It's Dave Bush vs. the Harang-utan tonight.
The big news since yesterday is that Joey Votto was put on the DL after he was forced to exit last night's game due to continued dizziness. He was officially disabled with what was termed "stress-related issues", but as the good people at Red Reporter pointed out, inner ear problems can directly cause anxiety and stress, to the point of provoking panic attacks.
Tom H sez that when you're not hitting--and undoubtedly, the Brewers are not--you need good pitching, and Dave Bush looks to return to his good-pitching ways after just his second non-quality start of the year last time out in Minnesota. In that game, Bush walked four men, over a quarter of his season total. With Votto gone and Brandon Phillips still battling a thumb injury, the Reds do not exactly have a fearsome lineup; if Bush can limit baserunners, a few Jay Bruce solo shots shouldn't prevent a Brewers victory, as long as the extra-base hits yesterday by Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun portend a Brewers offense awakening from its ten-day slumber.
The lineups:
BREWERS
2B Craig Counsell
SS J.J. Hardy
LF Ryan Braun
1B Prince Fielder
CF Mike Cameron
RF Corey Hart
3B Bill Hall
C Mike Rivera
RHP Dave Bush
REDS
CF Chris Dickerson
3B Jerry Hairston Jr.
RF Jay Bruce
2B Brandon Phillips
LF Laynce Nix
1B Ramon Hernandez
SS Alex Gonzalez
C Ryan Hanigan
RHP Aaron Harang
Tom's take on Hall starting:
Bill Hall is back at third base tonight for the Brewers and there's a solid statistical reason for that move. Hall is batting .365 with three career homers against Cincy starter Aaron Harang.This specific "But Hall hits this righty well, I swear!" argument is less specious that most, because Hall has faced Harang more than any other pitcher (though he's actually batting .364, not .365; his full line is an impressive .364/.417/.727), but I'd still rather see Gamel out there.
Go Brewers!