Remember the fallen today.
It's been a dramatic two weeks for the Reds. On May 12, the team was at .500 (3.5 games back) and hitting the road with a tough schedule ahead. Fast forward to the end the final series of the month, and they're 27-20, leading the division by a game and a half.
That winning stretch across Atlanta and New York last week was a good sign, but the road mettle needs to be stress-tested a little more. The record isn't thrown too much by home field advantage - they've played only two more games at home than away so far - but it's easy to rack up loses away from those cozy padded walls. The 2011 squad went on a 2-8 late May road trip from which they never recovered.
Enough downers. James McDonald is a good pitcher who owns the Reds, but Bronson is a good pitcher too (again). He'll face a Pirates offense that is, quite literally, the worst.
Lineups
REDS (27-20)
Drew Stubbs (R) CF
Wilson Valdez (R) SS
Joey Votto (L) 1B
Brandon Phillips (R) 2B
Jay Bruce (L) RF
Chris Heisey (R) LF
Miguel Cairo (R) 3B
Ryan Hanigan (R) C
Bronson Arroyo (R) P
PIRATES (23-24)
Jose Tabata (R) LF
Neil Walker (S) 2B
Andrew McCutchen (R) CF
Pedro Alvarez (L) 3B
Garrett Jones (L) RF
Matt Hague (R) 1B
Rod Barajas (R) C
Clint Barmes (R) SS
James McDonald (L) P
Bullpen notes:
- With the Reds on Game 17 of a 20-games-in-20-days stretch, bullpen wear is a concern.
Arredondo showed signs of being overworked yesterday, but Latos gave most everyone else a breather. If Chapman isn't available, Marshall or Ondrusek can step in for the 8th and 9th.