Next Up: the Cincinnati Reds.

*Posting delayed by minor computer tragedy. Forgive me.*

Tonight's starting pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds is Aaron Harang. Harang throws a fastball, a slider, a curveball, and a change-up. He's a very efficient pitcher who can go late into games because he throws strikes. He throws lots and lots of strikes; as a result, he doesn't walk many but he does give up a fair number of hits. He also has a really tough time getting right handers out.

Tomorrow's pitcher against Wakefield is Edinson Volquez. Given the offense's propensity for refusing to score runs for Wakefield against decent pitchers, the flip-flop with Masterson isn't likely to help him get the win against the likes of Volquez. Volquez is another strike thrower-this is not a team that daintily paints the corners hoping for a nibble. He does have more of a control problem than Harang leading to more walks but his K:9 ratio is an impressive 10.667. He also allows fewer hits and has only given up three home runs this year. He does it by setting up batters with a lively mid-nineties fastball and then tossing a change-up that comes in at twenty miles per hour less than the fastball-leading to a lot of swinging strike outs. Lefties are having an easier time against him but, of course, that's completely relative (lefties are hitting .214 against him, whereas righties are hitting at .147.)

Homer Bailey is Sunday's pitcher. We saw Bailey (or possibly only heard him on the radio) in spring training, at the end of which he was sent down to AAA. He was called up on June 5 and has made two starts since then-neither of which was particularly good. He throws a good mid-nineties fastball, a very good curveball, and a change-up. If he can keep the ball down in the strike zone, he has a bit more success. In his limited work this year, righties have had a much easier time against him.

Their best bats are all in the outfield. Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. seem to be the only real power they have (with Dunn far surpassing Junior in anything he's done this season); Jay Bruce has also been very impressive in the short time he's been up with the big club (he came up May 27 and has and OPS+ of 180.) Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, and Edwin Encarnation also deserve some notice, as well.