Series Preview: Reds at Brewers

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Good Guys head to Miller Park for four games against the suddenly tied for last place Milwaukee Brewers. The Reds did have a hand in the Brewers and Cubs now being tied for the NL Central’s cellar after sweeping three from the Cubs while the Brewers managed to split a pair of games against the Texas Rangers in Arlington. Could have swept the Rangers, too, if not for a Rangers three-run rally in the bottom of the 7th.

Pitching Matchups:

Game 1: Tony Cingrani (5-2, 2.87 ERA) v. Kyle Lohse (8-7, 3.26 ERA)

In his last outing, Cingrani was forced to toss 32 pitches in the first inning in absorbing a loss to the Padres. A couple of errors in the inning didn’t help matters. Cingrani hasn’t earned a win against the Brewers yet, but he certainly pitched well enough in his last outing against them to earn one (7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 10 SO, 2 BB).

Lohse has been one of baseball’s better pitchers since the calendar flipped over to June. Since the beginning of that month, he has posted an ERA of 2.49 and held opponents to a batting average of .226. He owns solid career numbers against the Reds (4-3, 3.26 ERA).

Key: The Brewers are 11-24 when facing LHP.

Game 2: Mike Leake (10-5, 2.86 ERA) v. Tom Gorzelanny (3-4, 2.51 ERA)

In his last outing, Leake allowed a pair of runs (one earned) and six hits in a no-decision to the Padres. This will be the fourth start in going for his 11th victory of 2013.

Gorzelanny will be making his 8th start for the Brewers this season. As a starter, he’s 2-3 with a 2.57 ERA in 35 IP. He dropped his first three decision as a starter, but has won two of his last three starts. Gorzelanny did leave an outing on August 2 against Washington after only 1 inning due to being hit by a liner.

Key: The Reds are 22-19 against LHP.

Game 3: Mat Latos (12-3, 3.04 ERA) v. Yovani Gallardo (8-9, 4.91 ERA)

Latos is on a modest streak of not allowing a run in his last 16 IP. His outing against the Cubs was his best of the season, shutting out the Cubs for 8 innings while allowing only 6 hits and striking out 9. It was also a pretty economical effort in that Latos threw 94 pitches.

Gallardo is currently penciled in as the Brewers starter. He is rehabbing a hamstring injury and it is likely his return will be this game.

Key: Reds are 16-8 in games in which Latos has started this season.

Game 4: Homer Bailey (7-10, 3.81 ERA) v. Wily Peralta (8-12, 4.30 ERA)

For the second consecutive outing, the Reds provided Bailey a lead that he was unable to hold. Odd considering it has been the other way around for the most part this season where Bailey would pitch his butt off and have nothing to show for it.

Last time the Reds saw Peralta, they were owned for nine innings as Peralta hurled the complete game. He allowed only three hits. Peralta has continued on that path as the owns four quality starts in his last six games. Those six games have Peralta with a record of 2-3, ERA of 2.84 and WHIP of 1.079.

And Peralta (3.31) get less run support than Bailey (3.70)

Key: Reds are 11-13 in Bailey’s starts. Brewers are 11-14 in Peralta’s starts. Something’s gotta give.