Bunny Arroyo the perfect pitcher for Friday night's game 2

I’ve been saying all along that Bronson Arroyo is the perfect pitcher to go game 2 for the Reds. He’s our true stopper, even if he’s not an ace like the guy we saw on Wednesday evening for the Phillies.

Arroyo loves Friday night, you know he is a Friday night kind of guy. Like Adam Dunn was a Saturday night kind of guy.

Bronson will bring it Friday evening. Here’s a look at his past starts when the Reds were up against it:

4/8/10 vs. Cards Reds had lost first two games of season, at risk of going 0-3 at home to start season: Arroyo: ND, 8 IP,1 run
5/16/10 vs Cards Reds had split first two games of series with Cards, had chance to move into 1st place for 1st time this season, win first series vs Cards Arroyo: W, 9 IP, 2 runs
5/21/2010 vs Indians The day after the Atlanta debacle, the Reds cling to a 1/2 game lead Arroyo: W, 6 2/3 IP, 4 runs
5/26/2010 vs Pirates The day after the Reds were shut down by Paul Maholm and had lost a game in part because Drew Stubbs couldn’t find the ball in the lights. Arroyo: W, 7 2/3 IP, 0 Runs
6/17/2010 vs Dodgers Reds had lost three games in a row. June Swoon alert on high as the team is 6 and 8 in June. Arroyo: W, 7 IP, 1 run
6/22/2010 vs. AthleticsAnxiety level still high even though this follows a win. After losing 3 in a row to Seattle, Cordero had blown his 5th save of the year the night before in Oakland, though the team came back to win in the 10th. Arroyo: W, 8 IP, 2 runs
7/7/10 vs. Mets Reds had been shutout the night before by Johan Santana. Arroyo W, 8 IP, 1 run
7/16/2010 vs. Rockies Reds had lost 4 consecutive going into the ASB. Had lost two consecutive 1-0 games. 2nd half fade assured by all talking heads. Arroyo: W, 7 IP, 2 runs
7/31/2010 vs. Braves 6 different bullpen pitchers used on 7/30. Had a big comeback only to be thwarted and lose 6-4 in 10 innings. Arroyo gives up 2 unearned runs in the 1st including walking 1 in, shakes that off and pitches a gem the rest of the way. Arroyo: W, 7 IP, 2 runs 0 ER
8/11/2010 vs. Cards For fairness sake, point out the one time he didn’t win the big bounceback. 3rd game of the Cardinals sweep. This is the game after the brawl. Though to be fair he kept the team in it for four innings before giving up 4 runs in the 5th. Arroyo: L, 5 IP, 4 runs
8/22/2010 vs. Dodgers Reds had lost 8-5 the previous night. Reds hadn’t won a series on the West Coast in forever, but had a chance to here. Arroyo: W, 7 IP, 2 runs
9/2/2010 vs. Cards 1st game of weekend series, pitched well but gave up 3 runs in the first two innings. Did not allow Cardinals to run away with game though and the Reds came back to get within 1. Arroyo: L, 6 IP, 3 Runs
9/13/2010 vs. Dbacks Day after Cordero blows save and gives up 3 runs in the 9th. Lead down to 6, whispers mount about team blowing the lead Arroyo: W, 6 IP, 2 runs
9/24/2010 vs Padres Two days after Johnny Cueto can’t get out of the 2nd inning in a 13-1 thumping, Bronson takes the mound and keeps Reds in game vs. Padres Arroyo: ND, 5 IP, 2 runs
9/30/2010 vs Astros Two days after Clinchmas, and one day after the Post Clinchmas hangover, with the Reds needing wins and some help to get the #2 seed, Arroyo throws a gem to put the Reds in position for the weekend. Arroyo: W, 7 IP, 1 run