The Cincinnati Reds head to Rate Field on Wednesday, August 12 for a 7:40 PM ET showdown with the Chicago White Sox. Rhett Lowder gets the ball for Cincinnati against Chicago's Luis Castillo in what shapes up as a genuine pitcher's duel. For a Reds club with playoff aspirations, taking series on the road against American League competition matters, and this mid-August trip to the South Side is no exception. Catch the action on Reds.TV or on the radio home of the Reds, WLW 700.

Reds Starter Rhett Lowder Takes the Mound in Chicago

Rhett Lowder draws the Wednesday start for Cincinnati. The young right-hander has been one of the more compelling pieces of the Reds' rotation this season, and road starts against AL lineups present a genuine measuring-stick opportunity. Lowder will need to command his arsenal against a White Sox order that, while not without vulnerabilities, carries enough veteran presence to do damage against a pitcher who leaves pitches over the plate.

White Sox Counter With Luis Castillo

Chicago counters with Luis Castillo — yes, that Luis Castillo, a name Reds fans know well from his years on the North side of the Ohio River's baseball geography. Castillo has long been regarded as one of the more difficult right-handers to square up in the American League. His combination of a riding fastball and sharp changeup gives opposing lineups fits, and Cincinnati's hitters will need disciplined at-bats to generate any early offense.

Chicago White Sox Starting Lineup

• Sam Antonacci, 2B
• Munetaka Murakami, 1B
• Andrew Benintendi, DH
• Braden Montgomery, RF
• Colson Montgomery, 3B
• Chase Meidroth, SS
• Tristan Peters, LF
• Brenton Doyle, CF
• Drew Romo, C

Keys to Watch for the Cincinnati Reds

Handling Castillo's Changeup

Castillo's changeup has historically been one of the premier pitches in the game. Cincinnati's lineup will need to lay off the pitch down and away and force him to work with his fastball. Patience early in counts could pay off as the game progresses.

Lowder's Efficiency Deep Into the Game

The White Sox lineup features a mix of contact hitters and power threats. If Lowder can work efficiently through the early innings and keep his pitch count manageable, the Reds bullpen gets a break and Cincinnati's chances of winning late improve significantly.

Capitalizing on White Sox Mistakes

Road wins in mid-August often come down to opportunistic baseball — taking the extra base, executing with runners in scoring position, and not giving away outs. Cincinnati needs to play clean, pressuring baseball from the first inning on.

Prediction

This one figures to be a low-scoring game given the arms involved. Lowder has shown he belongs in a major-league rotation, but Castillo remains a difficult assignment. Expect a tight game into the late innings. The Reds have the pitching to stay in it — and if the lineup can scratch across two or three runs, that may be enough. Reds 3, White Sox 2.