"Quickforget 'ems" I like to call last night's game. Homer Bailey and the bullpen were due for a regression
Despite "regression" being thrown around every time Cueto takes the mound, I'm going to retire that shop-worn talking point. We may well need a lot more data to square Cueto's ground-ball tendencies with the fact that his peripherals call for a serious dip, but enough is enough.
Zack Greinke is the inverse of Cueto. He's in his third season of significantly underperforming his FIP. Last season, he led NL starters in strikeout rate, despite posting a virtually identical ERA to Mike Leake.
Both men, we can safely say, are very good pitchers. Only one is the major leagues' ERA leader.
Play the game and the win the game, yeah?
Lineups
Zack Cozart (R) SS
Drew Stubbs (R) CF
Joey Votto (L) 1B
Brandon Phillips (R) 2B
Jay Bruce (L) RF
Todd Frazier (R) LF
Wilson Valdez (R) 3B
Ryan Hanigan (R) C
Johnny Cueto (R) P
Nyjer Morgan (L) CF
Rickie Weeks (R) 2B
Ryan Braun (R) LF
Aramis Ramirez (R) 3B
Corey Hart (R) RF
Jonathan Lucroy (R) C
Taylor Green (L) 1B
Cesar Izturis (S) SS
Zack Greinke (R) P