Reds at Padres
The Cincinnati Reds have racked up seven runs in each of their last two outings and look to stretch their winning streak to three games when they visit the San Diego Padres on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Jose Peraza went 3-for-4 with three RBIs as Cincinnati posted a 7-2 victory in Friday's series opener.
Peraza has recorded four consecutive multi-hit performances and has gone 10-for-21 during a five-game hitting streak to raise his batting average to .265. Joey Votto drew three walks but was hitless in two at-bats to halt a six-game hitting streak in which he went 11-for-25. San Diego failed to win a fourth straight game for the first time all season but received a two-run triple from Freddy Galvis with two outs in the ninth inning to avoid being shut out. Eric Hosmer was hitless in four at-bats after going 8-for-11 over his previous three games.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Matt Harvey (1-3, 5.63 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Lauer (1-3, 7.67)
Harvey is 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA in four starts since being acquired from the New York Mets. The 29-year-old served up two homers while allowing four runs and nine hits over 5 1/3 innings in a loss to Colorado in his last turn. Harvey is 3-1 with a 3.48 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts) against the Padres and has struggled with Hosmer (4-for-4).
Lauer was roughed up by Miami for five runs and seven hits in his last turn, when he pitched just 2 1/3 innings for the second time in his seven major-league starts. Lauer, who turns 23 on Sunday, has allowed five or more runs three times and sports a porous 2.08 WHIP along with an opponents' batting average of .359. Lauer has struggled at pitcher-friendly Petco Park, giving up 11 runs and 14 hits - including four homers - in 4 2/3 innings over two starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Reds C Tucker Barnhart recorded two RBIs in the series opener following a 12-game drought.
2. San Diego INF Corey Spangenberg struck out three times in four hitless at-bats on Friday and is 5-for-36 with 14 strikeouts over his last 15 contests.
3. Cincinnati 3B Eugenio Suarez is 9-for-16 with a homer, three RBIs and six runs scored over his last four games.