On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing matchups
Do you remember last year when the Milwaukee Brewers jumped out to a big lead in the NL Central, but then began fading as the season wore on? A lot of the blame for this collapse was placed on the front office not making any moves at the trade deadline by the team's fans. So as a response to such criticism last season, the Brewers went out and made a couple of moves this season.
The biggest one (both literally and figuratively) of course being the addition of CC Sabathia to the starting rotation.
Well, they may have a new philosophy, but unfortunately for the citizens of Milwaukee, they're still the same old Brewers. After climbing to within a game of the Chicago Cubs last week, the Brew Crew had a pivotal four-game series with their divison rivals in their home park. Instead of taking advantage of the opportunity, the Brewers collapsed under the pressure and before they knew it, they were being swept out of their own park.
Now Milwaukee has lost eight of it's last eleven games, and have fallen five games back of Chicago. Instead of working together to fight through this slump and beat the other team, they've begun fighting amongst themselves.
Can the Brewers get their act together tonight, or are they doomed to another late season fade? Find out after the jump.
Cincinnati Reds (52-61) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (62-51) - 7:10PM Est.
If Milwaukee is going to get back on track tonight, it isn't going to be easy. While the Reds are nine games under .500 and effectively out of the race, it's not because of the man they're sending to the mound tonight. Edinson Volquez has been the bright spot of Cincinnati's season, and tonight he's looking to pick up his thirteenth victory of the year (which would account for roughly 25% of the teams wins).
In his last start, Edinson helped put an end to the Reds eight-game losing streak by holding the Astros to one run in 6 1/3 innings, and tonight he'll be trying to give his team it's first two-game win streak since July 22-23. He's also been outstanding at the Great American Ballpark where he's 6-1 with a 3.34 ERA in eleven starts, though that lone loss did come in his last start there. He's 1-0 against the Brewers this season as well, giving up two runs in seven innings at Miller Park earlier this season.
Dave Bush is supposed to start for the Brewers tonight. At least I think he is, I can't really be sure. I asked Ned Yost about it earlier today but he told me that it was none of my business because tonight's start is a family matter. In other news, Ned Yost is an idiot.
Anyway, Bush is 0-1 with a 7.30 ERA in two starts since the break, and he's even worse pitching in Cincinnati. In five starts at GAB, Bush is 0-2 with a 14.24 ERA.
Tampa Bay Rays (66-45) vs. Cleveland Indians (49-62) - 7:10PM
The 69 Mets..er...Tampa Bay Rays will spend tonight trying to solve the mystery that is the Cleveland Indians. Sure, the Rays have turned the corner and are now a good team that has no problem handling the Red Sox and Yankees, but they can't beat the Indians to save their lives.
Cleveland has taken six straight from the Rays, and twenty of the last twenty-two contests between the team, including last night's 5-2 victory. That being said, they haven't faced Tampa starter Edwin Jackson yet this season, so the Rays are hoping Edwin can turn things around for them. Jackson faced the Tribe three times last season, but even though he had an ERA of 3.00 against them, he went 0-1 in those starts.
Cleveland will counter with Fausto Carmona who is making his third start since coming off the disabled list. Fausto got knocked around a bit in his first start, but did manage to pick up a victory his last time out against the Detroit Tigers. Fausto has started against the Rays only once in his career, defeating them last season, but tonight will mark the first time he pitches in the atrocity that is Tropicana Field.
St. Louis Cardinals (62-52) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (56-55) - 8:15PM Est.
While the whole reason the Dodgers decided to bring Manny Ramirez out west was to give their offense a boost, I don't think they were expecting Manny to rake like he has been in his first three games in Dodger blue. Ramirez is hitting .615 (8-for-13) with two homers and five runs driven since joining the team, and he'll be hoping to continue that red-hot hitting in St. Louis tonight.
He'll be facing off against Chris Carpenter who is making his first start at home for the Cardinals since Opening Day of the 2007 season. The Cardinals are hoping the return of Carpenter will help the team more than any trade at the deadline could have. In his first start last week in Atlanta, Carp allowed only one run and five hits in four innings of a 7-2 St. Louis victory. Chris is also 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA against the Dodgers in his career, though he hasn't faced them since the 2006 season.
Chad Billingsley takes the ball for Los Angeles, and he's looking to win his third straight start. In his last two outings he's allowed only two runs and ten hits in 16 2/3 innings. In three games against St. Louis, two of which were starts, Chad is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA
Everybody Else
- Cubs vs. Pirates - 2:20PM
- Phillies vs. Marlins - 7:05PM
- Blue Jays vs. Athletics - 7:07PM
- Mets vs. Padres - 7:10PM
- Rangers vs. Yankees - 8:05PM
- Royals vs. Red Sox - 8:10PM
- White Sox vs. Tigers - 8:11PM
- Rockies vs. Nationals - 9:05PM
- Diamondbacks vs. Pirates - 9:40PM
- Angels vs. Orioles - 10:05PM
- Mariners vs. Twins - 10:10PM
- Giants vs. Braves - 10:15PM
