D-backs should take two from Reds series

The Diamondbacks will begin a three game road trip against Cincinnati Tuesday hoping to rebound after losing four of their last six games.

The Reds have picked up where they left off in 2010, leading the NL Central so far this season with a 9-6 record while the Diamondbacks sit at 6-8.

The key will be how Arizona’s pitching can hold up against the Reds’ lineup featuring Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips.

The D-backs will begin the series with Armando Galarraga on the mound against the Reds’ Sam LeCure.

Galarraga is 2-0 so far but has struggled with a 6.75 ERA while giving up nine earned runs and five home runs over 12 innings.

LeCure has also pitched 12 innings but has a 2.25 ERA with three earned runs and 14 strikeouts.

The projected match-up for Wednesday is Ian Kennedy versus Bronson Arroyo.

Kennedy has an ERA of 6.88 while giving up 13 earned runs and six walks with 13 strikeouts over 17 innings.

He is trailing Arroyo so far this season, who has a 4.24 ERA with eight earned runs and two walks with 15 strikeouts over 17 innings.

The final game on Thursday will feature Daniel Hudson versus former Sun Devil Mike Leake.

Hudson is the only D-backs pitcher with an advantage on paper in this series, posting a 4.26 ERA while giving up nine earned runs and eight walks with 23 strikeouts over 19 innings.

Leake has a 5.40 ERA while giving up 10 earned runs and eight walks with 14 strikeouts over 16.2 innings.

The Diamondbacks will also hope their hitting nucleus of Miguel Montero, Justin Upton and Stephen Drew can keep up their recent production.

Each has at least seven RBIs this season and the trio has six of the team’s 15 home runs in 2011.

All three also have batting averages above .300 with a .337 combined average.

If the Diamondbacks can get consistent production from both their line-up and rotation in Cincinnati, they should come out with at least two wins.

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