| | |
Here's a weird thought. If Bronson Arroyo pitches as well in his final 8 starts this season as he has in his most recent 8 starts, he'll finish the year leading the Reds starters in ERA. Not only that, but he'd actually have an ERA under 4.00 at 3.95. Granted, we're a long way from that and it's probably not realistic, but given that his ERA was nearly 6.00 early in July, it would be quite a turn around. And perhaps more importantly, it would make him look like a much more attractive trading piece, if that's the way the Reds plan to go.
As much as many fans want to get rid of Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo's contracts, I would imagine that Brewers fans are even more desperate to get out of Jeff Suppan's. Suppan's been pretty bad across the board this year, and given that the Brewers still owe him at least $14.5M over next year plus an option buyout, I'm sure there isn't a whole lot of love for the right-hander in Milwaukee right now. He's making his first start for the Brewers since going on the disabled list at the end of July with a strained oblique muscle. Who knows how the Reds will fare in such a situation?
The Brewers have fallen out the race just as the Reds have, though not as dramatically. Of course, a little over a month ago they were just 2 games out of first place. Now they are 10 out and 2 games under .500. Frankly, neither of these teams are playing all that hot right now. That always seems to be to the advantage of the Reds' opponents.