Reds vs. Royals, Game 1: Preview and Predictions Thread

Kansas City Royals @ Cincinnati Reds

Raise hell, Raisel!

This game will have all the relevant feels to see Johnny Cueto back in Cincinnati, but it's a different former Red that'll actually get the ball tonight. Edinson Volquez makes his first start in Cincinnati since 2012, when he gave up 5 runs in 5 innings as a member of the Padres. That was a few teams ago for The Wagon, but it's worth mentioning that 5 of his 6 career starts against the Reds have been home starts, so this is still relatively uncharted territory. He's got a 4.84 ERA in those starts, but has been markedly better than that this year.

Raisel Iglesias gets the ball for Cincinnati, who's quietly putting together a nice August. He's 3-for-3 in quality starts this month, but didn't start against the Royals when these teams played in Kansas City. He did come out of the 'pen though, so hopefully he'll have a good feel for their hitters.

Go Reds!

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Bullpen Log

Reliever	8/13	8/14	8/15	8/16	8/17	5 day totals
Aroldis Chapman						0.0, 0 pitches
Ryan Mattheus	1.0, 17p		2.0, 24p			3.0, 41 pitches
Manny Parra	1.0, 18p			1.0, 15p		2.0, 33 pitches
Burke Badenhop	1.0, 12p	1.0, 19p				2.0, 31 pitches
Dylan Axelrod						0.0, 0 pitches
Pedro Villarreal	1.0, 23p		3.0, 46p			4.0, 69 pitches
J.J. Hoover				1.0, 12p		1.0, 12 pitches
		1.0, 26p	1.0, 15p			2.0, 41 pitches