Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks Series Preview

Following yesterday’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cincinnati Reds have fallen to 48-58 for the season, a full 20 games behind the Cardinals, 10.5 games out of a wild card. They will follow up their series loss to the Cardinals by traveling to Chase Field to play the third place Arizona Diamondbacks (52-55) for the first time this season. Coming into the series Brandon Phillips, Brayan Pena and Eugenio Suarez are red hot (all have batted .300 or better in the last week), while Joey Votto, who has batted .423 in the last month, has cooled off a bit and has only hit .167 in the last week. All-Star third basemen Todd Frazier is also struggling at the plate coming into this series and has only hit .189 in the last month.

Game 1:
8/7/15 9:40 p.m. EST
CIN: Raisel Iglesias (2-3, 5.13)
ARI: Chase Anderson (4-4, 4.37)

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Anderson will start game 1 for the Diamondbacks after missing two weeks with triceps inflammation and will make his second career start against the Reds. His first start came last July where he earned a no decision in a 2-1 Diamondbacks victory. Anderson has held the Reds to a .158 batting average, with Pena being the only current Red to get a hit off of him. He has yet to face Marlon Byrd or Votto. Iglesias will get the start for the Reds and is coming off of the second win of his career which came in his last outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Iglesias will make his first career start against the Diamondbacks, and will look to earn his first victory on the road after going 0-3 with an 8.16 ERA in away games.

Game 2:
8/8/15 8:10 p.m. EST
CIN: Keyvius Sampson (0-1, 4.50)
ARI: Robbie Ray (3-6, 3.01)

Sampson will make his second major league start after pitching 5 innings and allowing 3 runs against the Pirates in his first start. Ray had a similar last outing in his last start when he went 5 innings and gave up 4 runs in a loss to the Houston Astros. Both Sampson and Ray will be facing the opposing team for the first time of their careers.

Game 3:
8/9/15 4:10 p.m. EST
CIN: Anthony DeSclafani (7-7, 3.71)
ARI: Patrick Corbin (2-3, 3.99)

Corbin will make his third career start against the Reds and has gone 1-1 with a 2.28 ERA in three starts in 2012 and 2013 against Cincinnati. Corbin is making a return this year after missing all of 2014 with UCL damage that required Tommy John surgery. Corbin is also coming off a disastrous last outing against the Washington Nationals where, as a starter, only went 1 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on 54 pitches. The Reds have not hit well off Corbin in the past, and have a team .193 batting average, and a .626 OPS against the lefty. The Red with the most success against Corbin has been Byrd, who has gone 2 for 5 against him. DeSclafani is coming off a great last outing where he went 6 innings and only allowed 2 runs to the Cardinals. DeSclafani will make his first career start against the Diamondbacks.

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