Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks Series Preview

After getting swept by the Kansas City Royals, the Cincinnati Reds are on a five-game losing streak, are 2-8 in their last 10 games, and are now 19 games away from postseason elimination. The Reds lost their first series of the year against the Diamondbacks (58-61) earlier in August and will play Arizona again for a four-game series in Cincinnati. Since last playing the Diamondbacks, the Reds have made some roster moves, including a trip to the 15-day DL for Billy Hamilton, recalling Sam LeCure and Brennan Boesch, optioning Dylan Axelrod to Triple-A Nashville, and trading Marlon Byrd to the San Francisco Giants.

Game 1
8/20/15 7:10 p.m. EST
ARI: Patrick Corbin (3-3, 3.43)
CIN: John Lamb (0-1, 7.50)

Corbin started against the Reds in their last series, getting a no-decision in a 4-3 extra innings win for the Diamondbacks. Corbin had a great showing with the Diamondbacks in his last start against the Atlanta Braves, going 6 2/3 innings and giving up no runs while fanning eight.

Lamb got roughed up in his debut with the Reds in his last outing after being traded from the Kansas City Royals as a part of the Johnny Cueto deal. Lamb went six innings and gave up five runs, including one home run, but also struck out seven batters in his debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Game 2
8/21 7:10 p.m. EST
ARI: Rubby De La Rosa (10-5, 4.40)
CIN: David Holmberg (1-2, 5.95)

De La Rosa is carrying a 10-5 record into his start against the Reds, and hasn’t had a bad start since he faced the New York Mets in July. The only Red that has any experience against De La Rosa is Jason Bourgeois, who has had three lifetime at-bats against him and has gone 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Holmberg will look to erase the memories of his last start against the Los Angeles Dodgers where he only went two innings and gave up seven runs, including walking four batters and giving up three home runs. The only active Diamondbacks with experience against Holmberg is Welington Castillo who has gone 0-for-2.

Game 3
8/22 7:10 p.m. EST
ARI: Jeremy Hellickson (9-8, 4.60)
CIN: Anthony DeSclafani (7-8, 3.72)

Hellickson is making his first start against the Reds since 2011, and has a .278 BAA against Cincinnati. Reds that have hit well off Hellickson include Boesch (2-for-7), Jay Bruce (1-for-3), and Brandon Phillips (2-for-3), while Skip Schumaker and Joey Votto are hit-less.

DeSclafani pitched in the first series against Arizona and went six innings and gave up three runs. He has had a quality start in his last five outings. The Diamondbacks have hit a combined .417 off DeSclafani, with both Paul Goldschmidt and David Peralta going 3-for-3.

Game 4
8/23 1:10 p.m. EST
ARI: Chase Anderson (5-5, 4.51)
CIN: Raisel Iglesias (3-4, 4.21)

Game four will feature a pitching rematch from the last series, when Arizona earned a 2-0 win over the Reds. Anderson, the winning pitcher in that game, has been recalled from Triple-A Reno after being sent down just 24 hours earlier.

Iglesias pitched well in that game, despite receiving the loss, and only gave up one run to the Diamondbacks in six innings. Iglesias had a terrific last outing against Kansas City that was ultimately wasted by the Reds, where he went seven innings (his longest outing since May) and gave up no runs. Only three Diamondbacks have gotten a hit off Iglesias, and have a paltry team batting average .167 against the Cuban defector.

Next: Reds trade Marlon Byrd to Giants

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