Reds vs. Indians: RHP Johnny Cueto vs. RHP Josh Tomlin

Cincinnati Reds (56-56) vs. Cleveland Indians (57-55)

 
RHP Johnny Cueto (12-6, 2.05 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, .183 OAV) vs. RHP Josh Tomlin (5-7, 4.47 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, .268 OAV)

 
Tuesday, August 5, 2014: 7:05 p.m. at Progressive Field

Still leading all of baseball in H/9 IP, Cueto has amassed less than six hits to be allowed for every nine innings he throws. Leading the National League in innings pitched at 162.2, Cueto has yet to show any signs of slowing down in what can be considered the best year of his career.

 
Against the Tribe in his career, Cueto has been dominant. In five starts, he possesses a 3-0 record with a 2.10 ERA. Allowing all of eight earned runs (in addition to four home runs), Cueto is as stingy as ever when it comes to the Ohio Cup.

 
Behind the dish on Tuesday night will be Cueto’s catcher of choice in Brayan Pena. On the eighteen occasions the two have paired together, Cueto’s ERA is a stealthy 1.83. In addition to that, opponents are batting an extremely low .180 when the Cuban catcher matches with the Dominican pitcher.

 
Here is the lineup that Cueto will face Tuesday night via the Indians’ Twitter account:

 
2B – Jason Kipnis (1-for-4, 1 RBI)
LF – Mike Aviles (1-for-3, 1 2B)
CF – Michael Brantley (1-for-4)
1B – Carlos Santana (1-for-4, 2 K’s)
3B – Lonnie Chisenhall (1-for-3, 2 K’s)
RF – David Murphy (yet to face Cueto)
C – Yan Gomes (yet to face Cueto)
DH – Chris Dickerson (yet to face Cueto)
SS – Jose Ramirez (yet to face Cueto)

Recalled for round two of the Ohio Cup is starting pitcher Josh Tomlin. “The Little Cowboy” has made six starts down at Triple-A Columbus throughout the season to the tune of a 2-1 record with a 2.25 ERA in 40 innings pitched.

 
A strike-throwing machine, Tomlin has walked an astounding 10 batters in 86.2 innings pitched. Coming off leading the entire sport in BB/9 IP back in 2011, Tomlin may be around the strike zone too much for his own good. His last four starts have produced no quality starts, and no wins for his club. Back on June 28, he threw a one-hit, 11-strikeout complete game shutout against the Seattle Mariners, one of the highest rated pitching performances on the season.

 
He has made three starts against the Reds in the past, sitting at an uninspiring 1-1 with a 4.08 ERA. With the combination of a free-swinging club, and a pitcher who peppers the zone with strikes, Tomlin may have a chance to travel deep into the contest on Tuesday.

 
Here in the lineup he will face via the team’s Twitter account:

 
CF – Billy Hamilton (yet to face Tomlin)
RF – Jay Bruce (1-for-8, 1 BB)
1B – Todd Frazier (1-for-4, 1 2B, 1 BB)
DH – Ryan Ludwick (2-for-4, 1 BB)
LF – Chris Heisey (3-for-6, 1 RBI)
C – Brayan Pena (2-for-12, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 K’s)
2B – Kristopher Negron (yet to face Tomlin)
SS – Zack Cozart (4-for-6, 1 2B)
3B – Ramon Santiago (yet to face Tomlin)

With Tuesday being the final chance for the Redlegs to win in Cleveland since 2010, they look to take a split when they send their ace, “Johnny Beisbol” to the hill. Stuck in the proverbial muck, the Reds offense will need to support baseball’s stingiest pitcher when it comes to opposing batters in order to pick up the victory.