It’s an all-National League Friday, as we get a break from our three-a-days for a calmer doubleheader. Here’s all the information you’ll need to settle in and enjoy.
2010 MLB Playoffs: Phillies Vs. Reds NLDS Game 2 Viewing Guide
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Time: 6:07pm ET
Starting Pitchers: RHP Roy Oswalt vs. RHP Bronson Arroyo
Series: 1-0 Phillies
TV: TBS
TV Announcers: Brian Anderson and Joe Simpson
Radio: ESPN Radio
Radio Announcers: Jon Sciambi and Dave Campbell
Umpires: John Hirschbeck, Bruce Dreckman, Ed Rapuano, Sam Holbrook, Gary Cederstrom, Rob Drake
MLB.com Gameday: Link
Team Blogs: The Good Phight, Red Reporter
Situation
The Reds knew they'd be up against the toughest starting rotation in baseball coming into the series, but after getting no-hit by Roy Halladay in the opener, one wonders just how confident they'll be coming into a pivotal Game 2. Halladay isn't going back on the mound for a second go, but Oswalt's no slouch, and hitters can't afford to press or overthink if they want to be able to squeeze out a few runs. For the Phillies, this is an opportunity to apply a stranglehold. For the Reds, this is an opportunity to bounce back from the lowest of lows and prove that they really do have what it takes to play in October.
Three Keys
(1) Roy Oswalt isn't a whole hell of a lot easier to hit than Roy Halladay, so I'm going to make the same suggestion now that I did two days ago - try a bunt or two down the third base line. The Phillies are either going to start Wilson Valdez - normally a middle infielder - or Placido Polanco - who's been dealing with a bone spur in his (non-throwing) elbow, and who missed Game 1 with back soreness. The Phillies aren't going to have Adrian Beltre playing defense at third, and the Reds might test him early on to try to get a hit up on the board. It doesn't matter how that first hit happens. Once it's there, everyone can breathe a little easier.
(2) Bronson Arroyo likes to pitch backwards. He’ll throw a lot of fastballs in offspeed counts, and he’ll throw a lot of offspeed stuff in fastball counts. The idea is to stay unpredictable, and unpredictability is how Arroyo’s been able to survive despite an underwhelming repertoire, but the Phillies might be able to hold an advantage if they stay one step ahead of him. Hitters can’t go up there thinking normally. If they go up there remembering that they’re facing Arroyo instead of your average pitcher, they won’t be fooled as often, and they’ll make him pay for mistakes.
(3) Given the stakes, how long will Dusty Baker hold off on using Aroldis Chapman? How long will he keep him in once he's there? With Chapman in the game, Baker can practically pencil in a zero, but the temptation there is to just keep pitching him and pitching him, and eventually a change will have to be made. Here's the good news for the Reds: they have Saturday off as they travel back home. Baker's leash on Chapman can be a little looser tomorrow, because he can throw a good number of pitches and still be available for Game 3. That might be enough to buy Baker an extra inning of shutdown relief.
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