Reds-Brewers Preview (7/21-7/23)

Yes, your Brewers previews are back in full force. We have kind have been lacking on it during the month of July and honestly, I get real busy in the coming month so hopefully they will continue, same with highlights/lowlights.  

Monday:      Mat Latos (2-1 2.79) vs. Wily Peralta (10-6 3.72         7:10 pm FSNWI
Tuesday:      Homer Bailey (8-5 4.21) vs. Jimmy Nelson (1-1 5.40)  7:10 pm FSNWI
Wednesday: Mike Leake (7-8 3.63) vs. Kyle Lohse (10-4 3.16)      1:10 pm MLB Network

Five Things to Watch
1.) Figuring out Cincinnati - If there has been one team in Milwaukee's side this season, it is Cincinnati. The Brewers have not won a series against their division rivals yet this season. I believe they are the only team this season to take two road series from Miller Park. This is a different Cincinnati team that Milwaukee played earlier this month. Reds will be without Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips leading to their offense go silent this weekend against New York as the Yankees swept them.

2.) Mat Latos' dominance against Milwaukee - In two starts this season, Latos controlled the Brewers bats pretty well. In 14 innings pitched, Latos gave up only six hits and two total runs in two starts versus Milwaukee this season. Ryan Braun is the hottest Brewer on the team right now, and he struggles mightily against Latos only having two hits in 20 at-bats against the tatted up righty. Therefore it really doesn't matter that Latos never beat Milwaukee at Miller Park. It would be great to see the Brewers break through against Latos early and often. Latos' last start featured Pittsburgh jumping on him pretty hard with two home runs and five runs surrendered in five innings.

3. Johnny Luc looking for a spark - One of the things flying under the radar is Jonathan Lucroy is having a horrible month along with the team. Lucroy only has five hits in 38 at-bats. It is hard to think what's wrong with Lucroy right now. The book may have changed on Lucroy a bit where teams have figured him out slightly. I wonder if Lucroy will start doing things a little differently, or possibly Ron Roenicke mess with the lineup again putting Lucroy second ahead of Braun. He needs a good week to rite the ship, I don't think it is cause for concern.

4. Jimmy Nelson the sequel - This will be the second time with Nelson starting in the rotation. I don't think this is a do or die start for Nelson even though Marco Estrada pitched adequately on Saturday. Nelson faced a buzzsaw in a hot St. Louis team going up against a top five National League pitcher. Nelson will now face a Reds lineup that features a couple big bats in Jay Bruce, Devin Mesoraco and Todd Frazier yet not dealing with Votto or Phillips help him a little bit on Tuesday night.

5. Reds Road Losing Streak - All of the sudden, Cincinnati has lost six straight games on the road. They were terrible this weekend in New York. This is a little bit of a do or die series for the Reds. If they were to get swept, Cincinnati heads towards .500 again but if they were to win a couple games, the Reds build a little momentum trying to make a run at the NL Central Division title. Cincinnati only scored six runs over the weekend with three walks and 51 strikeouts. It could be Milwaukee's time to strike.

Appropriate YouTube Video 


I found this song on my Spotify playlist this morning and I think it fits perfectly for both teams. Pressure by Youngblood Hawke.

Prediction
Milwaukee hasn't won a series against a team not named Colorado since mid-June. It is about time to win a series. Brewers get two out of three.

Charlie. 

Reds-Brewers Preview (6/13-6/15)

Brewers previews to get you ready for the series where we have five things to watch, pitching matchups and prediction. We add a YouTube video in the mix, it could be really anything.   

Pitching Matchups 

Friday: Homer Bailey (7-3 4.60) vs. Matt Garza (4-4 4.42)       7:10 pm FSNWI

Saturday: Mat Latos (0-0 0.00) vs. Yovani Gallardo (4-4 3.71) 6:15 pm FOX

Sunday: Mike Leake (3-6 3.61) vs. Marco Estrada (5-3 4.56)   1:10 pm FSNWI

Five Things To Watch 

1.) Ryan Braun - It seems like we talk about this topic every two weeks. Braun goes hot for a little bit then cools off and it has become a theme of the season thus far. Braun struggled in the last road trip, but he has good success against Bailey plus he had a home run off Leake in the past. I mentioned in Highlights-Lowlights earlier this afternoon, I think Braun needs to get back to playing at hitter-friendly parks. I think he does well this weekend. 

2.) Matt Garza's Solid June - All of the sudden, Garza has seen his ERA dip about a half of run in the last two starts. He is quietly pitching well for the Brewers. He handled Minnesota nicely and did an adequate job in Pittsburgh.  Garza will be up against a tough Cincinnati lineup whose handled him well in the past. Garza needs to keep staying the course and not try to do too much.  

3.) Return of Mat Latos - He makes his first start of the season on Saturday night. He struggled mightily against the Brewers last season with nearly six runs given up in three starts, the highest ERA against an NL Central team. He had two starts at Miller Park which one he didn't get any run support and the other was brutal for him. First starts are always tricky because they could feature the best a pitcher has to open their year or just a disaster. 

4.) Mike Leake's problems... Dodgers and Giants-related or nah? - In the last two starts, Mike Leake has given up a total of 10 runs. But the opponents he faced where both Los Angeles and San Francisco, two of the stronger offensive teams in Major League Baseball. He also getting little run support with six of his last eight starts, the Reds have put up three or less runs. Brewers had one of those in a 2-0 victory in early May. 

5.) Bullpen adjustment - Milwaukee used their bullpen a lot in the last couple of days. Brandon Kintzler is probably not playing tonight after throwing 40 pitches last night. Will Smith might be a shaky one with pitching in the last two games. It is nice to have Mike Fiers there in case Garza doesn't have it tonight or Milwaukee needs multiple innings. 

Appropriate YouTube Video 

In honor of Father's Day, we are going with a montage HBO put together for the Game of Thrones finale about how bad Fathers have been in the show. 

Prediction 

Brewers will take two of three games. It would be nice for them to actually win the first one because I am there tonight. Reds always make me nervous. 

Charlie.