Reds, D-backs begin series with eye toward wild-card berth

The chase for one of three National League wild-card spots will continue on Thursday night when the Cincinnati Reds begin a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.

After completing a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels, Cincinnati holds a half-game lead over Arizona and the San Francisco Giants for the league's third wild-card berth. The Reds will look to slow an Arizona team that has won four straight games and nine of its last 11.

Both teams are beginning a crucial stretch of games against fellow wild-card competitors. Cincinnati will play 11 games in the next 11 days, starting with road series against Arizona and San Francisco.

"It's huge," Reds infielder Spencer Steer said. "(It's an important) road trip against some really good teams that we're fighting against for some wild-card spots. We've just got to play our game, our style of baseball, and hopefully we come out of the road trip with a lot of wins."

Cincinnati boasts 11 rookies on its roster, including shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who had a career-high six RBIs in a 9-4 win over the Angels on Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader. The Reds completed the sweep with a 7-3 win in the nightcap.

De La Cruz had a three-run homer and a three-run triple in Wednesday's first game.

"At any point, a game-changing play or an at-bat or a baserunning play, there's so many ways he's contributing and helping us win games," Reds manager David Bell said. "Today it was with the bat, for sure."

Arizona, meanwhile, has received a spark from outfielder Tommy Pham, who was acquired from the New York Mets on Aug. 1. The 35-year-old is hitting .296 (16-for-54) with three homers and 14 RBIs during a 13-game hitting streak.

"This team has a lot of heart," Pham said. "So I'm just trying to contribute, do what I can to help the team and go from there."

Arizona completed a two-game sweep of the Texas Rangers earlier this week despite limited production from third basemen Jace Peterson and Buddy Kennedy. D-backs general manager Mike Hazen said the position definitely is an area of concern.

"We'd love to find an everyday third baseman that anchors that spot down," Hazen said. "We have not. That's my fault."

Arizona will send right-hander Merrill Kelly (10-5, 3.13 ERA) to the mound in the series opener. He allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 6-4 win over the San Diego Padres on Saturday in his most recent outing.

Cincinnati's Joey Votto has only one hit in eight at-bats against Kelly, who is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA in four career starts vs. the Reds.

Cincinnati will counter on Thursday with rookie left-hander Brandon Williamson (4-3, 4.47), who gave up four runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

Williamson, 25, is set to make his second career start vs. Arizona. He threw six innings of one-run ball in a 4-2 win over the D-backs on July 22.