Mexoraco’s home run was just barely over the wall, which is just fine with these front-row fans. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

Next game
It’s the rubber match this afternoon. The Reds have won all of their home series so far this year, so they need to win today to keep the streak alive. It’ll be a rough one, though. The Braves are sending out Mike Minor (LHP, 3-2, 3.26 ERA) who has retired his last 18 batters in a row. The Reds will counter with Mike Leake (RHP, 2-1, 4.15 ERA). First pitch at 12:35 p.m.

Reds on MLB Network Today
If you are the sort of person who finds themselves with access to a television in the middle of the day, then you’ll be glad to know that today’s afternoon game is being televised on MLB Network. Here’s the press release:

Secaucus, N.J., May 7, 2013 – The Atlanta Braves at Cincinnati Reds game tomorrow, May 8 at 12:30 PM ET will be available live on MLB Network in the Cincinnati television market. Mike Leake is scheduled to pitch against Mike Minor of the Braves.

MLB Network is available in Cincinnati on Cincinnati Bell, DirecTV, DISH Network, FAVE and Time Warner Cable, among other providers. Local channel listings are available here and MLB Network’s complete May game schedule is available here.

What to say to sound smart at the water cooler
Joel says the ending we got to last night’s game hasn’t been done since opening day, 1995 when Adam Dunn and Joe Randa teamed up to beat the Mets. Apparently Elias Sports Bureau is saying it hasn’t happened since 1977, but they’re only counting times when it was solo shots.

Can you believe the number of times this poor guy has been hit? He must a walking bruise by this point. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

Bronson Arroyo had another rough start, giving up 4 runs (earned) on 8 hits and 2 walks through 5.0 innings. Alfredo Simon pitched 2 innings of hitless relief, but Logan Ondrusek gave the Braves their winning margin: 3 runs (earned) on 3 hits and 1 walk in the eighth. It was too late by the time J. J. Hoover closed it out without a hit.

Zack Cozart’s ears must have been burning, because he suddenly pulled out a 2-hole worthy performance, going 2-for-5 with 2 runs scored.

Next game
The Reds try to even the record against the Braves tonight. It’s the hot-hitting Homer Bailey (RHP, 1-3, 3.38 ERA) tonight against Kris Medlen (RHP, 1-4, 3.38 ERA). First pitch at 7:10 p.m.

Hey, remember Johnny Cueto?
On May 13, Johnny Cueto left a game after experiencing pain in his right lat and oblique muscles. They put him on the 15-day DL a couple days later. He might have been back already, except he suffered a setback, causing all of Redsland to suddenly realize how lucky we were about injuries last season.

Good news yesterday: Cueto long tossed and threw 25 pitches in the bullpen and seems to be healthy again. Swiped from Mark Sheldon’s blog:

“He did very well. He looked very good and said he felt very good,” head trainer Paul Lessard said.

Cueto is scheduled to see Dr. Tim Kremchek later today and will probably have another bullpen session before thoughts of a rehab assignment resume.

The question is: when Cueto comes back, who leaves? Tony Cingrani, who’s been taking Cueto’s spot in the rotation, has outperformed 60% of the other starters while he’s been with the team. As far as ERA is concerned, he’s almost as good as Cueto himself was, and leads Bailey, Mike Leake, and Bronson Arroyo by 3/4 of a run or more and his WHIP is sub-1. Not bad for a rookie.

What to say to sound smart at the water cooler
The Reds have won all 5 home series they’ve played so far this season.

Last game
Yesterday the Reds completed a three-game sweep with a 7-4 win over the Cubs. You might think that doesn’t mean much, given the state the Cubs are in this year, but it certainly means better things than if they’d lost. All the games count the same when it comes time to pick a division winner.

Mat Latos has been amazing so far this season, but yesterday was a little rough. He gave up 3 runs (earned) on 6 hits and 3 walks through 5 innings. Sam LeCure gave up the other run, but Sean Marshall and J.J. Hoover put in scoreless innings. The Reds never trailed, so it didn’t feel as urgent as it might have otherwise.

Shin-Soo Choo went 2-for-5, Joey Votto went 3-for-5, and Todd Frazier went 2-for-3 with a walk. Four other guys had one hit. It was a team effort this time around.

Next game
Today the Reds host the 18-12 Braves. Bronson Arroyo (RHP, 2-3, 3.95 ERA) takes on a guy I hoped we wouldn’t see again for a while, Paul Maholm (LHP, 3-3, 3.08 ERA). Maholm has allowed 2 or fewer runs in four of his first six starts this season, so I hope the offense is awake.

Collision in center field
Brandon Phillips actually had to come out of the game yesterday in the eighth inning due not being able to see the ball. Even more unsettling is that it sounds like he doesn’t really remember the collision with Shin-Soo Choo that caused it. At the time I saw this happen, I thought Choo got the worst of it with the ball caroming off his lip, but Phillips’ “Whatever Dusty says, that’s what happened” is pretty foreboding.

MLB’s ideas on DRM are about as evil as they come, so I can’t embed the video here, but clicking the preview will take you to the MLB site where you can see it for yourself:

Choo and Phillips collided trying to catch a ball that was subject to the famous Chicago breezes. Click to see the video.

Both guys are in the line-up today, so hopefully all is well. I’m sure we’ll all be watching closely, though.

What to say to sound smart at the water cooler
Dusty Baker is among only 6 MLB managers in history to win at least one division title with each of three different teams.