• When: 1:15p.m. today, 7:05 p.m. Tuesday; 7:07 p.m. Wednesday.

        • Where: Cinergy Field.

        • Radio: WLW-AM (700).

        • TV: Fox Sports Net Tuesday; ESPN Wednesday.

        • Records: Reds (55-81), fifth place in the National League Central, vs. Houston Astros (80-56), first place NL Central.

        • The arms:

        Today — RHP Elmer Dessens (9-11, 4.56 ERA) vs. LHP Ron Villone (6-5, 5.75);

        Tuesday — LHP Dennys Reyes (1-5, 4.95) vs. RHP Roy Oswalt (12-2, 2.83);

        Wednesday — RHP Chris Reitsma (7-13, 4.74) vs. RHP Dave Mlicki (4-1, 4.87).

        • The bats: Houston's lineup is one of the best in baseball. The Astros have seven players with more than 10 homers. Lance Berkman (.335, 31 HRs, 104 RBI) and Jeff Bagwell (.290, 34 HRs, 111 RBI) are among the most productive players in the NL. Moises Alou leads the NL in hitting at .346.

        • The rest: The Astros swept the Reds three straight in Houston last week. Houston could officially eliminate the Reds from the NL Central race during this series. Houston is 3-1 at Cinergy this year.

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