Joey Votto and the Reds look to take advantage of the stumbling Brewers

Previewing the pitching matchups: Reds vs. Brewers

Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene vs. Brewers starting pitcher Eric Lauer

Reigning National League Player of the Week, Hunter Greene (3-7 5.10 ERA), takes the mound tonight battling Eric Lauer (5-2 3.36 ERA) of the Brewers. How good was the Reds rookie last week? As Larry David would say, "pretty, pretty, pretty good."

Tossing a dozen innings, Greene allowed just one run on only three hits while fanning 15 opposing hitters. The 22-year-old right-hander has yielded two runs or less in five of his last seven starts. In addition, he's racked up 79 K's in 60 frames. It's ok to be excited, Reds Country.

Don't necessarily look for David Bell to load up on right-handed hitters against Milwaukee southpaw Eric Lauer. The left-hander has limited righties to a paltry .223/.281/.411 slash line. Interestingly, left-handed hitters are slashing .257/.366/.486 versus the Kent State alum.

Reds starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft vs. Brewers starting pitcher Jason Alexander

Graham Ashcraft (3-0 2.22 ERA) looks to rebound from his first poor outing as Jason Alexander (0-0 2.16 ERA), no, not that one, starts for Craig Counsell's club Saturday afternoon. It had to happen sooner or later, but Ashcraft finally proved he was human against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Cincinnati's other sensational rookie right-hander was rocked for four runs and nine hits in just 4.2 innings Sunday at Busch Stadium. It was Ashcraft's first appearance in which he's allowed more than two runs and four hits. That's how good the 24-year-old Alabama native has been to start his MLB career.

I'm not sure if he has an endorsement deal with Vandalay Industries, but Jason Alexander has a solid start to his 2022 season. The 29-year-old right-hander has only allowed four earned runs in 16.2 innings. However, he's walked eight while compiling just six strikeouts. Look for the bubble to burst for Alexander.

Reds starting pitcher Mike Minor vs. Brewers starting pitcher Adrian Houser

A Father's Day matinee will feature Mike Minor (1-2 7.36 ERA) toeing the rubber as Adrian Houser (3-7 4.21 ERA) get the assignment for Milwaukee. Minor's last start was better Tossing 6.1 frames of four-run eight-hit baseball, the southpaw picked up his first victory in a Reds uniform against Arizona.

However, in 14.2 innings of work, the left-hander was been taken deep a whopping six times. Expect to see plenty of right-handed bats in the Brewers lineup on Sunday. Righties are slashing .290/.349/.658 with an incredible 1.007 OPS versus Minor in his three starts.

Speaking of round-trippers, Adrian Houser is very stingy in giving up the long ball. The right-hander has surrendered just six homers in 62 frames this season and in his last five outings versus the Reds, he's been taken deep just once in 22.2 innings.