Luis Castillo returns as the Reds welcome the Brewers to Great American Ball Park

All it took was a visit from the Pittsburgh Pirates to give the Cincinnati Reds (5-23) their first series victory of the 2022 season. Playing against their first opponent under .500 to open a series for the year, Cincinnati took two of three from the Bucs at Great American Ball Park this past weekend.

Infielder Colin Moran was all the Reds needed yesterday. The left-handed-hitting slugger blasted a pair of homers, including a grand slam, and collected a career-high six RBIs as the Reds downed the Pirates.

Entering play today, Cincinnati remains in the National League Central basement trailing the first-place Milwaukee Brewers (19-10) by 13.5 games. Hopefully, the positive weekend will provide some much-needed momentum for the Redlegs.

The Reds looking to avenge last week's series sweep vs. the Brewers.

Cincinnati will need all the positive vibes they can muster because I'm sure last week's sweep courtesy of the Brew Crew is still fresh in the minds. The Reds' pitching staff made one of the senior circuits' worst offensive units look like Milwaukee famous Harvey's Wallbangers clubs of the early 80s that featured Hall of Famers Paul Molitor and Robin Yount.

Milwaukee's offense exploded for 34 runs in the three-game dismantling of the Reds at American Family Field last week. Despite the below average offensive numbers produced by the Brew Crew bats, they are tied with the Atlanta Braves for the most round-trippers in the NL. Shortstop Willy Adames has already gone deep eight times in the 2022 campaign.

GABP was incredibly accommodating to the Beer Makers last year. Milwaukee captured seven of the nine contests in the Queen City during the 2021 campaign, including a three-game sweep of the Reds in July. Remarkably, since 2018 the Brewers are 22-10 when visiting Cincinnati.

Previewing the pitching matchups: Reds vs. Brewers

Today is La Piedra Day as Luis Castillo makes his 2022 debut. Following a stint on the IL due to shoulder soreness to open the season, Castillo allowed just one run in 10.1 innings of work in three minor league rehab starts. However, the Cincinnati ace issued eight free passes.

The right-hander dominated the Brewers over their final five meetings last year. Tossing 30.1 frames, Castillo whiffed 34 Milwaukee hitters and allowed only six runs on just 16 hits. Lifetime he's bewildered outfielder Andrew McCutchen limiting the former MVP to one hit in 11 at-bats with five punch outs.

Brandon Woodruff (3-1 5.18 ERA) gets the call in tonight's opener for Milwaukee. Last week was a typically commanding performance for the right-hander against the Reds. Hurling 5.2 innings, 12 of the 17 outs he recorded came via the strikeout. In his last 29 frames, the Mississippi native has fanned 43 Reds in their head-to-head meetings.

You can't blame rookie Hunter Greene (1-4 8.71 ERA) if he's a little shell-shocked. The right-hander was taken deep five times last week in Milwaukee. He gets another shot at the Brewers on Tuesday night as Freddy Peralta (1-1 5.09 ERA) toes the rubber for Craig Counsell's squad.

Over his last seven innings, Greene has yielded seven home runs and has surrendered 10 gopher balls in just 20.2 frames to begin his MLB career. Interestingly, hitters are teeing off on the first pitch of the at-bat against the 22-year-old California native. Hitters are slashing .400/.407/.800 with three home runs when attacking Greene's initial offering.

Freddy Peralta wasn't great versus the Reds last week in Milwaukee, however, he was good enough to secure his first victory of the season. Hurling five innings, he allowed three runs on five hits while compiling seven strikeouts. Additionally, the 2021 All-Star has been excellent in three road starts this year. He's allowed just nine hits while posting a 2.40 ERA in 15 frames of work.

Wednesday's matinee series finale will feature Vladimir Gutierrez (0-5 8.86 ERA) battling Adrian Houser (3-2 3.42 ERA) of the Brewers. As far as Gutierrez is concerned, the numbers speak for themselves.

The Cuban has been smoked for 26 hits and 21 runs in 21.1 innings this season. To add insult to injury, Gutierrez has issued 17 walks against only 13 punch outs. Currently, he leads the NL in losses and hit batsmen while surrendering the fourth-most earned runs.

Adrian Houser was mediocre, at best, versus the Reds last week. The Cincinnati offense dented the plate five times in as many innings against the right-hander. Don't be surprised if Houser doesn't face the Redlegs' lineup a third time on Wednesday afternoon. In his last five starts against the Reds, he's pitched into the sixth inning only once.