Pitching Probables:
RHP Bronson Arroyo (CIN) 7-7, 3.55 ERA
RHP Kris Medlen (ATL) 6-8, 3.45 ERA
Tonight's Starting Lineups (7:35 pm ET, FS South/MLB Network):
Reds (career vs. Medlen):
Shin-Soo Choo - CF (1-3, HR, RBI, K)
Derrick Robinson - LF (N/A)
Joey Votto - 1B (3-6, 2 2B, RBI)
Brandon Phillips - 2B (1-6, K)
Jay Bruce - RF (0-6, 4 K)
Todd Frazier - 3B (0-2, K)
Zack Cozart - SS (1-5, K)
Devin Mesoraco - C (1-2, HR, 4 RBI)
Bronson Arroyo - P (N/A)
Braves (career vs. Arroyo):
Andrelton Simmons - SS (2-2, HR, 2 RBI)
Reed Johnson - RF (3-16, 3 RBI, 3 K)
Justin Upton - LF (8-29, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 9 K)
Freddie Freeman - 1B (5-10, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB)
Brian McCann - C (9-20, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 6 BB, K)
Dan Uggla - 2B (7-21, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K)
Chris Johnson - 3B (4-12, 3 2B, 2 BB, K)
BJ Upton - CF (0-7, 5 K)
Kris Medlen - P (N/A)
Preview:
The last time Braves starter Kris Medlen faced the Reds on May 7, he turned in one of his best outings of the season, allowing two runs on four hits in seven solid innings, but he did so in what turned out to be a heartbreaking loss for the Braves. Tonight at Turner Field, he'll look to duplicate his brilliant outing and also get his record a game closer to .500 on the season.
In that May start against the Reds, Medlen was in line for the win when he left the ballgame, but the bullpen gave up three runs, including back-to-back homers from Devin Mesoraco and Shin-Soo Choo off Braves closer Craig Kimbrel to end the game. In the first four innings of his start, Medlen gave up a single hit, a homer, and said afterwards that it was the best he's felt all season to that point.
But in his last start against the Phillies last Sunday, Medlen allowed a career-high seven runs (six earned). Six of those seven runs came with two outs, with the other coming on a Domonic Brown home run.
Reds starter Bronson Arroyo also pitched in the May series against the Braves. Arroyo allowed four runs on eight hits in five innings, Arroyo's second-shortest outing of the season. In his last start against the Mariners, Arroyo allowed three runs on five hits, walked one, and struck out six in six innings in the 3-1 loss.
Jason Heyward injury:
Braves RF Jason Heyward left last night's game in the second inning after straining his right hamstring sliding into third base. Heyward walked off the field under his own power and was re-evaluated today. Braves will rest Heyward for the remainder of the weekend series against the Reds and during the All-Star break.
Freeman wins NL Final Vote:
Braves 1B Freddie Freeman received a standing ovation before his first at-bat last night as he won the Final Vote for the last spot on the NL's All-Star roster. As part of a record-setting turnout, Freddie Freeman received more votes (19.7 million) than any other player ever has in the process. He beat out heavy favorite Yasiel Puig of the Dodgers. Freeman thanked the fans by going 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs last night.
Reds' Ryan Hanigan to the DL:
Reds catchers Devin Mesoraco and Ryan Hanigan have been banged up as of late. The only way Hanigan's strained left wrist will get any better is to give it rest which led to the Reds' decision of putting him on the disabled list before Thursday's game against the Braves. In a corresponding move, Reds called up veteran catcher Corky Miller from Triple-A Louisville. In six games this season, Miller is hitting a mere .125.
Side note:
Braves 3B Chris Johnson extended his season-best hitting streak to 12 games with a 1-for-4 effort on Thursday. During the streak, Johnson is hitting .396 (19-for-48) with six multi-hit games.
Reds set franchise record on Thursday night when the bullpen notched its 10th straight game without surrendering a run. Logan Ondrusek and Alfredo Simon pitched two scoreless frames in the series opener against the Braves, making it 28 2/3 innings without a run off a reliever.
Brian McCann, the NL's reigning Co-Player of the Week alongside Reds SP Homer Bailey, enters Friday with a .450 batting average (9-for-20), four homers, and seven RBIs against Bronson Arroyo.
Reds CF Shin-Soo Choo is 7-for-17 (.412) on the current road trip and carries a nine-game hitting streak into tonight's game against the Braves.
Braves are the best home team in baseball to this point in the season, going 30-13 (.698) at Turner Field.
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