2010 MLB Playoffs: Reds Vs. Phillies NLDS Game 3 Viewing Guide
Time: 8:07pm ET
Starting Pitchers: RHP Johnny Cueto vs. LHP Cole Hamels
Series: 2-0 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: Red Reporter, The Good Phight
Situation
Through two games, this series has been a nightmare for Cincinnati. Game 1 saw them become the first team to get no-hit in the playoffs since 1956, and Game 2 saw them give away a 4-0 lead with some sloppy pitching and sloppier defense. They couldn't even count on Aroldis Chapman to keep the score where it was in relief. Just when it seemed like the Reds might've gotten their feet under them, and just when it seemed like we might be in for a riveting series, everything came apart, and the Reds might feel even lower now than they did after the opener. They're now in need of three straight wins against three ace pitchers.
Three Keys
(1) There’s not a whole lot of mystery to Cole Hamels, in that he’s a known entity. He’s a lefty who specializes in throwing one of the best changeups in the game, and he’ll throw it to any hitter in any count. It’s kind of a double whammy for the Reds; two of their three best hitters are left-handed, giving them the platoon disadvantage, but then Hamels’ changeup is so good that it’s not like righties have an easy time either. There’s nobody who’s going to have a good matchup. If Hamels establishes the low change for swings and misses, he’ll last a long time.
(2) Johnny Cueto last pitched on September 29th. Needless to say, he’s had a very long break, which could either be a good thing or a bad thing. Ordinarily, he’ll try to pound righties inside with his fastball while dropping sliders over the outer half. Against lefties, he’ll feature his changeup - staying down and away - while scattering his fastball and not shying away from his slider, which is unusual for a right-handed pitcher. The end result is that Cueto will pitch to a lot of contact against righties, and against lefties, he’ll nibble, getting more misses but also issuing more walks. Watch out for hanging sliders thrown to any of Philly’s left-handed threats.
(3) Aroldis Chapman threw 21 pitches in his appearance on Friday. He topped out at 100.9 miles per hour and averaged 99.2, suggesting that he was maybe holding something back. After having Saturday off, he should be fresh and ready to go again in Game 3. There are just two questions. For one, how much does he have in the tank? Will he be able to go max power? For two, is the aura gone, now that he got the loss in his first appearance? He clearly had the upper hand on Ryan Howard, but the Phillies won't be shaking in their cleats the way they might've been the first time around.
