VENUE: Great American Ball Park
The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves are two of the more surprising division leaders. Johnny Cueto will likely be a big reason if the Reds remain atop the NL Central.
Cueto looks to continue his superb stretch as the Reds return home for the opener of a three-game series against the East-leading Atlanta Braves.
Cincinnati (57-46) leads the Central by one-half game on St. Louis, while Atlanta (58-43) has seen its lead in the East over second-place Philadelphia shrink after losing three of four.
The Reds are vying for their first playoff spot since 1995, while the Braves want to end a postseason drought dating to 2005.
Cueto (10-2, 3.18 ERA) can add to Cincinnati's slight division lead as he attempts to continue his superb stretch. The right-hander is 10-1 with a 2.63 ERA in 16 starts - 4-0 with a 0.88 ERA in his last six.
He's one win shy of matching his career high set last year.
"We appreciate what he's done, and we appreciate the progress he's made," manager Dusty Baker told the team's official website. "A lot of people are thinking he should be further ahead than he is now, but we don't. We think he's right on course to being an outstanding pitcher. His record is indicative of that this year."
Cueto turned in another gem Saturday by yielding four hits in eight innings of a 7-0 win at Houston. He is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts versus the Braves.
While Cueto has been red hot on the mound, the Reds are also producing at the plate. They finished a six-game road trip 4-2 after outscoring Milwaukee 22-6 in winning the final two games, including a 10-2 rout Wednesday.
"Our defense wins games. A lot of people think that offense is the key to things, but if you have pitching and defense you can win a lot of games," said second baseman Brandon Phillips, alluding to the Reds' 40 errors to rank among the best defensive clubs in baseball. "We have everything. The only team that can beat us is ourselves."
The best example of that may have come in Cincinnati's last meeting with the Braves on May 20. The Reds committed a season-high four errors and gave up seven runs in the ninth to lose 10-9.
Atlanta is 2-4 during this nine-game road trip and trying to rebound from Thursday's 5-3 loss at last-place Washington. The club mustered a .196 average and scored six runs while dropping two of three to the Nationals.
"The road has been our nemesis all year," third baseman Chipper Jones said of the team's 24-30 road record. "We haven't swung the bat or we haven't pitched. That trend continues."
Jason Heyward is trying to regain his momentum after going 1 for 9 in the last three games. That stretch comes after the rookie right fielder hit .486 in the previous nine.
All three of Heyward's hits in the May meetings with the Reds went for extra bases, and he added two RBIs. He'll face Cueto for the first time.
Kris Medlen (6-2, 3.57) gets a second turn in the rotation after four appearances out of the bullpen. The right-hander is 5-0 with 3.74 ERA in 12 starts, with the Braves winning 11.
He gave up five runs in six innings Saturday, but compiled a season-high eight strikeouts and didn't get a decision in a 10-5 win at Florida.
