Park.
Corbin is looking to build on a stellar performance against Oakland last Friday, when he allowed one run on four hits with seven strikeouts in a 7-1 victory. The 28-year-old native New Yorker has been sharp at home this season, going 4-1 with a 2.03 ERA in six outings at Chase Field. Joey Votto is 3-for-16 with five strikeouts against Corbin, who owns a 2-2 record and 3.06 ERA in eight career games (seven starts) versus Cincinnati.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cincinnati interim manager Jim Riggleman indicated that struggling RHP Homer Bailey could be moved to the bullpen this week.
2. Arizona RHP Shelby Miller (elbow) tossed five innings of one-run ball Tuesday in his minor league rehab debut with High-A Visalia.
3. The Reds recalled Jesus Reyes from Double-A Pensacola and optioned fellow RHP Tanner Rainey to Triple-A Louisville.