Every member of Redleg Nation has had this thought … just how significant is Aristides Aquino’s historic start? The graphic below shows the list of other players who have had a similar power-hitting start to their careers.
Zero outliers on this list – all the rest had amazing careers. Interesting. #reds @Aristide_Aquino @Reds pic.twitter.com/GF5Ek9V6MZ
— Joe Boyd (@JoeBoyd) August 18, 2019
We can only hope that Aquino will have a career similar to others on that list. What’s interesting is that there are no outlier non-all-timers on that list. You’d figure that someone like Dave Kingman or Rob Deer would have been in that list, but no.
11 HR & 22 RBI in 17 MLB games!@Aristide_Aquino joins @JeffPiecoro as he continues his history-making entrance to the majors with the @Reds. #BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/92NSBTXtxx
— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) August 18, 2019
The Reds go for the series win today against the St. Louis Cardinals today at 1:20 p.m. Eastern time at Great American Ball Park. If The Punisher hits another home run today, it will be against one of the hottest starting pitchers in baseball.
Starting Pitchers
| Name | IP | ERA | xFIP | K% | BB% |
| Jack Flaherty | 135.1 | 3.52 | 3.87 | 28.6% | 7.6% |
| Alex Wood | 19.1 | 5.59 | 4.39 | 18.1% | 3.6% |
Right-hander Flaherty has been arguably the ace of the Cardinals rotation in 2019, and he is in the midst of an exceptionally hot streak. Since July 7, he’s pitched 45.1 innings while allowing only four earned runs on 22 hits. The Reds should be ready for the equivalent of an ace in this game today. Wood is still attempting to round into form after missing most of the season with a back muscle injury. The rest of this season will serve as an audition for the Reds to get a real good look at him and then to decide whether to attempt to re-sign him for 2020.
Bullpen
Raisel Iglesias should be available if the game is hopefully close late in the game. Michael Lorenzen may not be available for any more than an out or two after pitching two innings Saturday.
Starting Lineups
| Cardinals | Reds |
| 2B Tommy Edman | CF Nick Senzel |
| 3B Matt Carpenter | 1B Josh VanMeter |
| 1B Paul Goldschmidt | 3B Eugenio Suarez |
| LF Marcell Ozuna | RF Aristides Aquino |
| SS Paul DeJong | 2B Freddy Galvis |
| C Yadier Molina | LF Phillip Ervin |
| CF Lane Thomas | SS Jose Iglesias |
| RF Yairo Munoz | C Kyle Farmer |
| P Jack Flaherty | P Alex Wood |
Eugenio Suarez is back in the lineup, while Joey Votto and Jesse Winker remain out.
Additional insights into the statistical history of the players in today’s game is available all season long at BaseballSavant.com.
News and Notes
Update at 12:48 p.m. Eastern time: Joey Votto was placed on the 10-day injured list, and Brian O’Grady was recalled from Louisville. Doug Gray has a detailed update posted here at Redleg Nation …
It’s 1990 throwback uniform day …
Our 150th anniversary celebration continues Sunday with 1990 throwback uniforms. https://t.co/7PGNBlaDyA#RedsThreads | #BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/DaRFOrpynH
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 16, 2019