Reds vs. Brewers: LHP David Holmberg vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo

Cincinnati Reds (70-78) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (77-71)

LHP David Holmberg (0-1, 8.25 ERA, 2.25 WHIP, .347 OAV) vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo (8-9, 3.61 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, .260 OAV)

Saturday, September 13, 2014: 7:10 p.m. at Miller Park

* * *

On the outside looking in of the Reds’ rotation down the stretch, Holmberg caught a break when starter Dylan Axelrod left his most recent start on Monday. Thrust into the emergency role of entering the game in the first inning, Holmberg neutralized a St. Louis Cardinals offense that has become notorious for beating up the Redlegs. Going 5.2 innings of scoreless work, Holmberg would punch out five while allowing just four hits.

In what have been his only two technical starts this season, he has lasted just eight outs in each of them. To be successful against the extremely aggressive Milwaukee offense, Holmberg will need to have confidence in his changeup. Throwing it for a strike will be a major plus, as will keeping it down in the zone, as the Brewers hitters will surely be swinging from their heels.

With a good start on Saturday, Holmberg will almost nearly guarantee himself another one as the season winds down. Such is the life of a pitcher on the fringe.

Here is the lineup he will face via the team’s Twitter account: (none of the batters in the Milwaukee lineup have faced Holmberg previously)

CF – Carlos Gomez

RF – Ryan Braun

1B – Jonathan Lucroy

3B – Aramis Ramirez

LF – Khris Davis

2B – Rickie Weeks

C – Martin Maldonado

SS – Hector Gomez

P – Yovani Gallardo

* * *

Outside of the Pittsburgh Pirates, there is no club that Yovani Gallardo is more familiar with than the Cincinnati Reds. Having made 23 career starts against his division rival over the years, he has been simply average. With a meddling 7-7 record and a 4.17 ERA, he has not pitched like the ace he has been paid like.

While he has made three solid starts against the Redlegs in 2014 already, he is still yet to pick up a win. He has not neglected to beat the Reds in a season all the way since 2010.

It has been nearly a month since Gallardo has earned a win. Having lost three of his last four starts, with the Brewers in the middle of a tightly-contested pennant chase, the man that has been viewed as their best pitcher over the past half-dozen years will need to pitch like it in his final two or three appearances.

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

CF – Billy Hamilton (1-for-6, 1 2B, 1 BB)

1B – Brayan Pena (3-for-6, 2 RBI)

3B – Todd Frazier (9-for-26, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K’s)

C – Devin Mesoraco (3-for-9, 1 RBI, 2 K’s)

2B – Brandon Phillips (22-for-60, 3 2B’s, 2 HR’s, 8 RBI, 3 BB’s, 6 K’s)

RF – Jay Bruce (15-for-47, 3 2B’s, 2 HR’s, 10 RBI, 4 BB’s, 9 K’s)

LF – Ryan Ludwick (12-for-34, 2 2B’s, 3 HR’s, 11 RBI, 6 BB’s, 4 K’s)

SS – Zack Cozart (8-for-33, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K’s)

P – David Holmberg (yet to face Gallardo)

* * *

After suffering a gut-wrenching loss in the series opener on Friday, the Redlegs will need to pull out the final two in order to get a series win in Milwaukee in their last trip there in 2014.

It will be a crucial start in the young career for David Holmberg, who will look to hang on to his spot in the rotation just another week longer. It’s Holmberg v. Gallardo at 7:10 p.m.