The Astros will attempt their first three-game winning streak since April 7-9 as they face the Reds and...
*5'10" 215lb RHP Johnny Cueto.
*This will be Cueto's 5th start of the season, and his 4th start against NL Central teams. In 25.1IP, he has allowed 22H/5ER, 19K:6BB.
*Against RHBs in 2012, Cueto is allowing a .429 OPS; Against LHBs, Cueto's OPS-against is .899.
*With nobody out, Cueto has allowed a .138/.194/.138 line.
*Against Houston, however, Cueto's had a rough-ish go of it. In 10 starts, he's 1-5 with a 4.01 ERA/1.42 WHIP - his worst record against any team with 9+ starts.
*With Carlos Lee out of the lineup, Chris Johnson has the most appearances against Cueto, and is 3x8; Jason Castro is 0x8; Brian Bixler is 0x4.
*Lucas Harrell comes in to this game with a 3.97 ERA/1.28 WHIP, but there hasn't been any consistency to his numbers (other than "every other start is pretty good").
*In his last time out, at Milwaukee, he allowed 5H/5ER, 1K:3BB; and has allowed 19H/10ER, 11K:10BB in 22.2IP.
*Harrell has walked the leadoff batter of the inning four times in 23 innings, and walked three batters with two outs.
*Harrell's OPS, by out: 0 outs - .512; 1 out - .637; 2 outs - .959.
*Current, non-pitcher Reds, have faced Harrell just three times.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
