B(r)ats and (meat)Balls: Reds at Phillies Gamethread, May 18, 2013

The day after a fun win, there's nothing quite like a refreshing splash of afternoon game, is there? Especially when the weather has begun to warm up consistently enough that we feel comfortable putting away our jackets (sorry, Phrozen). And there's nothing like looking at what was supposed to be a fairly terrible matchup -- Kyle Kendrick against Bronson Arroyo -- and feeling like your team has an edge in what should be a fairly well pitched game.

Seriously, Kyle Kendrick and Bronson Arroyo both have ERAs and FIPs under 4.00. Kyle even has an xFIP and a SIERA under 4! I feel fairly responsible for this, based on how often I had to write about Kendrick this offseason. You're welcome.

So is it too soon to call 2013 the year of the ascendant fifth starter? I dunno, probably, but I'm going to jump the gun and say that 2013 is definitely the year of the ascendant fifth starter. So open the windows, fire up the grill, turn on Franzke and LA, and enjoy the mindbendingness of it all. Oh, and be sure to throw some meatballs on there in honor of where the fifth starters in the world came from.

Discuss how the metaphor of the fifth starter applies to our everyday lives, and how I've jinxed Kyle Kendrick irreparably below

Bronson Arroyo

#61 / Pitcher / Cincinnati Reds

Height: 6-4

Weight: 195

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Feb 24, 1977

Kyle Kendrick

#38 / Pitcher / Philadelphia Phillies

Height: 6-3

Weight: 210

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Aug 26, 1984