| Bronson Arroyo faces Madison Bumgarner in Game 2. (AP) |
After the Reds' bullpen went 8 2/3 on Saturday, it seems a little odd to talk about starting pitching matchups, but it can't happen again, can it? Johnny Cueto left Saturday's game after just eight pitches, turning the game over to Sam LeCure, Mat Latos, Sean Marshall, Jonathan Broxton and Aroldis Chapman. The Reds bullpen has been a strength all season, but Saturday's performance was ridiculous.
The Reds used just six starters all season -- with Cueto, Latos, Homer Bailey, Bronson Arroyo and Mike Leake each making at least 30 starts. The only other pitcher to start for the Reds was Todd Redmond, who started the second game of a doubleheader in August. It was his only appearance of the season.
While there has been some consternation about the fairness of a the team with home-field advantage starting on the road, the Reds' Game 1 victory at AT&T Park puts Cincinnati in the driver's seat, regardless of what happens on Sunday. If the Reds win on Sunday, it could be a death sentence for the Giants.
It's Bronson Arroyo (12-10, 3.74) for the Reds against Madison Bumgarner (16-11, 3.37) of the Giants -- or so we think.
Arroyo vs. Giants
After giving up 46 home runs a season ago, Arroyo allowed "just" 26 this season. But Arroyo still gives up his fair share of fly balls and just about any fly ball at Great American Ball Park is dangerous. That's one of the reasons Dusty Baker decided to pitch Arroyo in Game 2, allowing him to pitch in AT&T Park, which is one of the tougher parks for hitters. Arroyo is 8-7 on the road with a 3.57 ERA, while he's 4-3 with a 3.98 ERA this season at home. He did, however, allow fewer homers at home this season (10) than on the road (16).
Arroyo hasn't beaten the Giants since 2008, going 0-2 with a 2.42 ERA against them since then. In two starts against the Giants this season, Arroyo allowed 16 hits and three walks in 11 innings, but only gave up four runs, three earned. In his start at AT&T Park, he allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings in a no decision in a Reds loss on July 1. In six career starts at AT&T Park, he's 0-4 with a 4.11 ERA.
Because of their time in the National League Central, both Ryan Theriot and Hunter Pence have seen plenty off Arroyo and have been successful. Theriot has a career .286/.333/.429 line against him with a home run in 40 plate appearances, while Pence has two homers in 38 plate appearances to go with his .343/.395/.686 slash line against Arroyo. Aubrey Huff is hitting .522/.593/.870 with a homer in 27 plate appearances and Xavier Nady is hitting .292/.292/.583 with two homers off of him. Angel Pagan has also hit two homers off of Arroyo.
Bumgarner vs. Reds
Matt Cain didn't have an ace-like outing on Saturday, so it'll be up to Bumgarner to deliver. His last postseason start was in Game 4 of the 2010 World Series, when he held the Rangers to just three hits over eight innings. He also threw two scoreless innings in Game 6 of the 2010 NLCS and hasn't allowed a run in his last 10 postseason innings.
In his only start against the Reds this season, Bumgarner was masterful, holding the Reds to just a single hit and striking out eight in a shutout at AT&T Park. In a total of four career starts against the Reds, he's 1-2 with a 5.16 ERA, getting pounded at Great American Ball Park in 2011 and at home in 2010.
Only two Reds batters have better than a .300 average against him, as Ryan Hanigan is 2 for 5 with a homer and Brandon Phillips is 3 for 7. Votto is 3 for 11 against Bumgarner (.273), but does have a home run. Bumgarner has four strikeouts of Votto.
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