This has been an ugly series so far, but you know things are looking up when Brandon Phillips is vowing to turn a double-play straight through Pujols' head.

My kiddo is suffering a fever and a tummyache today, so there's always the nonzero chance that we'll be doing the obligatory appendicitis-scare ER trip, but I'm hopeful that ibuprofen and Popsicles will do the trick.

Let's see if C. Trent's got the line-ups:

Our Beloved Reds
Josh Hamilton CF
Jeff Keppinger SS
Ken Griffey Jr. RF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Adam Dunn LF
Scott Hatteberg 1B
Edwin Encarnación 3B
David Ross C
Bronson Arroyo P

Those Damn Cardinals
Eckstein ss
Ankiel rf
Ludwick lf
Edmonds cf
Duncan 1b
Miles 2b
Bennett c
Looper p
Ryan 3b

No Pujols! I guess the threat of someone throwing at your cranium is a strong one.

At first blush, I think it's hard to look at this Cardinals team and think that a bigger disappointment could exist. I mean, they're coming off the World Series championship, after all. But then again, you saw their off-season moves and you sorta knew this was coming. The Reds have talent coming out of their asses. Also, these Cards are somehow in second place while the Reds reside in the cellar.

Nevertheless, the FSNO pregame guys are acting like things are on the rebound. I believe Jeff Piecoro just used the phrase “things looked bleak.” Looked. As in, past tense. Implying that they no longer look bleak.

Better, though, was what Chris Welsh just said: the bullpen is like castor oil. He continued the metaphor to say that it was OK a little at a time, but failed to say that too much gives you runs. The Crafty Lefty failed to bring it home.

So, Homer Bailey's coming up and will be starting on Friday. Ought to make for some nice Simpsons references in the Smack Talk that day.

Gotta make this quick, 'cuz I'm at work and about to go on a dept lunch.

C. Trent gives us the line-up:

Reds
Ryan Freel CF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Jeff Conine 1B
Ken Griffey Jr. RF
Alex Gonzalez SS
Juan Castro 3B
David Ross C
Norris Hopper LF
Kyle Lohse P

Hopper, eh? Interesting. And former Red Randy Keisler is going for the Cards. Last time I saw him, he was in a different Lou--Louisville.

I've taken a catnap ahead of time and carried-out Chinese food so I wouldn't have to waste my precious energy cooking tonight, so I'm hopeful that I'll stay awake through the whole game tonight. It will help me if we can avoid the rain delay this time.

C. Trent has the line-ups:

Redlegs
Josh Hamilton CF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Adam Dunn LF
Ken Griffey Jr. RF
Edwin Encarnación 3B
Scott Hatteberg 1B
Alex Gonzales SS
David Ross C
Bronson Arroyo P

Redbirds
David Eckstein SS
Chris Duncan LF
Albert Pujols 1B
Scott Rolen 3B
Jim Edmonds CF
Preston Wilson RF
Adam Kennedy 2B
Yadier Molina C
Braden Looper P

Can anyone explain to me why Josh Hamilton leads off this line-up? I realize that there are not a lot of other choices, but Hatteberg or Phillips seem like better choices than Hamilton.

Ross got a couple hits last night after dipping below the semi-Mendoza line (.100) briefly. Here's hoping he's moving back up. It would be hard for him to move much further down.

Here at Red Hot Mama, series with the Cardinals are our favorites because it's our tradition to talk smack with Bellyitcher and her Proxy. Now, Bellyitcher hasn't updated since the beginning of March, but I bet she'll still show, since I got an e-mail from her less than a week ago, but even if she doesn't, we can talk smack about the Cards anyway. They do suck, after all.

C. Trent's got the line-ups:

Your Cincinnati Reds
Josh Hamilton CF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Adam Dunn LF
Ken Griffey Jr. RF
Edwin Encarnación 3B
Scott Hatteberg 1B
Alex Gonzalez SS
David Ross C
Aaron Harang P

Those Freakin Cards
Eckstein SS
Duncan LF
Pujols 1B
Edmonds CF
Rolen 3B
Spiezio RF
Kennedy 2B
Milina C
Wells P

Ross is starting while Javier Valentín waits not to be used to pinch hit. Time to fire Narron.