Starter Report: RHP Mat Latos vs. RHP Wily Peralta

Cincinnati Reds (51-47) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (54-45)

 
RHP Mat Latos (2-1, 2.79 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, .176 OAV) vs. RHP Wily Peralta (10-6, 3.72 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, .265 OAV)

 
Monday, July 21, 2014: 8:10 p.m. at Miller Park

Mat Latos will return to the same mound where his season began just about a month ago. In his two starts against Milwaukee this season, Latos has been nearly unhittable, allowing just six combined hits and two runs over 14 innings of work.

 
On July 11, Latos left his most recent start with what appeared to be a back injury sustained while making contact with the first base bag after a bunt. He would stay in the contest through the front five innings, but he was not his normally effective self, giving up four runs (three earned), and watching as Pedro Alvarez annihilated a three-run home run off him.

 
In his career against the Brewers, Latos sits at 3-4 with a 3.16 ERA. While Latos’ WHIP against Milwaukee is the second lowest of any club in which he has made double-digit starts, he has also allowed eight home runs, the second most of any team he has faced.

 
Here is the lineup Latos will face Monday night via the Brewers’ Twitter account:

 
CF – Carlos Gomez (8-for-20, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
2B – Scooter Gennett (2-for-13, 1 RBI, 4 K’s)
RF – Ryan Braun (2-for-20, 3 BB’s, 6 K’s)
3B – Aramis Ramirez (8-for-26, 3 2B, 5 RBI)
C – Jonathan Lucroy (3-for-15, 2 2B, 3 BB’s)
LF – Logan Schafer (4-for-9, 2 2B, 1 3B)
1B – Mark Reynolds (0-for-7, 5 K’s)
SS – Jean Segura (7-for-18, 1 HR)
P – Wily Peralta (0-for-2)

Having just turned 25 years old this season, Wily Peralta may prove to be a thorn in the Reds’ side for a long time to come.

 
Back on May 2, Peralta threw what was undoubtedly the best game of his season. Tearing through the Cincinnati lineup at Great American Ball Park, Peralta would go eight innings of scoreless baseball (the only time he would do that all season, thus far), while striking out seven.

 
Peralta has started against the Reds seven times already through his first two and a half years in the league. At the conclusion of Monday night’s game, the Reds will be the opponent he has seen most often—and had the most success against. Only the Chicago Cubs have struck out more against Peralta, who boasts a 1.18 WHIP against Cincinnati, the lowest against any club that has seen him at least five times.

 
Here is the lineup Peralta will be facing via the Reds’ Twitter account:

 
CF – Billy Hamilton (yet to face Peralta)
RF – Skip Schumaker (1-for-3)
3B – Todd Frazier (1-for-8, 3 K’s)
C – Devin Mesoraco (yet to face Peralta)
1B – Donald Lutz (1-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI)
LF – Chris Heisey (5-for-10, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
2B – Ramon Santiago (0-for-2, 1 BB)
SS – Zack Cozart (2-for-17, 2 K’s)
P – Mat Latos (0-for-1)

Coming off the sweep in New York, the Reds turn to their ace 1-B in Mat Latos to right the ship. Trailing Milwaukee by two and a half games in the National League Central Division, each win is precious for the club trailing.