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In the third game of a four game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates (26-26), the Cincinnati Reds (25-29) look to break the alternating win-loss pattern they’ve had for the last two weeks.

First pitch will be at 6:40 ET from the corner of Joe Nuxhall and Johnny Bench Way.

Starting Pitchers

Name IP ERA FIP xFIP K% BB%
Lucas Sims (AAA stats) 44.1 4.06 3.82 4.42 32.80% 8.30%
Jordan Lyles 51.1 2.81 3.05 3.85 26.10% 8.40%

With the doubleheader yesterday, the Reds needed a starter for tonight’s game in order to keep the starters on their regular rotation. Lucas Sims is that guy. At Triple-A Louisville this year, Sims has given up 43 hits and 20 earned runs, including six home runs, while walking 16 and striking out 63 in 44.1 innings. His strikeout total has been the most impressive part of his season thus far. His 32.8 K% also translates to a 12.79 K/9. It doesn’t matter what level the pitcher is at–it’s amazing. Sims has always been a high strikeout pitcher at the AAA level (in the Braves organization, he had a K% of 28.1% and 26.8% in 2017 and 2018, respectively).

In 2018, Sims pitched 5.1 innings in three games out of the bullpen for the Reds and gave up three hits and four runs with five walks and six strikeouts. Sims throws five different pitches, but relies mostly on his four seamer and his curveball.

Jordan Lyles has been in the league for eight years, but 2019 is the first season where he’s had any kind of close to the numbers he’s putting up now. With a career 5.13 ERA and 4.41 FIP, it’s different to see him with a 2.81 ERA, one of the best in the NL. His K% has steadily increased from year to year, with it being the highest it’s ever been in 2018 at 22.6% until this season where it sits at 26.1%. But Lyles has also walked more batters this season. He walked 28 batters all of last season. He’s already walked 17 in 2019.

Lyles faced the Reds at the beginning of April in Pittsburgh and pitched five innings of three-hit, shutout baseball. His career numbers against the Reds tell a different story, however. Five different players have a career OPS over 1.000 against Lyles.

Lineups

Pirates

  1. Kevin Newman – 2B
  2. Gregory Polzanco – RF
  3. Starling Marte – CF
  4. Josh Bell – 1B
  5. Melky Cabrera – LF
  6. Colin Moran – 3B
  7. Alias Diaz – C
  8. Cole Tucker – SS
  9. Jordan Lyles – P

Reds

  1. Nick Senzel – CF
  2. Jesse Winker – LF
  3. Eugenio Suarez – 3B
  4. Derek Dietrich – 1B
  5. Yasiel Puig – RF
  6. Jose Iglesias – SS
  7. Tucker Barnhart – C
  8. Jose Peraza – 2B
  9. Lucas Sims – P

News, Notes, and Pre-Game Reading

Doug Gray takes a look at what we might be able to expect from Lucas Sims as he makes his 2019 debut with the Reds.

Wandy Peralta has been optioned to Triple-A Louisville to make room for Lucas Sims on the 25-man roster.

-Well, this isn’t good. Hopefully tonight is just precautionary, and nothing gets worse.

-This,however, is potentially a good sign.

-Could Brian O’Grady be the next position player called up to the Reds this season?

-More recognition for a Reds minor leaguer.

Final Thoughts

Derek Dietrich should still be somewhere admiring his home run.

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