Reds vs. Brewers, Game 4: Preview/Predictions Thread

The Reds are looking to take three out of four games against the division leading Milwaukee Brewers in their effort to claw back towards a .500 record. In doing so, they will have to find a way to score runs off of Kyle Lohse. This has been a tall order for the Reds in recent years.

Kyle Lohse has absolutely dominated the Reds in a manner that perhaps only Roy Oswalt can relate. Lohse's ERA against the Reds last season was a minuscule 1.88 in three starts. While his career record against Cincinnati is only 5-4, he has held the Reds to a .303 OBP in his fifteen career starts against them. If there's one Red who may benefit from Lohse starting today, it is probably Jay Bruce. Bruce, in hopes of unveiling his May Bruce 2014 campaign, holds a career OPS of .898 in 34 at bats against Lohse. Outside of Bruce and Joey Votto being Joey Votto (.355 OBP  and a SLG% of 481), many Reds have been atrocious against Lohse. Phillips has an OPS of .500 against Lohse. Ryan Ludwick is hitting a career .143 against Lohse and Todd Frazier has one hit in ten at bats against him. So, yeah, that needs to change.

While last night gave us a sampling, the Skip Schumaker Era begins in earnest late this afternoon with Skip starting in centerfield for the still-ailing Billy Hamilton. Schumaker pinch ran last night and will have his first at bat this year as a Red this afternoon. Hopefully Skip's contributions will more closely resemble Ryan Ludwick than the bevy of other formal Cardinals brought in over the past few years like Edgar Renteria and latter-day Miguel Cairo.

Pitching for the Reds this afternoon will be the embattled Alfredo Simon. The thirty-two year old will look to maintain his early 2014 momentum in an effort to get his fifth win on the season. Simon is currently holding opponents to a batting average of .183 and ranks fourth in the National League in ERA. He'd be ranked third if this list didn't include superhumans like Johnny Cueto.

Today's game is starting at 4:10 so that people have access to downtown after the Flying Pig Marathon (a what?). We wish everyone who is running the marathon their best and everyone else the best of luck at trying to get from one place to another today in Cincinnati. As for myself, I have a better chance of completing this challenge than any marathon any time soon.

UPDATE at 1:45 PM: Jay Bruce will not start today's game due to soreness in his left knee. Welp.