It doesn’t get any easier, regardless of how much it happens. To our best pitcher. And now we have to rebound with Kyle Kendrick, whose luck has been almost just as “meh” as the guy he’s facing.

Kyle Kendrick, (1-1, 5.40 ERA)

Apr 10, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick (38) pitches against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Mets, 7-3. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Since his last start, Kyle has been kissed by Cliff Lee.  Initially, this was thought to inject some form of superpowers into his repertoire, but after last night, it may be a transference of dark powers.

“We’re playing good,” Kyle said after his last start, a 7-3, dinger-happy home romp over the Mets.  ”We’re scoring a lot of runs.”

If that was the key to his previous success, than these other Phillies, the ones who’ve scored eight runs in four games, will not be much help at all.  Kyle will most assuredly need his wits about him, get that new slider working, and baffle hitters into quick hits so they don’t keep him out there too long and expose his soft underbelly: pitching to other baseball teams.

Homer Bailey, (1-1, 5.73 ERA) 

Entering last Wednesday’s game against the Cardinals, Homer Bailey had allowed two hits and three walks.  Over five innings, he allowed nine hits, three home runs, and three walks, for a grand total of seven earned runs.

So, he’s gettable. Just gotta get ‘im.

Have to hope he’s emotionally vulnerable enough to allow the Phillies to score an incredible 3-4 runs.

Game Notes

Feb 16, 2013; Goodyear, AZ, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey (34) poses for a photo during photo day at the Reds Spring Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Unless you’re name is Chase Utley, it looks like we’re back in the pits with this offense.  I suppose you could take this on a night-to-night basis, but it seems like the only guy having an “up” period right now is Chase, and even some of his nights aren’t perfect.  Ben Revere can’t get on base, Ryan strikes out, Michael Young and Erik Kratz ground into double plays, and usually strand people like Chase, or maybe Jimmy or Dom if they’re having a decent night, after a leadoff double.

The Reds are having their own troubles, indicated last night as they matched us in ineffectiveness.  The difference was, when the time came for that big hit, they had a Brandon Phillips to deliver.  We had a Chase Utley, who did deliver, but as a pinch hitter could only deliver once.  They’re run totals, even in their past few losses, have been better than the Phils (save that 10-0 loss to the Cardinals), they just can’t keep up or hold a lead.

These are two teams not playing spectacular baseball right now, so it’s fortunate they’re playing each other so they can pick up the two or three games that will be mentioned in the near future when people say “They’ve only won two or three of their last twelve.”

Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Cliff Lee’s struggles this year are well documented. The stat that stands out the most is his minuscule win total of 2. If there’s one area Lee is sure to dominate by season’s end its no-decisions. He already has 12 on the year, which surpasses his total (7 ND) of last year by far. It’s not a statistic that bears great recognition, but Lee needs something positive.

He is fresh off another ND against the Brewers in his last start. The bullpen blew yet another lead, and wasted a 12 SO performance by Lee in the process. We don’t get to see what happens behind closed doors, but it’s amazing the restraint Phillies starters have shown not choking out members of the bullpen in the dugout. Lee’s has faced the Reds only a handful of times in his career, but their propensity for the long ball could give Lee fits.

Homer Bailey (10-8, 4.16 ERA)

Thomas Campbell-US PRESSWIRE

Bailey, the Reds 1st-round pick in 2004, has never been able to reach his full potential. That said, Homer is enjoying his most productive season in a Reds uniform. He has eclipsed double digit wins for the first time in his career, and is sporting a career-low 4.16 ERA. These numbers may not seem flashy, but he has helped stabilize a rotation that has helped the Reds to 1st-place in the NL Central.

With a name like Homer he may have been better suited to play the field. Bailey has been true to his namesake giving up 21 home runs so far this season. This game matchup should provide plenty of souvenirs.

Total Breakdown

Despite Bailey’s generous nature of serving up fat pitches the Phillies numbers against the Right hander are pretty mediocre. Jimmy Rollins has the highest average hitting .375 (3-8), but only Ryan Howard has taken him deep. The Phils should fair better than their .164 team average against Bailey after a hot night at the plate in the opener.

The Reds sport a surprising number of high batting averages against Lee. Miguel Cairo and Scott Rolen have faired the best, both hitting well over .400. Expect the Reds to flood the lineup with right-handed hitters who will be swinging for the fences.

Three things are guaranteed in tonight’s game.

1) There will be plenty of long balls from both teams, so expect an high scoring affair.

2) Despite the power potential both teams whiff at a high rate, providing Lee another high strike out performance.

3) Lee wins his 3rd game! Ok, this one is wishful thinking. Lee will continue his string of solid outings, but will come away with yet another no decision.

Eric Hartline-US PRESSWIRE

Ah, yes.  Another Cliff Lee start in which we will see him perform well between brief, demoralizing moments that inevitably lose him the game.  Last time out was a definitive Cliff Lee start for 2012, as he struck out 12 Brewers, but gave up three home runs and left after 7.2 innings””Just one of those games,” he said for what feels like the billionth time this year.  Still without a win at home, Lee will have to count on the sinister, overpowering mojo the Phillies seem to have against the Reds and hope it provides all the good luck or stabilization his starts have been missing.

Homer Bailey

Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Bailey has already hit his career high in innings pitched for the season.  Can we interpret this “high” to be his capacity as well?  Yes we can, as after a dominant July, he has gone 1-2 with an 8.24 ERA.  Of course, we’d be interpreting it right in the face of Reds pitching coach Bryan Price, whose list of brief cliches all clustered together indicates he disagrees.

“He’s aggressive. All the things that we want him to do, he’s doing. His bullpens have been really good between his starts. We’re really happy with the way he’s feeling. The strength is good. He just hasn’t been executing. We think we’ve put our finger on it. We hope to see better results moving forward.”

–Bryan Price

Here’s hoping the Reds’ fingers are far from Homer Bailey!

The Offenders

Three wins in a row and an offense scoring their second highest amount of runs last night, the Phillies seem to have what baseball scientists are calling “momentum.”  Despite the Reds’ second best record in the game and hot performances of late, they–except for Jay Bruce–can’t seem to get their shit together against the Phillies, and that inferiority complex might just be the missing piece for Lee to thrive and the offense to score double digits.

Of course, Homer Bailey hasn’t really given many of the Phillies breathing room over the last few years.  Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins are the best performers against him, hitting .273 with 4 RBI and .286, respectively.  But again, he’s been terrible lately, so, cheers.