Preview: Bauer Looks to Shut Down the Reds as Indians Look to Break Three-Game Losing Streak

CLEVELAND - The Indians have been up and down the last two weeks, losing three of the first four on the road, then and wrapping up the trip winning the last

CLEVELAND - The Indians have been up and down the last two weeks, losing three of the first four on the road, then and wrapping up the trip winning the last four and winning the first of their 10-game homestand before now dropping three straight.

Tonight against Ohio rival the Cincinnati Reds the team will turn to All-Star pitcher Trevor Bauer, as he'll try to help the team rebound after a tough to swallow 7-5 loss on Monday when reliever Josh Tomlin allowed a ninth inning homer that gave the Reds a 7-1 lead.

The Tribe offense rallied for four in the bottom of the ninth, but with Jose Ramirez at the plate, it wasn't enough as he struck out to end the game and put the team at 49-40 on the season.

Bauer will go up against Reds righty Sal Romano, as he'll look to get the Tribe to their 50th win of the season.

Here's a look at tonight's game with a quick preview.

Time: 7:10 p.m.

Starting Pitchers: RHP Sal Romano (5-8, 4.50) vs. RHP Trevor Bauer (8-6, 2.45)

TV: SportsTime Ohio

Online: MLB.TV

Radio: WTAM 1100am, Indians Radio Network

1. Slow Down the Reds Attack

Cincinnati started the season 3-15 before making a switch at the managers spot, and since then are a game over .500, and have won six of their last nine including putting up seven more runs against the Tribe in a 7-5 win last night.

Cincy has been hot at the plate, scoring 60 runs in the last 9 games (6.6 runs per game), and they are led by Eugenio Suárez, the All-Star who leads the NL with 68 RBI to go along with 19 homers and .314 average.

They have been one of the more consistent teams in the National League as they continue to try and get out of the 12 game hole they built at the start of the season, and while they are still in last in the NL Central at 40-41, they are a lot more competitive than when they kicked off the season back three plus months ago.

2. The All-Star on the Mound

Trevor Bauer at 8-6 on the year with a 2.45 ERA takes the hill for the Tribe tonight, coming off another impressive outing against the Royals in KC last week.

In that win on the 4th of July, Bauer went 7.2 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with a walk and eight strikeouts and the pen did the rest as the Indians topped KC 3-2.

He was just as impressive in his last home start on June 23rd, going 6.1 innings allowing a run on five hits against the Tigers, striking out 11 in an Tribe 4-1 win.

In his only start against the National League this season, Bauer was on in Wrigley Field in Chicago, going six innings, not allowing a run on seven hits striking out six as the Indians pounded the Cubs 10-1 back on May 22nd.

He'll look to have similar numbers against the hot-hitting Reds tonight.

3. Some Stuff on Sal

Cincinnati Tuesday starter Sal Romano comes into play with a 5-8 mark sporting an ERA of 5.40 with 95 innings pitched, allowing 17 homers and 57 earned runs.

Last Wednesday he got the win, his 5th of the season, giving up four runs on six hits while striking out six without a walk over five innings against the White Sox.

He gave up homers 16 and 17 in the win, but settled in and the 24-year-old continued to make strides, as he's improved his ERA dropping it to 3.60 ERA over his last five outings.

If the Indians can get to him early it would be a key, as Romano has completed six innings only four times in 18 starts.

It would also be a boost to the Indians offense, which minus the four runs in the 9th last night has scored just two runs over the last two games.