Since the Reds are riding a 6-game win streak (their first since August 2010), I tried to come up with an antidote to our losing streak mascot:
Credit for shopping out the baby goes to Gapper (I think).
Maybe it needs to be a departure from babies, laundry hampers and bricks. In any case, SIX WINS WITHOUT A LOSS.
Christian Friedrich is making just his fourth major league start tonight. I don't want to make too much of that, because Friedrich been a highly-regarded prospect and misses a lot of bats. Then again, he's given up a good number of liners/fliners/flyballs so far. This is of interest to the the home team because: temperatures are up and 10 seeds* found purchase** for the Reds during the Braves series.
Lineups
REDS
Zack Cozart (R) SS
Drew Stubbs (R) CF
Joey Votto (L) 1B
Brandon Phillips (R) 2B
Chris Heisey (R) RF
Ryan Ludwick (R) LF
Todd Frazier (R) 3B
Ryan Hanigan (R) C
Johnny Cueto (R) P
ROCKIES
Eric Young (S) CF
Marco Scutaro (R) 2B
Carlos Gonzalez (L) LF
Troy Tulowitzki (R) SS
Todd Helton (L) 1B
Tyler Colvin (L) RF
Jordan Pacheco (R) 3B
Wilin Rosario (R) C
Christian Friedrich (R) P
Bullpen notes:
- Aroldis Chapman has pitches 6 of the last 10 days, throwing 123 pitches over that span. I'm not ready to say he's overworked, but he's on pace for 88.2 IP, which is a lot on a reliever's schedule, with a reliever's approach. He'll probably be OK, since his usage will be different as a closer and he's doing a lot less brute-force throwing this season.
Alfredo Simon last pitched on May 15 @ ATL (2.0 IP, 48 pitches) - J.J. Hoover last pitched May 17 @ NYM (1.0 IP, 17 pitches)
* home runs
** "were home runs"