Pedro Strop’s hot take on Yasiel Puig continues to run hot on Twitter today:
Pedro Strop was confused as to why Yasiel Puig got angry:
“It’s no secret, he’s stupid. He’s stupid as (expletive). Nothing against him, he’s just stupid.”
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) June 29, 2019
Late in Saturday’s 6-0 Cubs victory over the Reds at Great American Ball Park, Strop hit Puig with a 3-0 pitch, prompting both benches to empty. Cooler heads prevailed and there were no actual fisticuffs. But you wonder if there will be any spillover into today’s series finale at Great American Ball Park. Game time is 1:10 p.m. Eastern time.
Jose Peraza was hit by a pitch later, without any ejections by the unpiring crew. Manager David Bell reacted:
David Bell was ejected from the game in the 9th inning. pic.twitter.com/llOMWW67Ww
— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) June 29, 2019
Bell later explained:
Both benches were warned following the Puig/Strop incident so David Bell says he went out to question the Umpire after Peraza was hit… his response? He didn’t think the HBP was intentional. pic.twitter.com/nc7D06R4tx
— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) June 29, 2019
The bottom line: Bell and the Reds have clearly decided not to engage in the if-you-plunk-one-of-our-players-we-are-going-to-reply-in-kind “old-school” baseball tradition. This is noble and right, but you wonder if at least some of the Reds players might feel a bit “unprotected,” so to speak. And if so, whether any emotions will spill over into today’s game or later in the season.
Starting Pitchers
Name | IP | ERA | xFIP | K% | BB% |
Jon Lester | 82.1 | 3.83 | 4.10 | 23.2% | 5.1% |
Anthony DeSclafani | 74.2 | 4.70 | 4.45 | 23.9% | 7.1% |
Lester is the third consecutive lefthander to start against the Reds in the series. In his career vs. Cincinnati, he is 7-1 with a 3.88 ERA. Much of that is linked to the Cubs’ dominance of the Reds in recent years. DeSclafani was on a roll in June, allowing only three earned runs in 16 innings before being lit up by the Brewers in his last start at Miller Park.
Bullpen
Nobody pitched more than an inning Saturday, so all hands should be available.
Starting Lineups
Cubs | Reds |
LF Kyle Schwarber | CF Nick Senzel |
RF Kris Bryant | 1B Joey Votto |
1B Anthony Rizzo | 3B Eugenio Suarez |
C Willson Contreras | RF Yasiel Puig |
CF Jason Heyward | SS Jose Iglesias |
3B David Bote | LF Phillip Ervin |
SS Addison Russell | 2B Jose Peraza |
2B Daniel Descalso | P Anthony DeSclafani |
P Jon Lester | C Curt Casali |
Jose Peraza gets the start at second base today, rather than Scooter Gennett.
Additional insights into the statistical history of the players in today’s game is available all season long at BaseballSavant.com.
News and Notes
It’s another throwback uniform day in observation of the 150th anniversary of the first professional baseball team. More details can be found here …
Going with the 1936 Palm Beach alternates today.#BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/af7sKFrdCb
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 30, 2019
A noteworthy anniversary …
This date 1970 Riverfront Stadium opens. Memories of the stadium of my childhood:https://t.co/CFwpKW1uXQ #Reds pic.twitter.com/wjb1yO9UOw
— 700WLW (@700wlw) June 30, 2019