NewsReds hope rest rejuvenates Taveras
Cincinnati (25-20) vs. Houston (18-26), 7:10 p.m. ET
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
05/26/09 11:35 PM ET
CINCINNATI -- Reds manager Dusty Baker likes to pick his spots for giving off-days to his regular players, and Tuesday seemed like the opportune time to give center fielder Willy Taveras a break. "I think he needs it," Baker said. "Left-handers hit [Astros Tuesday starter Roy] Oswalt better than right-handers. We have a very tough stretch of games where Willy won't get any off-days." Since his 14-game hitting streak ended on May 15 at San Diego, Taveras is in a 6-for-44 (.136) rut, though he has hit safely and scored a run in five of his past six games. During the hitting streak, he was batting .348 (23-for-66). Overall, Taveras is batting .273 with one home run, eight RBIs and 12 steals. He leads the team in hits with 45 and runs scored with 32. "I think it's about time. He was so hot there for a while and on base a lot," Baker said. "Usually, a cold streak follows an extremely hot streak." Lefty-hitting Chris Dickerson started in Taveras' place and batted leadoff for the third time this season. Taveras appeared in the eighth inning as a pinch-hitter and grounded out to the shortstop in Tuesday's 6-4 Reds win. Baker already plans to have Taveras back in the lineup on Wednesday as the club tries to complete a sweep of the Astros. After Thursday's off-day, the Reds have a challenging 10-game stretch vs. the Brewers and Cardinals on the road and the Cubs at home. Pitching matchupCIN: RHP Bronson Arroyo (6-3, 5.79 ERA)
Arroyo had one of his best efforts of the season during a 3-1 Reds win over the Indians on Friday. He gave up one earned run and five hits, walking two and striking out two over eight innings to earn the win after Cincinnati broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the eighth. The right-hander also induced three ground-ball double plays. The only Cleveland run came on Grady Sizemore's first-inning homer into the right-field bullpen. It was only Arroyo's second win at home. On April 20 at Houston, he was a 4-3 winner after allowing three earned runs and nine hits over seven innings. HOU: RHP Felipe Paulino (1-3, 6.90 ERA)
Pitching on nine days' rest, Paulino gave up four earned runs on seven hits against the Rangers in hist last start Friday, striking out three and walking two over 5 1/3 innings to receive a no-decision in the Astros' 6-5 loss. Paulino has started twice against the Reds this season but hasn't received much run support in the two outings, going 0-1 despite a 0.77 ERA in 11 2/3 innings. Reds notes
Francisco Cordero, who earned a save in the ninth inning on Tuesday, is 13-for-13 in save chances this season and has converted 27 straight save chances going back to last season. ... The Reds are 12-12 at Great American Ball Park this season. ... Jay Bruce's sixth-inning single off Oswalt snapped an 0-for-16 skid. Tickets
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• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Reds (Johnny Cueto, 4-2, 2.37) at Brewers (Braden Looper, 4-3, 4.47), 8:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Reds (Aaron Harang, 5-4, 3.36) at Brewers (Dave Bush, 3-1, 3.92), 7:05 p.m. ET
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
