Cardinals at Reds, Game Two - Preview and Lineups

Homer Bailey is starting for the Cincinnati Reds tonight.

Yes, that Homer Bailey.

After a few weeks spent on the 10-day DL with ‘knee’ issues, Homer will return to the mound tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals with hopes that he can post an ERA that’s roughly half of what he’s posted for going on three full years now. With his elbow, forearm, and now knee issues hopefully in the past, it’ll be one last chance for Homer to show that he’s still got something, anything in the tank.

At least his final rehab start with AAA Louisville suggest that could, in theory, be possible, as he fired 7 scoreless innings against the Rochester Red Wings on July 18th.

Of course, the Rochester Red Wings are no St. Louis Cardinals, who Homer will go to work against on Tuesday. The Cards will send another rookie to the mound to start one day after Daniel Poncedeleon’s 7 no-hit innings, this time in the form of Austin Gomber, who as appeared as a reliever so far in his rookie season but has not yet taken the mound as a starter in the big leagues. In a story that details just how cruel and rigid the business of baseball can be, Gomber was actually just called up from AAA today to make the start - and Poncedeleon was optioned back to AAA to open up a roster spot for him. Dang.

Speaking of roster spots, it’ll be Jackson Stephens making way for Homer, as Stephens was placed on the 10-day DL retroactive to Monday with a torn meniscus, the Reds announced. Double dang.

First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET, per usual.

Cincinnati Lineup

St. Louis Lineup