Last night was rough stuff. I'm still drying out my keyboard from multiple spit-takes. A more significant piece to that game - if there's anything worth revisiting - was the lack of offense. The Reds are hitting a fairly cruddy .253/.299/.397 over the last two weeks, including averaging three runs a game over the last 3 games against the World Terrible Astros.
But setbacks make things interesting. And in times of woe, we turn to that salty bro. Bronson Arroyo comes into tonight's game on the home stretch of quite possibly his best season since very his first with the Reds in '06. He's allowing fewer baserunners and he has a lower ERA+ than any season since. And his control is better than it's ever been.
Baseball is weird. And Bronson is a weird pitcher.
Lineup, Mega Bullpen Log and Bench after the jump.
LINEUPS
REDS
Brandon Phillips (R) 2B
Chris Heisey (R) CF
Joey Votto (L) 1B
Ryan Ludwick (R) LF
Jay Bruce (L) RF
Todd Frazier (R) 3B
Ryan Hanigan (R) C
Wilson Valdez (R) SS
Bronson Arroyo(R) P
Bench:
Dioner Navarro (S) C
Henry Rodriguez (S) 2B, 3B
Xavier Paul (L) OF
Didi Gregorius (L) SS
Drew Stubbs (R) CF
Denis Phipps (R) OF
Devin Mesoraco (R) C
Miguel Cairo (R) IF
Zack Cozart (R) SS - day-to-day
Scott Rolen (R) 3B - day-to-day
ASTROS
Jimmy Paredes (S) 2B
Fernando Martinez (L) RF
Brett Wallace (L) 1B
Justin Maxwell (R) CF
Jason Castro (L) C
J.D. Martinez (R) LF
Matt Dominguez (R) 3B
Tyler Greene (R) SS
Bud Norris (R) P