As I sit here, the Reds are up 6-3 on the Pirates in the top of the sixth inning: the ferocious battle for fifth place in the NLC is on! The Reds are a half game down on the Pirates after that sweeping at the hands of the Nats, making this a pride fight for the ages.

I'm coming in late on it after sweltering in the Indiana humidity helping the tot master the art of bike riding without training wheels. It's nice to see the wheels coming off in a good way for a change.

So, what the heck is up with the Reds' rotation anyway? There seems to be much discussion of who's available to fill the hole left by Kyle Lohse and not to mention…well…about everyone but Aaron Harang.

Ooh, McLouth steals one from Adam Dunn. I'd better start paying attention. It's a pride fight!

In my last day at home before getting back to the grind, I couldn't ask for better daytime entertainment than a good Reds' game. And since they're playing the Braves, I get to watch on TBS. Woo-hoo!

Aaron Harang goes up against John Smoltz this afternoon. Smoltz is a big name with a big history, but he's fresh off the DL.

Here's the line-ups. Thanks C. Trent!

Reds
Norris Hopper CF
Jeff Keppinger 2B
Ken Griffey, Jr. RF
Adam Dunn LF
Scott Hatteberg 1B
Edwin Encarnación 3B
David Ross C
Pedro Lopez SS
Aaron Harang P

Braves
Harris lf
Renteria ss
CJones 3b
AJones cf
McCann c
Francoeur rf
Johnson 2b
Saltalamacchia 1b
Smoltz p

Homer Baily is trying to bounce back from a couple poor starts, the Reds have made some personnel changes, and the Javy's getting a chance. Sounds like it could be the Reds' lucky day.

Here's the line-up:

Josh Hamilton CF
Ryan Freel 3B
Ken Griffey, Jr. RF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Adam Dunn LF
Scott Hatteberg 1B
Javier Valentín C
Alex Gonzalez SS
Homer Bailey P

I was several sentences into a post dripping with sarcasm about how Homer's going to single-handedly win the next 15 consecutive games to bring the Reds back to .500 ball, but I decided against it. There's no way Homer saves the team. In all likelihood, he doesn't even make much of a difference.

But, hey, let's take any opportunity we can to get excited. Maybe I'll actually watch the game tonight instead of playing Solitaire on the computer in front of the t.v.

Go Homer! Go Reds!

Reds
Norris Hopper CF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Ken Griffey, Jr. RF
Jeff Conine 1B
Edwin Encarnación 3B
Adam Dunn LF
Alex Gonzalez SS
David Ross C
Homer Bailey P

(Do you ever think that maybe the reason that Ross has this big “better ERA when he's catching” is because he catches Harang and Arroyo and Bailey while Javy and Moeller don't get a chance to catch until it's Stanton and Weathers on the mound?)

Indians
Grady Sizemore CF
Casey Blake 3B
Travis Hafner 1B
Victor Martinez C
Trot Nixon RF
David Dellucci LF
Josh Barfield 2B
Mike Rouse SS
Cliff Lee P

The good news is that, win or lose, the Reds' next game will be in the Eastern Time Zone. If I have to watch the boys lose, I'd at least like to get a good night's sleep afterward.

Reds
Scott Hatteberg 1B
Juan Castro SS
Ken Griffey, Jr. RF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Adam Dunn LF
Edwin Encarnación 3B
Josh Hamilton CF
David Ross C
Kyel Lohse P

Cards
David Eckstein
Chris Duncan
Albert Pujols
Jim Edmonds
Scott Rolen
Juan Encarnacion
Adam Kennedy
Gary Bennett
Adam Wainwright

So the Cardinals are fielding two Adams tonight, which seems a little unnatural. But more or less unnatural than batting Castro second? Tough call.