Reds at Cubs
The Cincinnati Reds look to continue their strong play against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, when they visit their National League Central rivals for the middle contest of their three-game set. The Reds scored five unanswered runs to rally to a 6-3 win in the series opener and improve to 7-3 against Chicago this season.
Yasiel Puig and Eugenio Suarez each hit their 22nd homer - tied for the team lead - while Curt Casali also went deep in Monday's triumph. The red-hot Puig recorded two hits and is a torrid 16-for-35 with five blasts and 11 RBIs over his last nine games. Kyle Schwarber was one of four Cubs to register two hits as he belted a solo shot to reach the 20-homer mark for the third straight season. The setback was just the second in seven games for Chicago, which holds a two-game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (5-4, 4.26 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Alec Mills (2018: 0-1, 4.00)
DeSclafani settled for a no-decision against Cleveland in his last turn after giving up two runs and seven hits over six innings. The 29-year-old has won three of his last four decisions and allowed fewer than three runs in five of his last six outings. DeSclafani scattered five hits over six scoreless innings to defeat the Cubs on June 30 and improve to 4-3 with a 3.84 ERA in 11 career starts against the club.
Mills will be recalled to make his first major-league start of the season and the third of his career as he fills in for the injured Cole Hamels (oblique). The 27-year-old has gone 6-2 with a 4.73 ERA in 15 appearances (14 starts) at Triple-A Iowa this year, registering 77 strikeouts in 80 innings. Mills went 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA in seven appearances (two starts) for Chicago last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Reds OF Jesse Winker (back) awoke feeling fine after leaving Sunday's game and had a pinch-hit single in Monday's contest.
2. Chicago placed Willson Contreras (foot) on the 10-day injured list and acquired fellow C Martin Maldonado from the Kansas City Royals for LHP Mike Montgomery.
3. Cincinnati LHP Amir Garrett (lat) threw a side session on Monday and is slated to pitch batting practice on Wednesday.