Reds at Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks' red-hot stretch during which it won 11 of 12 contests has become a distant memory as the club has gone a week without a victory. Arizona looks to halt its six-game slide and keep alive its slim postseason hopes when it hosts the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series.
The Diamondbacks dropped a 4-3 decision in Friday's opener to fall 4 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second wild-card spot in the National League with 14 remaining. Eduardo Escobar went 2-for-4 with an RBI, giving him hits in nine of his last 12 contests. Wilmer Flores has hit safely in six of his last seven games, going 8-for-28 in that span after notching a pair of hits on Friday. Joey Votto and Josh VanMeter each belted a two-run homer for the Reds, who are 2-2 on their nine-game road trip.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (9-8, 4.06 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Merrill Kelly (10-14, 4.68)
DeSclafani will be making his second consecutive start against the Diamondbacks after settling for a no-decision at home on Sunday in his first career turn versus the club. The 29-year-old native of New Jersey worked six innings in that contest, allowing three runs - two earned - on three hits and three walks while also hitting a batter. DeSclafani has posted a 4.48 ERA on the road this season as opposed to a 3.66 mark at home.
Kelly is coming off a road loss against the New York Mets on Monday in which he gave up three runs and seven hits over six innings. The 30-year-old Texan served up two homers in the setback, matching the amount he allowed over his previous four outings. Kelly, who never has faced Cincinnati, has a 3.50 ERA at home - more than two runs lower than his mark on the road (5.89).
WALK-OFFS
1. Reds 3B Eugenio Suarez is two RBIs away from reaching the century mark for the second straight season.
2. Escobar ranks sixth in the majors with 113 RBIs - four behind Atlanta's Freddie Freeman for first overall.
3. Votto has gone 6-for-13 with a homer, three RBIs and four runs over his last three games.