Reds v Marlins: Lineups, Starting Pitchers

May 7, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Will Bailey get the road trip off to a positive start? (Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports)

The Reds being a nine-game roadie with the first stop being in Miami with a trio of games against the Marlins. Three in Philly, then three at Citi Field to face the Mets will be the other stops.

Wonder what the cover is for the nightclub out there in left field? Oh, special stuff goes on there, eh?

Anyways…the Good Guys took the first series between these two teams, 2-1. One of those wins came in extra innings.

Starting Pitchers

Reds – Homer Bailey
2013: 1-3, 3.83 ERA, 1.252 WHIP (7 games/7 starts)
v. Marlins: 1-1, 2.87 ERA, 1.117 WHIP (5 games/5 starts)
@ Marlins Park: 1st appearance

Good thing Homer isn’t at the Marlins old home. At SunLife Stadium (or any other name you wish to use), he was an abysmal 0-1 with an ERA of 5.84 and a WHIP of 1.378. All that damage was done on just two outings. Marlins Park has a reputation of being a pitcher’s park. That could bode well for Bailey.

Homer had it a bit rough in his last outing. In facing the Braves, he didn’t gain a decision, but he lasted only 5 innings, allowed 5 hits and 4 runs (all earned). He also walked 4 and whiffed 7.

Bailey v. Marlins Batters

No real shock with the number of Marlins or number of ABs any other on the Miami roster have in seeing Bailey. No Giancarlo Stanton. No Donovan Solano. The list is a little longer, but the Marlins player that’s now getting the attention is Marcell Ozuna. In his first dozen games since being promoted, he’s hitting .326 with 1 HR and 5 RBI. He’s also the owner of two outfield assists in his last two games.

Marlins – Ricky Nolasco
2013: 2-4, 3.72 ERA, 1.159 WHIP (8 games/8 starts)
v. Reds: 3-1, 5.02 ERA, 1.343 WHIP (10 games/9 starts)
@ Marlins Park: 7-8, 4.33 ERA, 1.36 WHIP (19 games/19 starts)

Good WHIP that Nolasco is carrying and some of his secondary numbers aren’t bad. A BAA of .249 is solid. Then you look at the platoon splits. Lefty batters own him to the tune of a triple slash of .293/.331/.509 with hitting 5 of the 6 HR he’s served.

Of course you now want to know what that split is against RHB: .169/.222/.262.

Only twice has Nolasco left a game when the Marlins were more than two runs behind. The only two times he’s left with the Marlins ahead, he’s got the W. In their other six games, he left with his team trailing and the Marlins have lost all six.

Nolasco’s last outing was excellent when he faced the San Diego Padres. He went 8 innings and allowed only 4 hits and 1 run and, despite not known as a strikeout pitcher over the past few years, whiffed 9 Padre batters.

Nolasco v. Reds Batters

Look again at this table. Now look at the starting lineups.

Starting Lineups

No Bruce tonight. John Fay was already asked about the absence. Fay’s response (on Twitter, naturally) was that “[Dusty] always gives guys a day before or after an off day”. Well, now…

There’s also this for the happenings at Marlins Park…

What’s this mean? According to the Marlins website…

"Join the Marlins for Star Trek Night. Come dressed as your favorite Star Trek character and enjoy this fun special event! Special Event packages include LIMITED EDITION KRE-O STAR TREK KREON FIGURE* and STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS MOVIE POSTER and the opportunity to win two (2) VIP reserved passes to a private screening on May 15th of STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS."

I have an endless number of lines here, but I’ll let you comment on this..

First pitch is slated for 7:10 PM ET.