Brewers at Reds
The Cincinnati Reds haven’t been playing like a last-place club recently, holding their own against a spate of National League contenders. Winners of 10 of their last 13, the Reds will try to salvage a split of their four-game series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
Cincinnati hammered the Brewers 12-3 on Saturday, trying to once again play spoiler after sweeping four games from the Chicago Cubs and taking two of three at Atlanta in its previous two series. Milwaukee is trying to avoid splitting a fourth consecutive series. The Brewers are short-handed in the outfield, as Christian Yelich and Ryan Braun are nursing stiff backs and hoping to avoid joining Lorenzo Cain (groin) on the disabled list. The bullpen also was undermanned Saturday, with Jeremy Jeffress and Josh Hader needing days off, and the Reds took advantage by hammering Milwaukee’s less-productive relievers.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Freddy Peralta (3-0, 1.59 ERA) vs. Reds RH Matt Harvey (3-5, 5.28)
Peralta is in his second stint with the big-league club, and he’s making a strong case to stick in the rotation. The 22-year-old Dominican has thrown 13 scoreless innings over two starts since being recalled June 19. He has racked up 17 strikeouts over that span while allowing just three hits and one walk.
Harvey has won back-to-back starts for the first time since May of 2017. The 29-year-old former ace has allowed three runs and 11 hits over 12 2/3 innings across his last two outings - wins over the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta - a pair of National League contenders. Harvey is 0-2 with a 5.63 ERA in three starts against Milwaukee.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Reds have hit a major league-leading eight grand slams, including five in June.
2. The Brewers have hit a home run in 18 consecutive games at Great American Ball Park - the longest streak by an opponent and tied for the longest overall with the Reds.
3. Milwaukee LF/1B Eric Thames has 14 homers in 22 games against the Reds, including seven in 12 contests at Great American Ball Park.