The last time the Reds went on a proper trip Out West, something magical happened. They ended up earning a 6-5 winning record on their swing through San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, capped by three straight against the Padres. Those three games began the 33-14 jag they've been riding ever since. They began it two games behind the first place Pirates, and now, a month and a half later, they sit six games up in first.
And so we again find our fearless heroes in the Land of Late First Pitches. JinAZ gave us a comprehensive preview of the series earlier today, and had an interesting bit on tonight's nemesis, Tyler Skaggs. BroYo goes for the Redlegs tonight, coming off one of his best performances of the season. He threw eight innings of three-hit ball against the Phillies last Wednesday. He's been consistently good all year now, and memories of last season are now faint and nearly gone. It seems his woes were but a passing fever, and everything is back to stasis.
Lineups and 'penlog after the garng:
LINEUPS
| REDS | DBACKS |
| STUBBS CF | YOUNG CF |
| VALDEZ SS | HILL 2B |
| PHILLIPS 2B | KUBEL LF |
| LUDWICK LF | GOLDSCHMIDT 1B |
| BRUCE RF | UPTON RF |
| FRAZIER 1B | MONTERO C |
| ROLEN 3B | WHEELER 3B |
| HANIGAN C | ELMORE SS |
| ARROYO P | SKAGGS P |
There are some things to say about the bullpen, and now is the time in which I will say them. Some of them, anyway. Aroldis Chapman took the Cardinals series off because there were no save situations. This is, in a myopic view, a good thing. He's worked pretty hard this year and a good solid four days off certainly can't hurt. The rest of the 'pen worked pretty hard though, especially the clean up crew. Simon and Hoover have pitched a number of innings recently in blowouts, both for and against.
Everyone should be ready if necessary tonight. I'm sure Dusty will want to stay away from Arredondo unless it goes to extra innings, but he should be capable of throwing an inning if he has to.