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Aug 15, 2010 - 5:09 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Florida (57-57) at Cincinnati (65-51), 1:10 p.m. EDT

Johnny Cueto has emerged as the Cincinnati Reds' No. 1 starter this season, but his seven-game suspension has forced the team to look elsewhere for a starter Sunday.

The Reds hope their former ace of the future can do an admirable job filling in.

Cincinnati still has high expectations for one-time top prospect Homer Bailey, who tries to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Florida Marlins on Sunday in his first major league start in nearly three months.

Cueto had a rare rough outing Tuesday against St. Louis - suffering his first loss since June 18 - but the worst news came after it was over. The right-hander was suspended for seven games for his actions during the Reds' brawl with the Cardinals, forcing him to miss his usual rotation turn Sunday.

Cincinnati (66-51) will call on Bailey (1-2, 5.51 ERA) to step in, and they're hoping the No. 7 overall pick in the 2004 draft can finally flash the promise he showed as a minor league phenom. The right-hander went on the disabled list in late May with right shoulder inflammation, but is 2-1 with a 1.44 ERA in four games - three starts - rehabbing in the minors.

"I was healthy and getting my pitch count up, (and) obviously I was throwing well," Bailey told the Reds' official website. "I will just do whatever they say."

Bailey will likely end up in the bullpen when Cueto returns - he's never been a reliever - but for now he'll concentrate on trying to help his team finish off the Marlins (57-58). Bailey gave up five runs and eight hits - two homers - while walking four in 5 1-3 innings of a 5-3 loss at Florida on April 14.

Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla, though, are a combined 0 for 10 against Bailey.

While Cueto can't return until Aug. 21, manager Dusty Baker will be back from his two-game suspension Sunday.

The Reds haven't missed him too much. Cincinnati beat the Marlins 7-2 in Friday's opener, then escaped with a 5-4 victory Saturday to once again pull even with the Cardinals atop the Central.

Up 5-3 entering the ninth, closer Francisco Cordero loaded the bases with a hit and two walks before a double play helped him out of the jam.

"It wasn't pretty," said Cordero, who's walked nine in his last 6 2-3 innings. "I've got to stop walking people. I see how upset the fans are."

Anibal Sanchez (9-7, 3.33) tries to help his team avoid its first road sweep since dropping three games against the Mets from June 4-6, and he's been awfully tough to hit away from home recently. Sanchez followed his one-hitter at San Francisco on July 29 by holding Washington to two unearned runs over 6 2-3 innings Tuesday, outdueling rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg in an 8-2 win.

"Anibal had control of the game from the first pitch," manager Edwin Rodriguez told the Marlins' official website. "Another very strong outing from Anibal."

Sanchez, 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA in two starts against the Central, is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career games versus Cincinnati.