The Cincinnati Reds (24-29) and Pittsburgh Pirates (26-25) have already played nine innings today; what’s nine more? The gates at Great American Ball Park have closed and reopened for the nightcap, and the Reds will try to actually beat the Pirates, as they face Pittsburgh’s top prospect Mitch Keller, making his MLB debut. First pitch is at 7:10 ET.
Mitch Keller will be the 14th opposing starting pitcher to make his MLB debut at GABP. The previous 13 have averaged 5.2 IP with a 3.21 ERA and their teams have won 7 of the 13.
— Joel Luckhaupt (@jluckhaupt) May 27, 2019
Starting Pitchers
Name | IP | ERA | FIP | xFIP | K% | BB% |
Sonny Gray | 50.0 | 3.78 | 3.12 | 3.38 | 27.40% | 9.60% |
Mitch Keller (AAA stats) | 47.0 | 3.45 | 4.13 | 4.28 | 27.60% | 9.90% |
Giving a three-year extension to Sonny Gray when the Reds traded for him in the off-season is proving to be a good decision so far. Gray is in the top 30 of all NL pitchers who have a minimum of 50 innings. And he’s coming off what might have been his best start of the season. Gray pitched five innings of shut-out baseball with nine strikeouts in Milwaukee. The only downside was that he walked four.
What has been the difference between Gray in 2018 and Gray in 2019? He’s throwing his slider a lot more, and he’s throwing his sinker a lot less. In fact, his sinker is the fourth-most used pitch, behind the four-seamer, the curve ball, and the slider. He’s already recorded 23 strikeouts with his slider. In 2018, he had 38 strikeouts with the slider the entire season.
Corey Dickerson has had the most success off Gray, with two home runs. He just got transferred to the 60-day IL for the Pirates. Gray also will not have to face Trevor Williams, who single-handedly won the game for the Pirates with a single and two RBI off Gray in the second game of the season at the end of March.
Keller was drafted in the second round of the 2014 draft, and according to Baseball America, Keller is currently the #1 prospect in the Pirates organization. He had a bit of a set back in his development last year, with a 4.82 ERA/4.13 FIP in 52.1 innings at AAA-Indianapolis. (Keller split time between Double-A and Triple-A in 2018). This season, he’s been better, but still has some issues with his control to fix. He’s already walked 22 batters inĀ 47.0 innings and the past two years his BB% has jumped to around 9.0%.
Here’s more on Keller:
With the #Pirates calling up top prospect Mitch Keller to make his #MLB debut tomorrow, @JonathanMayo breaks down what to expect from @MLB's No. 21 prospect: https://t.co/i6erH2OSm4 pic.twitter.com/AhGHvDsQbn
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 26, 2019
Bullpens
Bullpen usage is important during doubleheaders, and the Reds and Pirates were not able to avoid using multiple relievers. Both teams used four pitchers each. Neither team has a significant advantage going into the second game, it would seem.
Amir Garrett threw 31 pitches, so there’s a chance that he will not pitch in the second game. Francisco Liriano threw 30 pitches and Kyle Crick threw 26 pitches for the Pirates. I’m guessing that both Cody Reed and the Pirates 26th man, Richard Rodriguez, will see action tonight.
Lineups
Pirates Lineup
- Starling Marte – CF
- Gregory Polanco – RF
- Bryan Reynolds – LF
- Josh Bell – 1B
- Colin Moran – 2B
- Jose Osuna – 3B
- Jacob Stallings – C
- Cole Tucker – SS
- Mitch Keller – SP
Reds lineup
Game 2 on deck.#BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/f5zBm999oo
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 27, 2019
News and Notes
Reds team ERA & HR allowed thru 52 games last 4 years:
2019 – 3.60 & 54
2018 – 4.83 & 75
2017 – 4.89 & 81
2016 – 5.83 & 89— Joel Luckhaupt (@jluckhaupt) May 27, 2019
-What was that about Joey Votto’s career being over?
Votto has a three-hit game with a leadoff single in the 9th. His 2nd one of those in the last 3 days. #reds
— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) May 27, 2019
Joey Votto's double in the first game of the doubleheader tied him with Johnny Bench for 4th on the Reds' all-time doubles list at 381.
With three hits total in the first game, he also tied Brandon Phillips for 9th place on the Reds' all-time hits list at 1,774.#BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/vJiHQagu9h
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 27, 2019
-Let the kids play.
This is the content we crave
pic.twitter.com/XW4YQ38rxr— Cut4 (@Cut4) May 27, 2019