08/09 Padres Preview: Game 115 @ Cincinnati

The Padres finished 4-4 in their homestand after being swept by the Orioles. Today they'll take the field at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati to kick off a six-game road trip. Andrew Cashner will get the ball in the series opener, seeking his fourth win in as many tries since the All-Star Break. He's posted a 3.79 ERA while keeping opponents batting .203 over his last three starts. He most recently tossed seven innings of two-run ball against the Yankees, allowing seven hits, issuing no walks, and striking out two. This will be Cashner's first career start against the Reds and his first outing against them in a Padres uniform, though he pitched five innings against them out of the bullpen when he was with the Cubs.

Cashner's three straight wins coming into tonight's game were not without the help of the Padres offense. They've given him 20 total runs of support during that stretch. In contrast, they combined for just ten runs over his previous six outings. However, they're coming off a two-game series that kept them to just four runs. Padres batters have hit an abysmal .137 with runners in scoring position over their last nine games, averaging less than three runs during that span. The loss of Everth Cabrera hasn't helped, and now they could lose Carlos Quentin to the disabled list after he missed six straight games with a knee injury.

Bronson Arroyo will try to take advantage of the short-handed Padres offense as he takes the mound for Cincy tonight. The right-hander is 6-7 with a 4.20 ERA all-time against San Diego, but 2-0 in his last four against them. He's coming off one of his worst starts, a 13-3 loss to the Cardinals last Friday that saw him go just 3 2/3 innings while giving up seven runs.

The Reds were on the winning side of a two-game sweep in their last series as they took down the first-place Athletics. It was their first time winning consecutive games since July 24-25. But tonight they'll go for their first three-game win streak since the All-Star Break. The Reds are just 4-7 in their last 11 games, including a series loss in San Diego last week.

The Padres and Reds kick off their series at 4:10 this afternoon.