The Reds and Brewers kick off a 3 game set in Milwaukee this evening. This is the first time the 4-3 Reds will leave the friendly confines of Great American Ballpark and take their show on the road. I think one of the keys to the Reds success this season will be how Francisco Cordero pitches on the road. Last season Cordero’s road numbers were not very flattering. He was a different pitcher on the road than he was at home. Tonight he returns to the place he called home last season and will be looking to be a difference maker in the series. The good news for Cordero is he starts his Reds road career in the place he dominated in last year. The question this series will be, can the Reds’ bats get them to Cordero?

Tonight’s matchup features 33-year-old Jeff Suppan taking on 22-year-old rookie phenom Johnny Cueto. I am very anxious to see how Cueto fares in his second outing and against such a potent lineup, without having the home crowd behind him. The Reds’ lefty heavy lineup will need to get on Suppan before he has a chance to settle down. Let’s see if they can get the young man some run support early. After what I saw from Cueto last week, I have no doubt he is the real deal. I look for the Reds to take this one tonight if they are able to stay patient and wait for their pitch. Prince Fielder is yet to hit a homerun this year, I fear he’s due.

The Chase for 600 continues tonight as Griffey gets back into the lineup after being given a night off against Cole Hamels and the Phillies yesterday. It’s amazing how different the Reds’ lineup looked without Patterson or Junior. Keppinger at first base is a waste of his defensive talents. Juan Castro should have been put at first, but it really didn’t cost them anything.

Game two will see Josh Fogg, trying to rebound from his lackluster performance, taking on Milwaukee’s Dave Bush.
Game three sees Harang and Villanueva.

This series will be a test for the entire pitching staff. The Brew Crew, having lost just once in the first 6 games this season, are balanced throughout the order. Prince Fielder is a huge power threat, Ryan Braun and Bill Hall also produce a lot of runs. Rickie Weekes is dangerous as well.

The Reds are still looking for Adam Dunn to hit one out. He’s gone 21 straight at-bats to start the season without a homerun. He’s still good for 40 this year, but he’ll feel a lot better once he gets the first one. Encarnacion only has two hits this year, the first one coming on Opening Day to win it. I’m still waiting for Joey Votto to demand the starting first baseman’s job with his play. The only thing winning it for him right now has been the slump by Hatteberg to start the year.

Brandon Phillips and Corey Patterson have both been playing great baseball. Patterson’s average may not be great but it is still early. He is, however, coming up with hits at key moments. Brandon has just been doing what he does. Great D, hitting the ball to all fields, and generating some power.

The last thing I want to say is how impressed I continue to be with Jeff Keppinger. There’s not much more I can say about him that I haven’t already said. I am enamored with the journeyman utility man. One thing I will say is, because he plays so many positions (everything but pitcher and catcher), he makes Ryan Freel the odd man when Jay Bruce is ready to come up, or when Alex Gonzalez is activated. I expect Krivsky to start making some calls to see if he can get a little more bullpen help for Ryan Freel.

Enjoy the game tonight. I’ll be back with a commentary on Johnny Cueto’s second career start sometime tomorrow.

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