Starter Report: RHP Homer Bailey vs. RHP Jimmy Nelson
By Jesse Borek
Cincinnati Reds (51-48) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (55-45)
RHP Homer Bailey (8-5, 4.21 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .263 OAV) vs. RHP Jimmy Nelson (1-1, 5.40 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, .302 OAV)
Tuesday, July 22, 2014: 8:10 p.m. at Miller Park
Making his first start of the second half, Bailey will get a look at the Milwaukee Brewers for the fourth time in 2014. Bailey left his last start against the Chicago Cubs on July 10 due to soreness in his right knee, but should be ready to go as long as needed on Tuesday night.
In his two home starts against the Brewers in 2014, Bailey has gone eight innings in each, winning one and losing the other. His lone start at Miller Park was not of the quality variety as he allowed four runs in 6.1 innings, but earned himself a no decision.
Tuesday will be Bailey’s 20th start against Milwaukee for his career, tying for the most against any club with the St. Louis Cardinals. While the Brewers are the club Bailey has allowed the most earned runs to, they are also the team with the second-most strikeouts against him for his career.
Here is the lineup he will face on Tuesday via the team’s Twitter account:
CF – Carlos Gomez (5-for-28, 3 RBI)
2B – Scooter Gennett (8-for-22, 3 2B)
RF – Ryan Braun (9-for-28, 4 2B, 6 RBI, 9 K’s)
3B – Aramis Ramirez (9-for-34, 4 RBI, 7 K’s)
C – Jonathan Lucroy (8-for-29, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 5 K’s)
LF – Khris Davis (7-for-15, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB’s)
1B – Lyle Overbay (0-for-4)
SS – Jean Segura (5-for-21, 2 RBI, 3 K’s)
P – Jimmy Nelson (yet to face Bailey)
Making just the fourth Major League start of his career, Jimmy Nelson gets his first look at the Redlegs. Back on May 25, he came just an out short of a quality start, as he threw 5.2 innings without allowing a run in a win over the Miami Marlins. His last time out, against the Cardinals, he was hammered, allowing eight runs (six earned) over 4.1 innings.
To say Nelson had gone as far as he could in the Minor Leagues would be an understatement. Posting absurd numbers down at Triple-A Nashville, Nelson, 10-2 with a 1.46 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 114 strikeouts in 111 innings certainly had nothing left to prove.
The Brewers hope they have hit the jackpot with the former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide, who is just 25 years old and has an electric arm.
Here is the lineup he will be facing via the team’s Twitter account:
CF – Billy Hamilton (yet to face Nelson)
2B – Skip Schumaker (yet to face Nelson)
1B – Todd Frazier (0-for-1)
RF – Jay Bruce (yet to face Nelson)
LF – Ryan Ludwick (0-for-1)
C – Brayan Pena (yet to face Nelson)
SS – Zack Cozart (0-for-1)
3B – Ramon Santiago (yet to face Nelson)
P – Homer Bailey (yet to face Nelson)
As the Reds crater in the wrong direction, Homer Bailey looks to serve as the stopgap for the team’s most dangerous slide of the season. Even though both Johnny Cueto and Mat Latos are looked at as the aces of the staff, Bailey has the contract to back it up. On Tuesday, the Redlegs need Bailey to bring his $105 million game.