Game two of the weekend three-game series between the Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park gets under way at 7:10 p.m. Eastern time. The home team attempts to come back from a very rocky showing Friday in a 12-2 spanking by the visitors, who came into the series having lost 10 of their last 14.
Yours truly has been among the Redleg Nation inhabitants who remained hopeful that the team still had the potential to rally and put together a streak to get back into the playoff race. Well, even your local optimist cried uncle after Friday night. Instead, much of the attention of Redleg Nation for the next few days will be focused on topics such as this:
The #Reds are willing to listen to offers for Raisel Iglesias https://t.co/28BDrJsogT pic.twitter.com/mhtXJQH1wX
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) July 27, 2019
Reds and White Sox are surprise entrants into Diaz sweepstakes https://t.co/I1sMxOtX44
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) July 27, 2019
The July 31 trade deadline is fast-approaching. It will be very interesting to see what approach the front office takes. If they stick to the approach that they espoused, which was to make deals that would improve the team not only this year but for the future, it might be difficult to find teams willing to deal on those terms.
Starting Pitchers
| Name | IP | ERA | xFIP | K% | BB% |
| Chi Chi Gonzalez | 14 | 5.14 | 5.12 | 15.4% | 13.9% |
| Anthony DeSclafani | 98.1 | 4.12 | 4.25 | 25.2% | 6.5% |
DeSclafani has pitched very well since early June. Since then in 45 innings, he has allowed 16 earned runs, for a 3.20 earned run average. He has become a steady starter who can be relied upon to pitch a good game and more than keep his team in the game. This is the sort of consistency that Redleg Nation has been hoping for since he came back from a variety of injuries that forced him to miss much of the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Righthander Gonzalez was formerly a top prospect in the Texas Rangers system. In 91.1 innings at the major league level, he has a 4.63 ERA and a 5.40 xFiP.
Bullpen
Robert Stephenson is unlikely to see action after a very impressive and encouraging three-inning scoreless appearance Friday night.
Starting Lineups
| Rockies | Reds |
| RF Charlie Blackmon | LF Jesse Winker |
| SS Trevor Story | 1B Joey Votto |
| CF David Dahl | 3B Eugenio Suarez |
| 3B Nolan Arenado | RF Yasiel Puig |
| 1B Daniel Murphy | 2B Josh VanMeter |
| LF Ian Desmond | CF Nick Senzel |
| 2B Ryan McMahon | SS Jose Peraza |
| C Tony Wolters | P Anthony DeSclafani |
| P Chi Chi Gonzalez | C Ryan Lavarnway |
Some Redleg Nation regulars have called for VanMeter to get a shot at second base, and at least for tonight, he is. It is his first start at that position for the Reds.
Additional insights into the statistical history of the players in today’s game is available all season long at BaseballSavant.com.
News and Notes
Lefthander Brandon Finnegan has been basically rebuilt from scratch by the Reds minor league coaching staff in Arizona, and got his first game appearance of the season last night …
Brandon Finnegan returns to the mound, Aristides Aquino and Chad Tromp hit moonshots for Louisville, and more notes from the #Reds farm system for your Saturday morninghttps://t.co/u5HFqB3eSe pic.twitter.com/6JsA7XIuYm
— Doug Gray (@dougdirt24) July 27, 2019
See that the A’s might be interested in Roark. They have a few SS prospects that would make a good match IMO. Mateo might be a good fit since he’s basically ready now versus having guys that would compete with the talent the Reds have in the lower minors.
What is up with Winker’s launch angle? I guess that’s something he will need to work on this off-season.
JVM and Peraza are playing over Scooter/Iggy? Thats not the Reds way? They always favor yesterday over tomorrow. Is it a Bell temporary lineup glitch or a step in the right direction? Iggys June ops was .588 and July’s is .523. Thats not good. Actually if Winker can play CF then Suarez can play SS. Senzel and JVM could then play 2B & 3B. That gets Ervin in the lineup!
Not sure why Bell keeps putting Winker at leadoff. He usually does not hit well. I thought Chris Said 180 on yesterday’s braodcast when Winker in the #1 spot.
Winker hits better in #5 or #6 spot.
Should have Senzel lead off.
Glad to see JVM @ 2nd and Peraza at SS. Hope the play well and hit well as that could be 2020 starting middle infield if the do OK on defense and hit well next 2 months.
Hoping Disco continue strong pitching.
You run into serious sample size problems when you compare players performance to their position in the line-up.
I’m not sure why they would trade for any reliever – closer or otherwise.
Winker first ab; 104 EV and -10 launch angle. Lift the ball!!
JVM on FIRE!
You may have something there. Performances like Robert Stephenson and Sal Romano gave this week in three-inning stints show that the potential is there. One problem would be the probability of needing even more pitchers on the roster.
I am not sure what they hope to get with Desclafani. Everyone keeps talking about 29 year old players as not part of the next Reds good team. He will be 30 at the beginning of next season. As they say, he is what he is, a .500 pitcher with an ERA of 4.21 for his career. I’m sure they can find the same somewhere. If Wood stays healthy, sign him, and have Castillo, Gray, Wood, etc….IMO, he is maybe the most overrated player the Reds have.
2.94 since June for Disco. Thats not bad? I don’t know how highly rated he is because he’s been hurt quite a bit. The thing is….he’s never thrown this hard in his life! He’s popping 95-96 consistently now. I think we could see 3 years of the 3.28 era guy from 2016. Thats not bad if he’s your 4th starter.
Lorenzen is a thrill a minute ! Never easy for this dude – NEVER
That was clearly on Winker. He did not even have to run hard for that, it should have been an error.
Just brilliant – unbelievable
Anything you can do I can do better.Should be a song or at least on our what not to do training video.Reckon we will win with 5 hits,4 by rookies?
Who are these guys the Rockies have pitching? I know we can’t hit anybody but are these guys new guys or call ups.
Exactly and have no problem with defense over offense late in a game with the lead.Good move by Bell.JVM may not come up at all in the eighth and lets hope we don’t need the ninth.
Especially after a lead off hit by Ervin and 5 pitches later we go to the ninth and there wasn’t a double play.I share your frustration Doc because so often the only players that are hitting are involved in a platoon or in a double switch like tonight.Bell has been consistent though with his platoon system and his defense over offense late in games but I am a offense first guy and I would ride the hot hand until he cools off.Of course I am not the manager and thanks goodness I am not.
Reds need to be on the phones right now hollering that Iggy is back and dominating because well he just did at least for 3 batters.
He’s been solid as ever in save situations. Bell just keeps running him out there in non save situations where he has been getting lit up
R. Iglesias gets his save and good pitching by Disco, Wandy and Lorenzen.
Holding the top 5 in Rockies lineup to 4 for 16 with 3 walks is a good pitching night. Tapia was only hit from bottom 4 in lineup. Got the guys out that should be gotten out and kept the top of order in check.
Reds won a game after not being in the lead after the 1st inning. Only like the 8th time this year.
Good Win. Hope Wood pitches well Sunday