Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers Series Preview

Four days ago, the Cincinnati Reds snapped their nine-game losing streak with a dominant 12-5 win over the Detroit Tigers, but failed to build any momentum off the victory and were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers at home. Now, the Reds will travel to Milwaukee to play their division rivals in the Brewers, trying to claw their way out of the cellar of the NL Central. The Reds will be playing the Brewers for the fourth of six scheduled series this season, and all of the starters they will be sending to the mound will be facing Milwaukee for the first time.

Game 1
8/28 8:10 p.m. EST
CIN: Raisel Iglesias (3-5, 3.93)
MIL: Taylor Jungmann (7-5, 2.66)

Jungmann is getting the start for the Brewers and is coming off a rough last outing where he only pitched four innings and gave up five runs, but is overall having a good rookie year with a 2.66 ERA. Jungmann is starting against Cincinnati for the second time this year after earning a win against the Reds in July. In that game, the Reds struggled mightily against Jungmann, with Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips being the only players to get a hit, and Billy Hamilton being the only one to draw a walk.

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Iglesias will get the nod from the Reds, coming off of another great outing where he pitched seven innings, gave up just one earned run, struck out 13 batters and still managed to receive the loss for the game. Iglesias has been gradually improving with each start and has lowered his ERA to 3.93 since July, when it hit a season high 5.90.

Game 2
8/29 7:10 p.m. EST
CIN: Keyvius Sampson (2-2, 5.55)
MIL: Matt Garza (6-14, 5.26)

Garza is having a rough season with the Brewers and has taken the loss in his last two starts. Cincinnati has seen plenty of Garza in the past, and Reds that have hit well off him include Brennan Boesch (3-for-7), Todd Frazier (5-for-17 with 3 home runs), Phillips (8-for-26) and Skip Schumaker (6-for-17). The Reds have also collected 15 extra base hits off Garza.

Sampson is coming off a bad start against the Tigers where he only pitched five innings and game up five runs, but did not earn the loss after the Reds staged a massive comeback against Detroit that let him off the hook.

Game 3
8/30 2:10 p.m. EST
CIN: John Lamb (0-2, 6.06)
MIL: Wily Peralta (4-8, 4.55)

Peralta will wrap up the series in Miller Park for the Brewers, and like Garza is also struggling this year. Peralta is making his second start against Cincinnati this year and earned a loss in their first meeting after giving up six runs to the Reds earlier in the season. Joey Votto has had the most success against Peralta, going 7-for-22 with one home run against him. Despite Votto’s success, the Reds have only hit a collective .216 off the Brewers starter.

Lamb will be making his fourth start of the year and is still in search of his first career win. Lamb has struck out an impressive 21 batters in just 16 1/3 innings, but is sporting a 6.06 ERA and 4.04 FIP coming into this game.

Next: Should the Reds hire Barry Larkin as manager?