Reds visit Milwaukee feeling punch-drunk having lost 17 of their last 18 games

Brandon Drury has been the lone bright spot for the Reds this season.

It may have seemed like an insignificant transaction on March 21st, but Brandon Drury has established a clear role on this year's Cincinnati Reds squad after signing as a free agent. That role is destroying left-handed pitching.

Slashing .250/.304/.558 with a team-leading four homers and eight ribbies overall, most of Drury's damage has come against southpaws. In 23 at-bats versus lefties, the right-handed hitting infielder has eight hits including a pair of doubles and home runs with a phenomenal 1.096 OPS.

The 29-year-old Oregonian currently leads the team in slugging (.558), OPS (.861), and OPS+ (136). Power has always been a part of Brandon Drury's game. He's reached double figures in long balls three times throughout his eight-year career including a career-high 16 in 2016 as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

There are questions as to how much playing time Drury will continue to receive during the season. Once Donovan Solano returns from the injured list, it would appear the two would be filling similar roles on David Bell's roster. However, in the meantime, the Reds should give Brandon Drury as many at-bats as possible against left-handed pitching.

Prediction: Brewers take 2-of-3 from the Reds.

To say the Reds schedule, to this point, has been brutal would be an understatement. After facing the Braves, Dodgers, Padres, and Cardinals they now battle the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. Unfortunately, don't expect to see Cincinnati's fortune change.

However, the Redlegs will end their losing streak despite dropping two of three to the Beer Makers. But, just maybe, their luck will change with the Pittsburgh Pirates visiting Great American Ball Park for a four-game set over the weekend.