The series

• Who: Reds at Astros

• Where/When:Today through Sunday, Astrodome

• Records:Reds (36-46, NL Central 4th); Astros (40-43, NL Central 2nd).

What to watch

After spending much of the first half in first place in the NL Central, the Astros were overtaken Tuesday by the St. Louis Cardinals, the club most expect to win the division. The Astros are 13-8 in the Central, including a 5-2 record against the Cardinals. They have won two of four games against the Reds. After a 15-11 April, however, they are 25-32.

Up next

Following the series, the Reds play only four of their next 50 games in the Central Division, and they won't play a division opponent between July 18 and Sept. 3.

At the plate

Slugger Derek Bell was on the disabled list with a left calf hematoma in the Reds' previous two series against the Astros. Bob Abreu also returned from the disabled list. Pat Listach was released.

Third baseman Jeff Bagwell and second baseman Craig Biggio were voted into the National League All-Star team's starting lineup. Bagwell is batting .318 with 22 home runs and 73 RBI. He ranks second in the league in homers and RBI, though opposing managers pitch around him nearly as often as they do Gary Sheffield and Barry Bonds.

In four previous games against the Reds, Bagwell is 6-for-18 with a home run, three doubles and five RBI. In the 14-inning, May 21 game at the Astrodome, managed by Denis Menke in Ray Knight's absence, Bagwell was intentionally walked three times and scored the game-winner.

Biggio, the Gold Glove second baseman, is batting .310 with 13 homers and 43 RBI. He has scored 70 runs.

On the mound

• Today: John Smiley (5-10, 6.07 ERA) vs. Ramon Garcia (3-6, 4.32).

• Friday: Mike Morgan (2-5, 5.78) vs. Tommy Greene (0-0, 8.31).

• Saturday: Kent Mercker (6-5, 3.24) vs. Darryl Kile (9-3, 2.23).

• Sunday: Dave Burba (5-8, 5.40) vs. Chris Holt (7-5, 4.30).

The Astros are 7-15 in games started by an opposing left-hander, and the Reds start two in the series - Smiley and Mercker. The Reds are 2-2 against the Astros, and their winning pitchers have been lefties Pete Schourek and Smiley.

Pitchers Shane Reynolds, Sid Fernandez and Russ Springer are on the disabled list for the Astros.

On the air

• Today: 8:05 p.m., WLW-AM (700), Chs. 12, 7
• Friday: 7:05 p.m., WLW-AM (700), Chs. 12, 7
• Saturday: 8:05 p.m., WLW-AM (700)
• Sunday: 2:35 p.m., WLW-AM (700), SportsChannel

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