CINCINNATI -- This will be a Reds road trip that carries some significance.

Coming off a successful 6-3 homestand, the third-place Reds are a half-game behind the second-place Brewers in the National League Central standings and 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Cardinals.

The next seven road games are against those two teams. It starts with three games in Milwaukee, with the opener on Friday.

"We have to get after it," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "We know it's going to be tough. [The Cards and Brewers] play well in their ballparks. We play well on the road."

The Reds, at a season-high six games over .500 for the second time this season, have won four in a row and six of their past eight games. They are also 13-8 on the road this season. That included taking two of three games at Milwaukee in April.

"We've played well on the road so far. We've played these teams tough so far," said Reds right fielder Jay Bruce, who hit two home runs in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Astros. "I always feel confident. We have a great pitching staff. We're hitting well, and hopefully Brandon [Phillips] will come back and we'll keep rolling. It's been a fun year so far. It's just getting started."

Pitching matchup
CIN: RHP Johnny Cueto (4-2, 2.37 ERA)
In a 4-3 Reds win in 11 innings, Cueto received a no-decision after he pitched seven innings and allowed three runs -- two earned -- and six hits with three walks, two hit batters and seven strikeouts. He was effective at getting ahead and threw first-pitch strikes to 22 of the 29 hitters he faced. It was the seventh consecutive start in which the right-hander worked at least seven innings, but he's winless in his past two outings.

MIL: RHP Braden Looper (4-3, 4.47 ERA)
Looper's previous start was not a success. The right-hander did not have his best stuff, but he was able to complete six innings while getting touched for nine hits and five runs -- four earned -- in a 6-2 loss to the Twins on Saturday. Looper walked one and struck out one, and he also surrendered solo home runs to Joe Crede and Joe Mauer. This start kicks off a three-game series vs. the Reds, who he is 5-3 with a 3.86 ERA against in 38 appearances -- eight starts -- over 81 2/3 career innings.

Tidbits
As well as he's been playing, Ramon Hernandez was on the bench Wednesday for the series finale vs. the Astros. Baker wanted Hernandez fresh for Friday's start of a three-game series vs. the Brewers at Miller Park. "I think he needs it bad," Baker said. "He'll get two [days, with Thursday's off-day]. He's beat up pretty good. He's been playing more than we wanted him to, but he's been so hot with the bat, No. 1. No. 2, we wanted to make sure [backup Ryan] Hanigan was over with what he's beat up with. It's pretty timely."

Hernandez, who is hitting .294 with two home runs and 18 RBIs, has hit .444 (8-for-18) in his current four-game hitting streak. Besides regular catching duties, he's filled in several times lately at first base while Joey Votto was out with dizziness. Hernandez even played third base for the first time in his career late in a game when the Reds ran out of infielders.

Tickets
 Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
• FS-O

On radio
• WLW 700

Up next
• Saturday: Reds (Aaron Harang, 5-4, 3.36) at Brewers (Dave Bush, 3-1, 3.92), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Reds (Micah Owings, 3-5, 4.78) at Brewers (Yovani Gallardo, 4-2, 3.32), 2:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Reds (Edinson Volquez, 4-2, 4.25) at Cardinals (TBD), 8:15 p.m. ET