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Reds vs Brewers: Preview, pitching matchups and prediction

ByScott Boyken|
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 27: Nick Castellanos #2 of the Cincinnati Reds rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers during game one of a doubleheader at Miller Park on August 27, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Several sporting leagues across the nation are resuming their schedules after player walkouts done in protest over the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha, Wisconsin police. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 27: Nick Castellanos #2 of the Cincinnati Reds rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers during game one of a doubleheader at Miller Park on August 27, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Several sporting leagues across the nation are resuming their schedules after player walkouts done in protest over the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha, Wisconsin police. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds bats against the Pittsburgh Pirates during game two of a doubleheader
CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 14: Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds bats against the Pittsburgh Pirates during game two of a doubleheader. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Votto doing everything he can to return to the playoffs

As the Reds have gone 8-2 over their past 10 games, the man who has been leading the way is of course Joey Votto. No, he’s not the Joey of old, but down the stretch when they’ve needed him most, the 36-year-old Cincinnati great has come up huge in the Reds push for the postseason.

There’s very little Joey Votto hasn’t experienced during his 14 years as a member of the Reds.  He’s been a part of three Reds teams to make the postseason and he’s been on Reds clubs so terrible that he was virtually the only reason to watch Reds games during some summers. As the end of his career inches closer every day, Votto is doing everything possible to put the Reds on his back one last time.

In all honesty, at 36, Joey Votto should not be the best player on this Reds team, yet over the past 10 days, during the most important portion of Cincinnati Reds games in seven years, he’s been exactly that. Since the weekend series in St. Louis beginning September 11th, Votto is slashing .333/.429/.800 with four homers and six RBIs. That’s called leadership.

Votto is the only member of this team to reach the postseason as a member of the Reds. Time says he won’t have too many more opportunities. The only item missing from Joey Votto’s Cooperstown resume is postseason success. It’s time the Reds give Joey Votto what he so richly deserves and have him playing baseball into late October.

Prediction

Reds manager David Bell is going all in this series. While some have questioned the lack of urgency upper management and field management have displayed this season, there’s little doubt with Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Trevor Bauer (on short-rest) taking the ball during the upcoing three games, Bell and the Reds are all-in.

As a result of all the tiebreakers going the Reds way, they are in the drivers seat this week. Everything they wanted to accomplish before the season is there for the taking. What does the Blog Red Machine crystal ball reveal? The Reds will capture 2-of-3 from the Brewers and maintain a firm grip on a postseason berth.

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