Open Thread: Cubs vs. Reds, Saturday 4/14, 12:05 CT

Who would have thought, two weeks ago, that we'd all be looking to Rich Hill to be the rotation "stopper"?

That is exactly where we find ourselves this morning, after four straight losses, the last three by two runs or less. Time to end this losing. And, don't worry about Bronson Arroyo -- he can only hit if Glendon Rusch is pitching.

Bruce Miles reports on various Cub injuries (already? Couldn't they have at least waited till May?) -- x-rays on Aramis Ramirez' wrist were negative, and though Mark DeRosa's back prevented him from starting yesterday, he did play. This article has the dire subhead "Third baseman to miss several games due to swelling", but the body of the article says he's "day-to-day", so who knows?

Oh, and The Employee is hurt again. To which I say, "Who cares?"

Today's Starting Pitchers

R. Hill Cubs vs. B. Arroyo Reds 1-0 W-L 0-1 1.29 ERA 3.86 6 SO 13 0 BB 4 1 HR 0 vs. Cin -- vs. Cubs

Take a close look at that pitcher box -- this is the first time all year I think we've seen one where the Cub pitcher had a better record than his opponent. Hill allowed only one baserunner in his first start -- Corey Hart, who homered off him in the 6th, breaking up his no-hit bid. Meanwhile, the game at Cincinnati last week in which the Cubs beat Arroyo was the first time they had defeated him since September 26, 2001, when he was a spot starter for the Pirates. It's 45 degrees in Chicago at this writing, and the weather looks like it will cooperate today, although it's going to be cold, no rain or snow.

MLB.com Mediacenter -- once again, there's no TV outside of Chicago unless you have EI (it's a CSN telecast today, and no Reds TV).

MLB.com Gameday

Discuss amongst yourselves.