Game Preview: Phillies at Reds CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies aim to secure a series victory Thursday night against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EDT with a forecast of 82 degrees and rain. Philadelphia (51-41) enters with a 2-1 series lead after splitting the first two games. The Phillies lost 7-2 on Wednesday but rebounded Tuesday with a 4-1 victory, a game in which Wheeler dominated. The right-hander threw seven innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out 14. Wheeler (projected starter) has been exceptional recently, winning his last five decisions. Over that stretch, he has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of five outings, including a complete-game shutout against Miami on June 15. His 14-strikeout performance Tuesday marked a season high. The Reds (41-49) will counter with left-hander Andrew Abbott. In Tuesday’s loss to Philadelphia, Abbott went six innings, surrendering five hits and three earned runs with eight strikeouts. He has struggled of late, losing two of his last three decisions, though he has shown resilience with back-to-back wins in mid-June against Pittsburgh and the New York Yankees. Cincinnati dropped its series opener against Baltimore over the weekend before splitting two games with the Phillies. The Reds are 4-6 in their last 10 games. Philadelphia enters the game as a -1.5 favorite, with the over/under set at 9 runs. Interstat’s simulation projects a 5-3 Phillies win. Kyle Schwarber keyed Tuesday’s win for Philadelphia, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Reliever Jhoan Durán struck out three in a perfect ninth inning. After Thursday’s game, the Phillies travel to Detroit for a three-game series starting Friday. The Reds host the Chicago Cubs for a weekend series beginning Friday. This marks the final game of the four-game set between the National League rivals. Philadelphia has won seven of the last 10 meetings between the teams.