The league leader in some major pitching categories while playing for a division front-runner, Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto is an obvious candidate for the NL Cy Young Award.
Philadelphia's Cole Hamels may be a long shot for that honor, but defeating the Reds could help bolster his resume.
Cueto aims to become baseball's first 17-game winner and lead Cincinnati to a rare series win at Citizens Bank Park in Thursday night's finale, while Hamels looks to continue his dominance over the NL Central-leading Reds.
After dropping Monday's four-game series opener 12-5, Cincinnati (76-49) has won consecutive one-run decisions over the Phillies to maintain its eight-game lead atop the Central. Bronson Arroyo and Aroldis Chapman combined on a four-hitter in Wednesday's 3-2 victory while Jay Bruce homered and doubled for the Reds, who won for the 10th time in 13 contests and moved a season-high 27 games over .500.
Bruce is batting .419 with five homers and 12 RBIs in his last 11 games.
The Reds, w...
