Whether its the All-Star break hangover, his arm getting tired, N.L. hitter's figuring him out, or a combination of all the above, you can not deny the fact that Reds' RHP Edinson Volquez is in a slump. Volquez (13-5) got roughed up again on Tuesday night and has now lost twice in his last three starts after losing just three times in his first 20 starts. He has allowed four or more runs in three of his last four outings.

The nine hits allowed were Tuesday were a season high, and Volquez managed just two strikeouts in the game. Certainly, his lackluster play lately gives cause for concern. He was 10-2 with a 1.91 ERA after defeating the Yankees on June 20; since that point he has gone 3-3 with a 5.65 ERA in eight starts. The league seems to be adjusting to him, and now it's Volquez's job to make some adjustments of his own.

The way I see it, struggles can be expected. I just don't want Volquez' magical season to end in disappointment. There's no doubt control has been a problem at times. The Rangers knew it, the Reds know it and even when he was mowing down hitters in the season's first three months, Volquez was walking batters at an alarming rate. The biggest difference over the past 10 starts or so though is the strikeout totals.

During his last 9 starts, Volquez has watched his ERA go from 1.71 to 2.93, his win-loss record has gone from 10-2 to 13-5. His walks haven't been terrible (19 BB in 9 starts), but the strikeouts have not been there. He hasn't pitched his way out of jams like he did earlier in the year. Only once in that span did he have 10+ strikeouts, three times he struck out 5 batters, and he had five starts where he struck out three or less batters. He went from leading the NL in strikeouts being sixth.