Last Game
The Reds continued their winning ways against the Indians last night by winning 3-5. Mat Latos was filling in for a sick Mike Leake, and Latos turned in the kind of performance we’ve been expecting from him from the beginning. Maybe short rest doesn’t give him enough time to put too much pressure on himself.

Next Game
The Reds go for the sweep of the three-game series today at 12:35 p.m. Leake (2-5, 4.97 ERA) defends against Josh Tomlin (3-3, 4.96 ERA). They look pretty evenly matched, but Tomlin had the advantage of not spending the last few days puking. That I know of.

What’s Eating Aroldis Chapman?
After starting the season with a streak of 24 appearances without an earned run, Aroldis Chapman has now allowed at least one earned run in each of his last three starts. Last night he got the save, but came into the game in the ninth with a 4-run lead and served up a solo shot to Jose Lopez. Talk about streaky.

Though Chapman’s performance last night wasn’t the shelling he’s received in the last couple games, I’m still concerned about the abrupt change from “record-settingly good” to “meh.” If the season had started a week ago, we wouldn’t be looking at Chapman in a closer’s role right now.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
If the Reds win this afternoon, they will pull their all-time record against the Indians to .500 (38-38).

Last Game
The Reds drew first blood in the Battle for Ohio last night, beating the Indians 1-7. Johnny Cueto threw a complete game in 122 pitches. Hopefully that doesn’t wear him out for next time.

Next Game
The war wages on tonight at 7:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park. Mike Leake is sick, so Mat Latos (4-2, 4.85 ERA) will take the mound for the Reds and defend against Derek Lowe (7-4 3.72 ERA). Seven wins already is kind of intimidating, but Lowe is coming off a rough outing against the Tigers on Thursday.

The Dreaded Flu-Like Symptoms
It happens every year: someone on the team picks up some Martian Death Virus somewhere, and it spreads like wildfire through the clubhouse. The insistence on being all vague and calling it “flu-like symptoms” gives it a particularly menacing feel.

Several of the Reds, including Mike Leake, Zack Cozart, and Joey Votto, all have the Martian Death Virus this time around. The medical staff has them jammed full of IVs, because apparently their mouths stopped working for the intake of fluids. Must be one of the “symptoms.”

The flu-like symptoms didn’t stop Joey Votto from hitting a home run and bringing in 3 RBI last night.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
At least 1 home run has been hit in each of the last 56 games at Great American Ball Park. The last homer-less game was in July 2011.

Last Game
The Reds (and 21 other teams) had an off-day yesterday. For the Reds, it was their third day off in the last two weeks. It’s like watching baseball in France.

The Red Hot Family used the off-day to catch our local AAA team, the Indianapolis Indians (a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate). The Indians utterly spanked the Rochester Red Wings (a Minnesota Twins affiliate), 0-16.

Next Game
Tonight the Reds play host to their “in-state rival,” the Cleveland Indians. Johnny Cueto (6-3, 2.63 ERA) takes the mound against Jeanmar Gomez (4-4, 4.97 ERA). First pitch at 7:10 p.m.

Much Ado About Spit
Video footage from Sunday night’s game against the Detroit Tigers provides compelling evidence that the Tiger’s closer, Jose Valverde, was blowing big ol’ nasty blobs of spit into his mitt, presumably for the purpose of throwing spittballs.

Now, it is obvious that the Reds lost this ESPN Sunday Night Baseball game because the bullpen blew a 4-run lead. The bullpen was aided and abetted in its sub-par work by a manager who reverted to his micromanaging ways and a home plate umpire who thought the strike zone started 6 inches above the ground, but ultimately, if the Reds’ bullpen had done its job, the Tigers’ bullpen would have been pitching from behind.

So, no excuses, but shame on you anyway, Valverde. That’s not only cheating, but completely disgusting. How would you like it if I spit on something and then threw it at you? Sicko.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Even after Aroldis Chapman’s two bad outings, he still has a 0.87 ERA and has struck out 55 in 31 innings. He may have set everyone’s expectations too high before, but it’s still disconcerting that he got so bad so suddenly. If he has a third bad outing in a row, they need to get that guy an MRI.

Last Game
The Reds gave up an early lead on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball last night when they ended up losing to the Tigers, 7-6. The box score makes it look like Jose Arredondo and Sean Marshall put in terrible performances, unable to get a single out, but in both cases they only got one batter before Baker yanked them. It was bullpen mismangement like we haven’t seen out of Baker in years: maybe the high-profile game made him feel the need to put his mark on the game.

There were other problems too. There were a couple defensive gaffes and Joey Votto had a crap night at the plate, but I think the Reds with better management would have pulled this one out.

Next Game
The Reds have today off to lick their wounds and deal with the fact that they’ve lost two series in a row. Tomorrow they host the Cleveland Indians.

Another Streak Bites the Dust
Yesterday’s 0-for-4 performance from Joey Votto broke a 15-game hitting streak. That streak was the longest in his career, and the longest for a Red since Brandon Phillips did it in 2010. Phillips had a 22-game hit streak in 2007, and we may need such performances from both these guys to pull out of this recent scuffling.

Especially considering that last night’s game began a “streak” of two straight rough outings for Aroldis Chapman. And I’m not talking about “rough by Chapman’s standards”: 2 runs (earned) on 2 hits and a walk in 1.0 innings is pretty bad for any reliever. Might want to get that guy looked over.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Yesterday was the 67th anniversary of Joe Nuxhall becoming the youngest player in Major League history. He was 15 when he took the mound against the St. Louis Cardinals and did terribly, but he turned out to be something special. Maybe there’s hope for this young Dusty Baker character.

Last Game
That’s two series in a row that the Reds have lost to the Pirates. And this one was particularly painful because the Pirates busted up Aroldis Chapman’s scoreless streak while they were at it. Final score: Pirates 5, Reds 4.

Next Game
The Detroit Tigers are coming to town tonight. Bronson Arroyo (2-4, 3.91 ERA) takes the mound for the Reds. Rick Porcello (3-4, 4.86 ERA) will be going for the Tigers. First pitch at 7:10 p.m.

Mourning the Passing of the Scoreless Innings Streak
Before McKenry’s hit to knock in Barmes in the tenth inning, Chapman’s 24 appearances without an earned run to begin the season were a Reds’ franchise record and his 29 innings without an earned run were the most in baseball.

Of course they were going to hit him sometime, and I was surprised it wasn’t sooner. That doesn’t make it fun to see it end. Time to get another, longer streak going.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
No one on the Reds’ 25-man roster was born in January. I smell Sagittarius discrimination.