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Ramon Ramirez makes his major league debut tonight, becoming the 8th player to make their MLB debut with the Reds this season. That's the most debuts they've had since all the way back in last season when they had 10 of them. Ramirez, 25, pitched in 19 games in Louisville this season, starting 15. He posted a 3.08 ERA, striking out 93 and walking 42 in 99.1 innings. At his age, he's not much of a prospect, but he's always posted decent numbers in the minors. A good start today could lead to him getting a real look-see for the rest of the season. If he can hold his own, he might find himself with a shot at the bullpen or even as the 5th starter next spring.
Today is the last chance for the Reds to win back-to-back games in August. They haven't done that since July 23rd. If they lose tonight it will be the first time they've failed to win consecutive games for an entire calendar month since May of 2001. Luckily for this team, people have already stopped watching. In 2001, they started the month of May just one game out of first place before they laid the giant egg Bob Boone style.