It's not much to hang your Reds hat on, but Edinson Volquez has been better since his early-July demotion. It just doesn't happen to reflect in his big league ERA. After an improving trip to the minors, Volquez had a mediocre 5-inning start in Colorado - though one in which he only gave up 4 hits and 2 earned runs in Coors. Last time out, against the Brewers, he took 6 Ks and three earned runs into the 7th inning, but after walking the lead-off batter in the inning was inexplicably left out to throw his 117th pitch and face lefty Nyjer Morgan. Arredondo came in after Morgan's HBP and promptly gave up a 3-run HR, pinning two more runs on Volquez.
The standard for evaluating Volquez has bottomed out in 2011, but he's pitched well enough in the second-half to avoid being bullpen or trade toss-in fodder. We'll see if the Reds agree.
There's rain in the forecast in Pittsburgh. The last time it got rainy at PNC with the Reds in town, the sun came out.
Lineups after the jump.
| REDS Brandon Phillips (R) 2B | PIRATES Alex Presley (L) LF |
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