Even though they're a long way from home, Reds pitchers can find comfort in taking the mound at AT&T Park. It's been roughly neutral or favored pitchers in 4 of the last 5 seasons' worth of park factors. And they face a Giants' offense that is currently tied with the Padres for lowest-scoring in the NL. AT&T Park also has the sixth-longest distance down the left-field line, which has been a destination for more than a few balls scorched off Travis Wood by right-handed batters. Six of Wood's 10 HRs surrendered have been pulled by right-handed batters, who are hitting .455/.455/.891 (56 PAs) when they're able to get around on a pitch from the lefty. While Aubrey Huff is left-handed, the Giants most threatening hitters are righties. But no one on their team is hitting for much power - and one of Wood's major vulnerabilities so far has been the long ball.
Aside from the middling, the last month of Reds baseball has been marked by a series of bounce-back opportunities. Travis Wood fills that role tonight, though I think Wood's season has been more uneven than bad. HIs counterpart, Vogelsong, has been brilliant in 2011, so you'd never know he'd been drafted in 1998, played some ball in Japan and been out of the majors since 2006. It's a great story, but you can't let someone else's Justin Lehr get you all choked up. This is a business.
Lineup after the jump.
A few questions: What are the perfect storm conditions that lead to a Heisey start? And does Ramon Hernandez need to find a few more starts or is the current Hernanigans Brand workflow working for you?
Lineup:
Stubbs CF
Phillips 2B
Votto 1B
Bruce RF
Rolen 3B
Heisey LF
Hanigan C
Janish SS
Wood P