Astros Vs. Reds: Cincinnati Heads To Houston For Three-Game Series

The first and last place teams in the NL Central will meet up on Friday for the start of a three-game series as the Cincinnati Reds look to stay hot against the reeling Houston Astros. Both teams are riding streaks in opposite directions coming into the series. Houston has lost five straight games while Cincy is coming off a three-game sweep of the Diamondbacks.

Game one of the series will feature Fernando Abad (0-1, 3.62 ERA) getting only his second ever major league start for the Astros. Abad has been a regular fixture in the Astros bullpen for the past several years but was only called to start for the first time against the Mets on Saturday.

He'll face off against Mike Leake (6-8, 4.51 ERA) of the Reds, coming off of one of his best starts of the season. He allowed only two runs on 10 hits against the Cardinals in what ended up being an 8-2 Reds win.

The game will be at Minute Maid Park at 7:05 p.m. CT.

For more on the Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds, check out their respective SB Nation blogs at The Crawfish Boxes and Red Reporter. More on MLB can be found over at Baseball Nation and SB Nation's YouTube channel: