Reds Season Leaning Left

The Reds season is taking a left-hand turn.

Over the next six games the Reds are scheduled to face six straight left-handed starter.

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The Dodgers are scheduled to pitch Alex Wood, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Clayton Kershaw were set to pitch in the up coming series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The Reds then go to Chicago to play the Cubs.  If the Cubs rotation stays in order the Reds will face Cole Hamels, Mike Montgomery and Jon Lester, all left-handers.

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"I don't think I've ever seen that," Jim Riggleman said. "I don't think I've ever had five and it will be eight out of 10 counting this Padre series."

The Reds aren't intimidated by left-handers even with Scott Schebler, Joey Votto and Scooter Gennett in the middle of the lineup.  The Reds are 19-20 in games started by left-handers opposed to 42-62 against rigth-handers.  Schebler has a .337 batting average against lefties.  Gennett is at .301.  Votto is hitting .235 this season but in his career, he has hit .294.  Plus, switch hitting Tucker Barnhart is a .302 hitter from the right side.

"Knock on wood, we've done ok against lefties," Riggleman said.

The Reds are resting Eugenio Suarez today because of the upcoming streak of southpaws.

On the other side of the ball, the Reds are hoping to reactivate Amir Garrett, who is close to full recovery from a foot injury.

"We need another left-hander," Riggleman said.

Since the Reds moved Cody Reed to the starting rotation, coupled with Garrett's injury, the Reds have Wandy Peralta as the lone left-hander in the bullpen.

The Dodgers sent word that they have changed Wednesday's starter, pulling Clayton Kershaw.  The Reds may indeed face a right-hander that day.