Welcome to July, a month in which the 2010 Reds were 14-12. This year's team has spent 18 total days at a mark of 2 games above .500. As June wore on, that's started to feel like their set point. Two games above .500 is not going to win the division or a wild card berth, but luckily July is also the month some players, especially Bronson Arroyo, start to take off. July has historically been Bronson's second-best month, a massive improvement over his career June ERA of 5.33.
For fans just as well as players, it's time to wipe the slate clean of slumps, losing streaks and shoulder-chips. July is the month where you start to get what you expect. Paul Janish notwithstanding, the two most shocking stat lines for me to this point belong to Volquez and Rolen: 5.65 ERA/1.62 WHIP and .252 .290 .408. I expect those both to improve and that seems to be the Reds top-line approach to the coming trade deadline.
LINEUP
Lewis LF
Phillips 2B
Votto 1B
Rolen 3B
Bruce RF
Stubbs CF
Renteria SS
Hanigan C
Arroyo RHP