Friday MLB: Cincinnati Reds (26-20) at Milwaukee Brewers (27-20
Ever since starting second baseman Rickie Weeks went down with a season-ending wrist injury, that Milwaukee Brewer lineup hasn’t been the same, and the Brew Crew have fallen out of first place in the NL Central.
They begin a series with surging Cincinnati tonight and have opened as -112 money line favorites on WagerWeb.com for Game 1.
Shortstop J.J. Hardy missed four games in the past week as well, and Milwaukee has lost five of six while averaging 2.0 runs. Hardy did return Wednesday and had three hits, but Ryan Braun continues to deal with a sore wrist. Thursday’s off day came just in time as it was the team’s first day off in two weeks.
Milwaukee is hitting .204 in the past six games and has homered once in that stretch.
We might find out in the next week if the Reds really are contenders in the NL Central as they begin a seven-day, seven-game trip against division foes. The Reds went 31-50 on the road and 31-47 against the Central last season. This year they are 13-8 on the road and 17-9 against the Central. The Reds are 3-2 against Milwaukee, including 2-1 at Miller Park. Cincy’s record of 13-8 is the second best road mark in the major leagues.
“It’s a big road trip,” Cincy manager Dusty Baker said. “We’ve got a lot at stake.”
Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips hasn’t played in a while due to a fractured right thumb but does play to play tonight, while adding: “If I can’t go, I won’t hurt the team. I’ll back out.”
Cincy trots out pitcher Johnny Cueto (4-2, 2.37) on Friday night. He has worked at least seven innings in seven straight starts but hasn’t won in his past two outings. He went 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA in three starts against Milwaukee as a rookie last year.
Milwaukee counters with Braden Looper (4-3, 4.47). He allowed nine hits and five runs in six innings last time out. He is 5-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 38 appearances — eight starts — over 81 2/3 career innings against the Reds.
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