Arizona at Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Reds have lost eight of their last ten games, and the offense hasn't just slowed down. The team that was averaging 4.30 runs per game has been held to 3.2 per game during that skid, and the pitching hasn't covered the difference. The timing is rough, with Mike Soroka arriving in town for Arizona. Soroka is one of the better stories in baseball this year: 3.28 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, eight wins through 14 starts, with underlying numbers that strip out luck and still sit below 3.10. He's been the reliable top-of-rotation presence this Arizona staff has needed all season, delivering six quality starts and keeping the D-backs in games consistently. The Reds counter with Rhett Lowder, a talented young right-hander with real upside who is still finding his footing at this level and sitting at a 5.01 ERA through his first several starts. Against a healthy Arizona lineup and a starter pitching at this level, Cincinnati is a difficult lean today. Take Arizona this afternoon.