Game 1 in Milwaukee Presents a Big Opportunity for De La Cruz, Reds

The Cincinnati Reds (56-59) are clawing back into playoff contention thanks to blowing by the Miami Marlins. Now, the road trip continues with a three-game trip to the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers (65-49). The Reds enter the series tied at the bottom of the division and 9.5 games off the pace. In the wild card, Cincinnati is sitting at five games back from the final slot.

Carson Spiers (4-3, 3.59 ERA) takes his turn in the rotation for his eighth start. Since moving to the rotation from the bullpen, Spiers has earned decisions in each of his seven starts and worked a 4.23 ERA. While he had a fantastic scoreless outing on July 29, Spiers was plagued by the long ball in a 5 2/3-inning, three-run loss.

The Reds' lineup knocked the Marlins around to the tune of 32 hits in four games with three of at least eight. They'll need to keep that going against the red-hot Brewers:

1.) 2B Jonathan India
2.) SS Elly De La Cruz
3.) CF TJ Friedl
4.) LF Spencer Steer
5.) DH Jeimer Candelario
6.) 1B Ty France
7.) RF Jake Fraley
8.) 3B Noelvi Marte
9.) C Luke Maile
SP Carson Spiers

The Brewers are coming off of an incredibly impressive sweep of the Atlanta Braves where they put up 34 runs off 52 hits in three games. Unreal.

Aaron Civale (2-8, 5.14 ERA) makes his 23rd start on the year and his sixth since joining the Brewers. In those five starts with Milwaukee, Civale has posted a 5.40 ERA over 25 innings. His WHIP in that time is 1.52. The Brewers are 1-4 in his five starts.

This will be Civale's second start against the Reds. As a member of the Cleveland Guardians, Civale tossed seven innings and allowed one run off five hits on May 8, 2021.

That red-hot Brewers lineup looks to stay hot:

1.) 2B Brice Turang
2.) LF Jackson Chourio
3.) CF Garrett Mitchell
4.) C William Contreras
5.) SS Willy Adames
6.) RF Sal Frelick
7.) 1B Rhys Hoskins
8.) DH Jake Bauers
9.) 3B Joey Ortiz
SP Aaron Civale