Reds vs. Braves Game Four: Previews and Preds and Please Reds win a series

The Reds have an actual chance to win a series. Maybe even more noteworthy is the fact that the Reds won’t lose the series, regardless of what happens today. Which is really kinda neat, all things considered.

Homer Bailey’s going in this one and he’s actually been pretty good after missing the last 900 years to injuries. I take a look at his peripherals and get kinda worried sometimes (the 6.1 K/9 and the 3.1 BB/9 is kinda scary to me), but the WHIP is just fine, and Homer’s been managing games just fine thus far so I’m just going to go with the idea that this is just who Homer Bailey is now. He’s got a 109 ERA+ through his first five starts, and that’s just fine.

Everything is going to be fine.

The Reds should have all of their good bullpeners in this one, which would’ve went a long way last night, but that’s how it goes when you have to walk off in a 12 inning game. The lack of Lorenzen and Hernandez really bodes large, considering.

Anyway, Sean Newcomb is across the field. He’s pretty good and I forgot how much I liked him until just now, but he’s got four starts and pitched 3.74 ERA ball with a FIP of 3.40 to back it up, with 11+ K/9. He’s suspectible to walking and the hits, though, so maybe the Reds can do something with that.

Cincinnati Reds Lineup

Atlanta Braves Lineup

Other Notes:

• Joey Votto smacked his second home run in as many days, and now has that many (2) on the season and is hopefully starting to heat up. He’s got a 99 wRC+ on the season now, with a .363 OBP which is blech for Joey Votto but pretty decent for mere mortals.
• It’s a getaway day versus a LHP. Keep that in mind when you criticize the lineup.
• Wick is still in the woods, or the mountains, or whatever remote part of the world he’s taken his tent to. So that should mean the Reds should do some pretty cool stuff today.
• Early games are stupid.