When: 10:35 p.m. today, 4:05 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

        Where: Pacific Bell Park, San Francisco.

        TV: Saturday and Sunday, Fox Sports Net.

        Radio: WLW-AM (700).

        Records: Reds 17-9 (entering Thursday), first place in the National League Central. Giants 16-11, tied for first in the NL West.

        The arms: Today — RHP Jose Rijo (2-0, 1.89 ERA) vs. LHP Kirk Rueter (3-1, 1.89); Saturday — RHP Jimmy Haynes (2-3, 5.54) vs. RHP Jason Schmidt (0-0, 8.31); Sunday — RHP Chris Reitsma (1-0. 3.22) vs. RHP Livan Hernandez (4-2, 2.30).

        The bats: After Barry Bonds' hot start, teams are avoiding him and challenging other players to beat them. So far, it has worked: The Giants have lost five of seven. Cleanup hitter Jeff Kent is hitting .254 with four home runs and 12 RBI. Former Red Reggie Sanders is hitting under .220, but his homer and RBI numbers are the same as Kent's. Rich Aurilia has only two homers and five RBI after hitting 37 and driving in 97 last year.

        The rest: This should be an interesting series given the war of words since the teams met last weekend. It will be particularly interesting if Felix Rodriguez faces Sean Casey, or if Scott Williamson gets in a game.

Dodgers 3, Reds 2 Reds box, runs Bullpen jump-starts starting pitchers DAUGHERTY: Retaliation time is now Reds-Giants series preview Reds notes: Casey's defense catches Boone's eye Setup role would suit Shaw fine Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 2, Louisville Bats 1 Baseball Notes from Thursday's games Boone, Cameron first teammates to homer twice in same inning MLB notes: Bradley breaks bone near eye

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