• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Reds' Bailey draws start in matchup with Braves

May 7, 2013 - 2:38 PM (Sports Network) - Right-hander Homer Bailey can stay unbeaten in his career against Atlanta on Tuesday night when the Cincinnati Reds host the Braves in the middle test of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.

The Braves won the opener, 7-4, and sit atop the National League's East Division by 2 1/2 games over the Washington Nationals and five over the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Reds, meanwhile, fell to three games back of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central, where they're tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Cincinnati entered the game with a 12-4 home mark, best in the league.

Bailey is 2-0 in three career meetings with Atlanta with a 2.41 earned run average across 18 2/3 innings.

In those games, he's allowed five runs on 15 hits with six walks and 12 strikeouts, allowing a .217 opposition batting average.

He opened 2013 with a 15-0 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals on April 5, but is 0-3 in five starts since while allowing 32 hits and 14 runs in 31 1/3 innings.

He's 1-0 in three home starts this season and 19-19 with a 4.90 ERA in 63 career home starts.

For the Braves, righty Kris Medlen tries again to recapture the magic of 2012.

The 27-year-old was 10-1 with a 1.57 ERA in 138 innings in 2012, but is 1-4 in six starts in 2013, including losses in three straight since a no-decision on April 16.

He's made one start and four career relief outings against the Reds, with a 4.50 ERA in eight combined innings.

Medlen is 1-2 in three road starts this season and has a 5.14 ERA in four career games at Great American.

On Monday, Andrelton Simmons hit two home runs and had four RBI for the Braves.

Jordan Schafer knocked a solo homer while Freddie Freeman and Evan Gattis also had an RBI apiece for the Braves, who have won just seven of their last 18 games after starting the season 12-1.

"It was fun," said Simmons. "Felt good over the plate, got a couple pitches over the plate. Thanks to my teammates though, they gave me a good scouting report before I had to face anybody, so they made it easier."

Braves starter Paul Maholm (4-3) had six strikeouts and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth to notch his 10th save.

Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier each drove in one run for the Reds, who saw starter Bronson Arroyo (2-4) give up four runs on eight hits and two walks over five frames.

"Our guys kept fighting and these guys are going to keep fighting," said Reds manager Dusty Baker. "And that's one thing about our club. One day, we're going to get over that hump."

Cincinnati has won seven of nine head-to-head meetings and six of seven over Atlanta at Great American Ball Park. A win would be the 1,600th for Baker, who's now tied with Tommy Lasorda for 18th place all-time.