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Reds-Astros Preview

Sep 16, 2010 - 11:05 PM By NOEY KUPCHAN STATS Writer

Cincinnati (83-63) at Houston (70-76), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The Cincinnati Reds are closing in on the NL Central title. They may not need much more time to clinch with a three-game series against the Houston Astros up next.

The Reds continue their push for the division championship Friday night when they open a nine-game road trip versus the Astros, whom they have dominated the past two seasons.

Cincinnati (83-64) just completed a 4-3 homestand against the league's two worst clubs - Pittsburgh and Arizona - to move within a few wins of its first playoff appearance since 1995.

"We're getting close," right-hander Edinson Volquez said. "We don't have that many left. If we win the series in Houston, it will be real exiting. We'll be really close."

Winning against the Astros hasn't been too difficult for the Reds over the last two years. Cincinnati has taken seven of nine meetings this season and 19 of the past 25.

The Reds have the largest division lead in the NL, and it appears to be just a matter of time before they secure the division crown.

"We're in a good situation," left fielder Jonny Gomes said. "We don't have to scoreboard watch, we really don't. We've done a good job of keeping our eyes on the prize."

Cincinnati will send Johnny Cueto (12-5, 3.31 ERA) to the mound Friday. The right-hander shut down the Astros in a 7-0 win at Minute Maid Park on July 24, giving up four hits and striking out six in eight innings.

Cueto has been outstanding of late, going 1-1 with a 1.67 ERA in his last four starts and allowing one or no earned runs in three of them. He pitched seven innings of three-hit ball with seven strikeouts Sunday, although the Reds lost 3-1 to the Pirates after Francisco Cordero allowed three runs in the ninth.

The Reds closer has struggled badly of late, posting a 16.20 ERA in his last four appearances and blowing two of three save opportunities. He has eight blown saves on the season, his highest total since a career-worst 11 in 2006.

Wandy Rodriguez (11-12, 3.62) will start for the Astros as he looks to continue his outstanding recent run. The left-hander has gone 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA in his last 10 starts, pitching at least seven innings eight times.

His two starts against the Reds this year were perhaps his worst and best outings of 2010. Rodriguez gave up a season high-tying eight runs in 3 1-3 innings of a 15-6 road loss May 28, but allowed one hit in seven innings to win 4-0 at home July 25.

He tied a season high with 10 strikeouts and gave up three runs in seven innings of a 6-3 loss to Los Angeles on Saturday, not getting the decision.

Rodriguez has helped Houston (70-76) go 34-23 in the second half. The Astros had a three-game win streak snapped with an 8-6, 10-inning loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Astros slugger Carlos Lee is 3 for 17 against Cueto in his career, while Reds right fielder Jay Bruce has gone 1 for 17 with 10 strikeouts versus Rodriguez.