(Sports Network) - Plunging former phenom Homer Bailey makes his second start of the month and eighth of the season with hopes of posting his first victory today, when the Cincinnati Reds host the Milwaukee Brewers in the finale of a three-game series between National League Central Division rivals at Great American Ball Park.

Bailey, the seventh overall selection in the 2004 draft and a four-game winner during a brief nine-start major-league debut last season, plunged to 0-5 in 2008 with a 5-2 loss at Washington on August 1.

He lasted just two innings in the start, allowing seven hits and five runs on the heels of a 4 2/3-inning disaster against Colorado. He was ripped for 15 hits and four earned runs versus the Rockies.

The 22-year-old Texan got a no-decision against the Brewers four starts ago, allowing five hits and two runs over 5 2/3 innings in what was probably his best outing of the season.

In 31 full innings, he has allowed 51 hits and 26 earned runs while walking 14 and striking out 14.

Milwaukee righty Jeff Suppan makes his 14th career start against the Reds.

He got a no-decision against Cincinnati in his second outing of the 2008 season, allowing six hits and an earned run in seven innings of the Brewers' 3-2 triumph at Miller Park.

Lifetime against the Reds, he is 3-2 with a 5.33 earned run average in 77 2/3 innings.

Suppan was a winner in his most recent performance after allowing just five hits in seven scoreless innings of a 9-0 defeat of the Atlanta Braves on August 1.

On Tuesday, Corey Hart finished 2-for-3 with three runs batted in and Dave Bush threw seven solid innings, as Milwaukee crushed Cincinnati by an 8-1 score.

Bush (6-9) surrendered just one run on three hits and two walks, and struck out seven for the Brewers, who snapped a two-game slide. Bush rebounded from a rough start on July 31, when he gave up seven runs -- six earned -- in 7 1/3 frames against the Cubs.

Prince Fielder hit a two-run homer, while Jason Kendall went 2-for-4 with two RBI for Milwaukee. Ryan Braun had three hits, including a double.

Reds starter Edinson Volquez (13-5) was touched for five runs on nine hits in just five innings of work to absorb the loss for the Reds, who have dropped four of five overall.

Edwin Encarnacion snapped an 0-for-16 streak and finished with one hit and Cincinnati's sole RBI.

Cincinnati has won six of its 10 matchups with the Brewers this season.