Reds at Marlins
Freddy Galvis has made himself at home with the Cincinnati Reds since being claimed off waivers by the club two weeks ago. The 29-year-old looks to continue his torrid streak at the plate on Tuesday as the visiting Reds play the second contest of their four-game series against the Miami Marlins.
Galvis belted his career-high 22nd homer among his three hits and drove in four runs on Monday as Cincinnati snapped a three-game skid with a 6-3 win in the series opener. The native of Venezuela is 19-for-47 - including two doubles and four homers - with 11 RBIs and nine runs scored in 13 games with the Reds and 1-for-4 with a double against Tuesday's scheduled starter Caleb Smith. Cincinnati has outscored Miami by a staggering 27-4 margin en route to a winning all four contests in the season series. Marlins first baseman Neil Walker also went deep in the opener and carries a six-game hitting streak into Tuesday's tilt versus ace Luis Castillo, against whom he has a homer as his lone career hit in six at-bats.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Luis Castillo (12-5, 3.04 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Caleb Smith (8-7, 3.82)
Castillo answered a brutal outing in which he surrendered three homers and a career-high eight runs with a strong encounter on Wednesday, during which he kept the ball in the park in a 4-2 win at San Diego. "I think the adjustments you make between starts helps. After the start against the Cardinals, I had to work hard," the 26-year-old former Marlins prospect said. Castillo authored a gem in his lone meeting with Miami this season, scattering two hits and striking out eight over seven innings in a 14-0 romp on April 9.
Smith fell to 1-3 with a 5.66 ERA in last four starts on Wednesday after yielding five runs and four walks in six innings of a 5-0 loss at Atlanta. The 28-year-old has surrendered six homers in his last four trips to the mound and 23 in 21 starts this season. Smith, however, has fared well at home, posting a 6-2 mark with a 3.32 ERA while limiting the opposition to a .201 batting average.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami C Jorge Alfaro has homered in consecutive contests and is 9-for-17 with four runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.
2. Reds 3B Eugenio Suarez went deep for the second straight contest with his team-leading 36th homer to improve to 8-for-15 with three homers against the Marlins this season.
3. Miami LF Curtis Granderson is 0-for-11 with seven strikeouts versus Cincinnati this season.