9.19.10 BY:MEH SHIRTS VS. SKINS
FIRST PLACE REDS FACE ELIMINATED BREWERS
Over the weekend the
Cincinnati Reds lost two of three games in Arizona, the St. Louis Cardinals
won three of four against San Diego, and the Milwaukee Brewers won two of
three against the San Francisco Giants. The Cardinals remain six games
behind the Reds in the NL Central as Cincinnati's magic number was reduced
to eight games with twelve games remaining for the Reds in the regular
season. The Giants took over sole possession of first place in the NL West
by just half a game over the San Diego Padres and 1.5 over the Colorado
Rockies while the Milwaukee Brewers were eliminated from post season action.
The Reds will begin a three game series against the Brewers on Monday. As
the final days of the 2010 season disintegrate it seems that the teams that
will surely enjoy post season action will be Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and
Atlanta. The San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and Colorado Rockies
will decide their own fate over the next two weeks as only one will emerge
from the NL West.
Winning as many games as possible is important because
getting the second seed for the playoffs is huge. You want to avoid playing
Philadelphia, owners of the best record, in the first round.
Getting the second seed is the difference between playing Atlanta with the
home field advantage or playing Philadelphia without the field advantage.
The Braves currently lead the Wild Card, but they can’t play Philadelphia in
the first round because they are in the same division.
Right now, the Reds are tied with Giants for the second best record of the
division leaders. The Reds have to finish ahead of the Giants because the
Giants hold the tie breaker.
MONDAY: Homer Bailey (3-3, 4.85) vs. Chris Capuano (3-4, 4.11) at
8:10pm
Winless since he defeated the Dodgers (7IP, 4H, 1ER, 6K) on August 20, Homer
Bailey
will likely start against the Brewers on Monday despite issues involving
dizziness that caused him to exit the game during his last start against
Arizona after just three innings. In five career starts against the Brewers,
Bailey is 0-2 with a 6.44 ERA. During two starts against the Brewers this
season (May 18 and Aug 30), Bailey went a total of 13 innings, allowed six
earned runs on twelve hits, and struck out eight batters. Both games were
won by Cincinnati.
During his six major league seasons (45-52, 4.37) Chris Capuano has faced
the Reds eight times during his career, winning two, and losing three while
posting a 4.88 ERA. Capuano has faced the Reds once this season. On July 27
he lasted just three innings as he allowed four earned runs on six hits in
an eventual 12-4 Cincinnati victory.
TUESDAY: Edinson Volquez (3-3, 4.99) vs. Dave Bush (7-12, 4.75) at
8:10pm
In five career starts against the Brewers, Volquez is 2-1 with a 6.84 ERA.
In twelve career starts against the Reds, Dave Bush is 2-4 with a 7.07 ERA.
Neither pitcher has had much success against their next opponent, but the
Reds 7-1 record when facing the Brewers this season could be the deciding
factor.
WEDNESDAY: Johnny Cueto (12-5, 3.35) vs. Randy Wolf (12-11, 4.32) at
8:10pm
Both pitchers will be attempting to acquire their thirteenth win on
Wednesday. Randy Wolf will be trying to beat the Reds for the tenth time
during his career. In eighteen career starts against the Reds, Wolf is 9-2
with a 5.40 ERA. Wolf has received a no-decision against the Reds this
season (Aug 30) and received the win during Milwaukee's only victory over
the Reds this season on July 26. Cueto will have his eyes on his third
career victory against the Brewers. In seven career starts, Cueto is 2-1
with a 2.78 ERA against the Brewers. During two starts against the Brewers
this season, Cueto pitched a total of thirteen innings, allowed just two
earned runs on twelve hits, and struck out nine while walking two. Both
games were Cincinnati wins.
