The Cincinnati Reds (50-40) will try to avoid a sweep at the hands of one of baseball's worst teams in 2013, the Milwaukee Brewers (37-52) at 2:10 at Miller Park today, in a game that can be live streamed here. Reds fans can hear the game on WLW 700, while Brewers fans can do the same on WTMJ 620.
The Brew Crew has been one of MLB's biggest disappointments this year, and even if they emerge with a sweep a pall will hang over Miller Park. Their star outfielder Ryan Braun, a former National League MVP, is expected to be slapped with a suspension by the league regarding his involvement with Biogenesis clinic, a lab that was dealing performance-enhancing drugs.
Last season Braun was hit with a 50-game ban but successfully appealed his suspension by proving his urine sample was mishandled, nullifying the positive result. This time, MLB figures to get him, and rumor has it that the league is seeking a 100-game suspension, which is usually reserved for second-time offenders.
MLB will cite his lack of cooperation in the Biogenesis investigation and attempt to prove he lied about past steroid use to justify the enhanced ban.
However, Braun isn't suspended yet, and has returned from a month-long absence with a thumb injury. Prior to hitting the disabled list Braun was batting .304 with nine home runs and 36 RBI in 58 games. He will try to mash today against Reds starter Mike Leake (7-4, 2.73 ERA).
Johnny Hellweg (0-2, 12.79 ERA) will toe the rubber for Milwaukee, and he inspires great confidence from manager Ron Roenicke despite ghastly numbers.
"The potential he has is the stuff that he has," Roenicke said. "He has a great fastball, a real good moving fastball. He's got a nice breaking ball. But he has to command those pitches. Unless you can command them in the big leagues, you're not going to do well."
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