Reds at Brewers, Game 2 - Preview and Lineups

Well then.

Last night’s dramatic implosion/regeneration against the Milwaukee Brewers could easily mark one of two things. It could be the kind of resilient, up-off-the-floor moment that finally spurs this Cincinnati Reds team into a spate of brilliant play for a while, winning games and climbing the NL Central standings in the process. Or, it could just end up an interesting footnote in club history, one cited by only the few who didn’t turn the television off after Tyler Saladino’s grand slam in the Bottom of the 8th.

There’s always a chance of the former. Momentum is a crazy thing in this sport, and if ever there was a play to spark it, Eugenio Suarez’s second 2-run dinger last night in the series opener might be it.

The Reds will turn to Tanner Roark tonight to keep the good vibes going, and in the process will be handing him the ball for perhaps his final start wearing the uniform. His spot in the rotation is due to come up once more before the July 31st trade deadline, but he’s easily one of the more attractive rental starters on the market, and you just never know. Roark will look to turn the tides on what’s been a rough July for him - 13 ER in 16.1 IP across 3 starts, including the 7 ER debacle in Denver - and will need to do so against a Milwaukee club that has hit him rather well in his 3 starts against them already in 2019.

Milwaukee will counter with Zach Davies, who is on quite a roll of late. His last 4 starts have seen him compile 23.1 IP while allowing just 2 ER, In that time he’s held opposing hitters to just a .506 OPS, and given the relative struggles of this Cincinnati offense, well...

Well.

First pitch is set for 8:10 PM ET. Go Reds.

Reds Lineup

Brewers Lineup