Martinez Gets the Ball in Game 1 of the Reds vs. Brewers Doubleheader

Thanks to a walk-off last night, the Cincinnati Reds (64-70) avoided a home sweep at the hands of the Oakland Athletics. Now, they must face off against the Milwaukee Brewers. Needless to say, the Brewers are a tad better than the A's.

The NL Central race is pretty much decided at this point and the Brewers lead the Reds by 13.5 games with 28 games to go.

Starter-turned-reliever-turned-starter Nick Martinez (6-6, 3.62 ERA) gets his shot for his 11th start on the year. As a starter, he is sporting a 1-4 record and a 5.47 ERA with a 1.373 WHIP.

He's coming off a few rough outings. After a 4 1/3-inning start that saw Martinez allow six runs off six hits and three walks, he pitched three innings in his last outing and allowed one run off five hits.

A few hitting streaks are on the line as the Reds' lineup looks to kick off the weekend on a strong note:

1.) 2B Jonathan India
2.) SS Elly De La Cruz
3.) LF Spencer Steer
4.) CF TJ Friedl
5.) DH Ty France
6.) 1B Dominic Smith
7.) 3B Santiago Espinal
8.) RF Will Benson
9.) C Luke Maile
SP Nick Martinez

The Brewers have been head-and-shoulders above everyone else in the NL Central and clinching the division is just around the corner. Colin Rea (12-4, 3.61 ERA) gets the ball in Game 1.

Over his last six starts, he has alternated performances. He went five innings with no runs, then 5 1/3 innings with two runs, then seven innings with no runs, then six innings with seven runs (and j10 hits), then seven innings with no runs, with his last start going 6 2/3 innings and allowing four runs off eight hits.

This will be Rea's seventh start and eighth appearance overall against the Reds. He started against Cincinnati earlier this year and went six innings and allowed just two runs off four hits and one walk in a Brewers win.

With just one win in the series, the Brewers will clinch the season series over the Reds. Milwaukee is averaging 5.4 runs per game against the Reds.

1.) LF Jackson Chourio
2.) 1B Rhys Hoskins
3.) C William Contreras
4.) SS Willy Adames
5.) CF Garrett Mitchell
6.) DH Gary Sanchez
7.) 3B Joey Ortiz
8.) RF Sal Frelick
9.) 2B Andruw Monasterio