Matchup/Preview/Diary Game # 131 vs. Reds

Ramon Ortiz	Wandy Rodriguez
8 - 9, 5.33	8 - 6, 6.16

This series scares me, and it is my belief that things could get ugly.

the Astros have three players who have slugged over .500 in August, with none of them over .520. Meanwhile, the Reds have slugged .496 as a team since the All-Star break.

The Reds lead the National League in runs scored for the month, while the Astros are one of only two teams leaguewide to have not breached the 100-run barrier in August.

The Reds are second in extra base hits for the month, the Astros are second to last. Cincinnati has hit twice as many homers as the Astros this month, twice as many, plus a couple more. They lead the league in homers for August, and are the only team in the league to have walked 100 times in August.

And their classically bad pitching, while not having moved up into a class with Houston, has done rather well on the month, holding down the sixth spot leaguewide in ERA. They're fifth this month in strikeout to walk ratio, and eighth in WHIP.

The Marlins, the Phillies, and the Mets missed a big chance to kick us out of the race while we were going 2- 4 in LA and San Diego. But our luck in that regard may end up going for nought.

I just can't imagine Wandy--and listen, Roy, given the rut he's in right now--shutting these guys down.

But I've been surprised before.

Go Astros, and
Wandy Power!™