All is right on the first Sunday in baseball. The Reds have yet to lose a game and lead the division all by themselves. A Ramon Hernandez walk-off HR and a Francisco Cordero cover-your-eyes save have secured the first two wins, showing the team has picked up right where they left off a thrilling 2010. Joey Votto and many others are stinging the ball. Jay Bruce and Edgar Renteria have made two of several outstanding defensive plays. And last night, Travis Wood spun the kind of gem that we got used to seeing last summer.
Hopefully Bronson Arroyo can continue the momentum and finish the season's inaugural series with a sweep. His recently diagnosed mononucleosis could hamper his stamina, but then again it should make him less bleary-eyed for a day game like today's. If there's trouble, Sam LeCure may be needed for an extended period.
It's no secret that Arroyo has been one of the most durable pitchers in the National League during his Cincinnati career. In fact, he's fourth in the NL over the past three seasons with 636 innings. What is a surprise is that Randy Wolf, Milwaukee's starter today, is seventh. Wolf is a Tomo Ohka-type, with a 10-3 record and 3.13 ERA against the Reds in 129 career innings. No matter. I expect Arroyo to continue the befuddlement of Milwaukee's potent offense and Jonny Gomes to lead a feast on the first lefty starter the team has seen this year. Sweep the leg, Jonny! No mercy!