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Brewers-Reds Preview

May 7, 2016 - 5:16 AM Even though they're showing signs of life offensively, the Cincinnati Reds have been waiting for first baseman Joey Votto to find his All-Star form.

As Votto looks to continue his success versus the Milwaukee Brewers, the hosts hope to keep swinging the bats well against Jimmy Nelson on Saturday night when they chase a season-high fourth straight win.

Since totaling 10 runs and hitting .156 with runners in scoring position over a six-game losing streak, Cincinnati (13-17) has turned things around at the plate by averaging 5.7 runs and batting .368 in those situations in the last six.

Brandon Phillips has heated up, going 5 for 11 with three home runs and seven RBIs over the last three games. Adam Duvall is 5 for 13 with three homers in his past four.

''I'm just trying to remind people that I can still play the game,'' Phillips said.

Perhaps the best sign came Friday when Votto homered and walked twice in four plate appearances in a 5-1 win. Votto, who recently said he'd rather quit than struggle, entered the game with a .337 slugging percentage - far below his .529 career mark.

Votto, who is batting .462 with three homers in his last nine games versus Milwaukee, will try to lead the Reds to their longest winning streak since June.

Cincinnati's bullpen ended its dubious MLB record of allowing at least one run in 23 straight games Friday. Brewers starters have struggled with a MLB-worst 6.34 ERA, but Nelson has limited foes to two earned runs or fewer in five of his six outings.

The right-hander won for the third time in his last four starts Monday when he allowed two runs and four hits over seven innings in an 8-5 home win over the Los Angeles Angels. He also had two hits and knocked in the winning run.

"It seems like he's into that role where he's kind of the guy who becomes the stopper, who becomes our ace," outfielder Ryan Braun told MLB's official website.

Nelson (4-2, 3.05 ERA) went 1-2 with a 10.38 ERA in three starts at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park last season. Jay Bruce gave him a tough time, going 5 for 10 with two home runs while Phillips was 3 for 11 with a home run.

Brandon Finnegan (1-1, 3.97) will try to send Milwaukee to its fourth straight loss. He surrendered three runs over six innings Monday before the bullpen coughed up his three-run lead in a 9-6 home loss to San Francisco.

Manager Bryan Price said he had to pull Finnegan because of a sore left hamstring.

"I'll be fine. Nothing serious at all," Finnegan said. "They checked it out and nothing bad. I've just got to take care of it and get treatment every day and I'll be fine."

In his only career start versus Milwaukee (11-18), the hard-throwing left-hander gave up one run and three hits over five innings in a 5-3 road victory Sept. 18.

Chris Carter homered in his only at-bat against him while with Houston. Carter has been rejuvenated with Milwaukee, batting a career-high .283 to go with 10 homers.

The Brewers could get leadoff hitter Domingo Santana back after he was out of the lineup Friday for the fourth time in five games because of shoulder discomfort.