After a successful first home stand, the Cincinnati Reds (5-1) look to bring their offensive machine on the road with them when they head to the desert to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks (2-5) at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. Get ready for a dose of #LateNightReds, folks. First pitch is at 9:40 pm EDT. You can watch the game on Bally Sports Ohio or listen on 700 WLW.
How impressive were the Reds’ bats over the first week of the season? The Reds have scored the most runs through the first six games for any MLB team since 1999 and the most runs through the first six games in all of Reds history.
A red-hot start! Get it?@Reds | #ATOBTTR pic.twitter.com/vTUranxa5x
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 8, 2021
Meanwhile the Diamondbacks have started in the opposite direction from the Reds, only winning two out of seven games to the Padres and the Rockies on the road. They’ve allowed 43 runs as well, including a couple of offensive explosions.
Starting Pitchers
In his first start of 2021 on Saturday, Tyler Mahle pitched well against the Cardinals, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out nine batters in five innings. Two of those runs came via home runs to Paul DeJong.
Mahle’s fastball averaged 95.1 mph on Saturday, up from 93.9 in 2020. He used all three of his pitches about the same as last year as well, with the four-seam fastball being utilized the most, followed by his slider. He only uses his split-finger about 11 percent of the time and almost always to left-handed batters. Mahle’s highest whiff rate on Saturday was actually his slider at 28.6 percent, but his fastball was right behind at 23.5 percent. He did end up with more strikeouts off his fastball, but he also threw his fastball more.
The Diamondbacks will counter with right-handed pitcher Taylor Widener, also making his second start of the season. Widener pitched Sunday, shutting out the Padres and only allowing three hits with five strikeouts and three walks in six innings. It was his first start in the majors. In 2020, his rookie season, he pitched in 12 games out of the bullpen.
Widener relies on three pitches: four-seam fastball, slider and change-up. He’s predominantly a fastball pitcher–he threw it almost 65 percent of the time in 2020–and uses his breaking pitches as secondary pitches. He will throw the slider mostly to right-handed batters. The change-up gets thrown mostly to left-handed batters. Widener’s fastball averaged 94.5 mph in 2020. In his first game this year, his fastball velocity was a little down, only averaging 92.8 mph. His breaking pitches will average between 85 and 86 mph.
Stats are from 2020.
| Name | IP | ERA | FIP | xFIP | WHIP | K% | BB% |
| Tyler Mahle | 47.2 | 3.59 | 3.88 | 4.59 | 1.15 | 29.9% | 10.4% |
| Taylor Widener | 20.0 | 4.50 | 6.49 | 5.65 | 1.30 | 25.0% | 13.6% |
Lineups
Cincinnati Reds
|
Arizona Diamondbacks |
| LF Jesse Winker | CF Tim Locastro |
| RF Nick Castellanos | RF Kole Calhoun |
| 1B Joey Votto | 1B Christian Walker |
| SS Eugenio Suárez | LF David Peralta |
| 3B Mike Moustakas | 3B Asdrubal Cabrera |
| CF Tyler Naquin | 2B Eduardo Escobar |
| 2B Jonathan India | SS Josh Rojas |
| C Tucker Barnhart | C Carson Kelly |
| P Tyler Mahle | P Taylor Widener |
Kole Calhoun returns to the Diamondbacks lineup after being on the 10-day injured list to start the season.
News and Notes
Sonny Gray could return this week
Prior to the game today manager David Bell said that if Sonny Gray’s simulated game he’s expected to throw tomorrow goes well that the right-handed starter would return to the rotation this week.
Jesse Winker is back in the lineup
Jesse Winker returns to the Reds lineup tonight after being out for a few games due to sickness. He enjoys new Reds broadcaster John Sadak as much as the fans do.
Jesse Winker told new play-by-play announcer John Sadak during his pre-game Zoom that he's really enjoyed him on TV broadcasts. Winker watched #Reds games from home when he was sick with the flu earlier this week.
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) April 9, 2021
Earlier today at Redleg Nation
Final Thoughts
Hey, look at the Reds, now at the top of Fangraphs’ odds to win the NL Central. I don’t care if it’s the first week of the season. I’m going to enjoy the ride this team is on.
Why hello, new NL Central favorites pic.twitter.com/1469pTv2Sn
— ???? ????y (@Nicholaspkirby) April 9, 2021
Ashley, how does Senzel sit and Wink gets the start. We’ll see, but given Wink was sick enough to miss games shouldn’t he have been worked in to the lineup? Senzel had his best game Wednesday. I’d would have liked him to get a chance to build on that.
I agree, same with Stephenson. But I think we’re going to get the L/R argument again.
Yes, not seeing Senzel is a bit alarming. My best guess is that David Bell thinks Naquin is better against RHP, at least for right now.
I like seeing Bell ride the hot bat with Naquin for another few games or week. But Nick Senzel needs to be your starting CF for 140+ games this year, if healthy.
Yeah … but that is the issue … Senzel has been fragile to date.
Shakes off a knock from a dive … while healthy, he should be playing every day and finding out his ceiling. He’s 26 in June … hardly a prospect.
Naquin feels like the 2021 version of 2019 Aquino.
A 30-year old version.
Joey is no spring chicken, needs to rest them legs…I hope Wink brought his 1B glove
Senzel hasn’t played 140 games in his career I don’t think….the only thing they should be doing with him is grooming him for a trade….very talented…plays hard……brittle.
Tyler B had 3 hits including the game winner. Oh and Winker was 3-3.
I guess I’m happy that Bell’s running with the hot hand in Naquin–something he’s been reluctant to do in the past.
But the problem is, Senzel’s been just as hot. Not with power, but his BA/OBP is actually higher than Naquin’s.
Welcome back Winker!
I can’t be mad at the Rest for taking a cautious approach with Senzel to see if they can get him through one full season. And then start talking about playing EVERY day for a full season.
How does review miss that call?? Ridiculous!!
The ball clearly hit the chair and bounced back. I agree, it didn’t even look like a close call.
Unthinkable. Clearly cleared the fence.
I was listening to the game on the radio so I missed it but was the Winker double really an easy home run call that they missed twice?!
Yes.
There was a chair right behind the wall that the ball hit. It went out by 4 inches, if that. First call tough to make. but it seemed obvious it hit the chair on replay. I assume it was just umpires who hate being wrong saying it was too close to reverse.
IMO, Senzel is finally looking like we all hoped, and in a rhythm. Now he has to sitting, and is wondering what he has to do to stay in there…..good for Naquin, can you say Derek Dietrich…..Senzel needs to be in there when he is healthy…..and the DB tinkering begins
How could replay miss that homerun? I get missing it live, but it was clear on replay it went over the fence and hit the chair.
High pitch count has been a frequent issue for Mahle in his career.
I’m excited about Mahle’s development, but trying to nail the corners will make you a 5 inn pitcher. The Ks will come!
31 pitches.
Mahle needs to stop thinking these guys are the ’27 Yankees … or he won’t be around long enough to qualify for a win.
32 pitches, but Mahle gets through unscathed. Nice catch by Winker. Thet fouled off a lot of pitches, but he couldn’t put them away, and ended up walking 2 guys
Widener might be working against the teams recent hitting patience, lots of meaty fastballs early in the count on first an second pitches and not a lot of swings.
Mahle is re-defining “Grinding.”
That stat line after 2 innings is something.
Wink…rbi single.
The sac bunt helped get Tuck over.
Good work boys!
Former Pirate Joe Musgrove has a no hitter through 8 innings.
Getting out of Pittsburgh and signing in San Diego, where he grew up, apparently was an improvement.
I think I heard SD has never had a no hitter.
He got it….1st ever for a Padre confirmed.
Only runner was a HBP
Tucker is hitting out of his mind, but Stephenson needs to play the majority once TB comes back to reality. That ball TB hit would’ve left gabp
Mahle has 6 batters left to get through the order twice and get 5 innings in.
It would be nice if he can make it.
Whenever he has got to 2 strikes, I don’t think any of the next pitches have created an out. That really runs up the pitch count.
He’ll have to switch his approach, the D backs seem pretty patient tonight. I think this is going to be an Antone W tonight.
NAQUIN!!!!
As long as he’s hitting like this, how do you sit Naquin against righthanders?
At this moment, he’s leading MLB in homers (5), RBIs (14), slugging (1.048) and OPS (1.488).
Honestly I don’t envy Bell in this situation. “It’s a great problem to have” but nevertheless a difficult decision to make with this hot outfield.
India almost got one….to the oppo wall.
Yeah that’s 4 hrs in gabp.
The Nasty 9
Castellanos, Winker, Senzel, Naquin, Votto, India, Suarez, Moustakes, Senzel
1 upping the Great 8
Naquin looks like vintage Jim Edmonds and not the Walt Jocketty Reds version. How about batting him 3rd vs rhp? Joey has to take one for the team eventually
Joey is making good contact. 106 mph on his first-inning groundout.
Naquin is jogging around bases. I’d rather have that))
Could be true, but it gets old looking for the positives. It’s too early to dramatically reduce JV playing time. But Naquin, Winker, or Aquino need to buy a first basemens glove. 1 start a week?
Just drop Votto to 6th in the lineup and leave it
Mahle gone after 4. Need Antone and company to cover the next 5.
I am still adjusting the mindset from my youth that there is no way you pull a pitcher with a no hitter especially this early in the game. It is a weird feeling but I figure that is just the game we are in nowdays. Just get the win for the team and I am a happy camper.
If it makes you feel any better, the pinch hitter ended up scoring a run.
As I said
Just get the win and I am a happy camper. And this old Tomato is feeling quite happy in his tent right now.
Winker is en fuego.
Winker 3-3….hitting screamers all over the field
Reds get a 2 run break, as they kick the Votto double play ball. 3-0 pitch too.
Joey with a dribbler on 3-0, but they played it like a hand grenade!! Arizona isn’t Pirates bad, but this banged up version might be NL’s 14th place
Love Antone….Fastball 100….curveball 80 mph…..well located most of the time. Fast worker too.
Antone MUST start. Possibly the best stuff on the team, and he’s pitched only a handful of innings so far this season.
Yup, really hoping he’s in the rotation by midseason. He might be the best pitcher on the team.
Why waste half the season?
I agree, but the Reds dont seem to. I’d have him in the rotation ASAP.
And his OBP is 1.000
I don’t recognize my Cincinnati Reds. This season is so unlike them.
lol, no surprise to me
They look familiar now? Blowing 5 run leads to a scrub team
Let’s pinch-hit for a guy that’s 3 for 3 just because there’s a lefty on the mound. Never change David Bell, never change.
Kind of a defensive replacement move at the same time as a handedness move. Bells done worse IMO.
Winker looked hobbled when he tagged up last inning. Senzel batting for him. I’m hoping it’s just defensive sub vs a lefty pitcher.
I got the DBack feed…any word from the Reds feed?
Bedrosian is dead man walking with Gray’s return and Romano is sighing in relief.
That curve is pure wizardry.
Votto has to be the unluckiest hitter in the league so far this year! He’s blistered the ball so many times without the hits to show for it.
So Bell pulls Antone after 32 pitches? A guy touted as a possible starter all spring? What’s Bell’s rationale here?
Looks like Bell’s “management “ just turned this into a close game.
He’s a team psychologist not a manager. Needs to be replaced by a Francona type manager.
It was a bad call with hindsight. It seemed like a premature hook for a relief pitcher who can give you 40-50 pitches
Don’t disagree, i thought he would be out for a 3rd, I guess they want him available for multiple days a week, 3 innings might prevent that.
He is an idiot. That’s why he did it. He likes to make dumb moves that cost us gaes. That’s what he’s all about. And I thought Dusty was bad! Bell is the worst manager I’ve ever seen. Oh well.
The 1st two batters for the DBacks were lefties, but Bell decides to use the righty Bedrosian. then brings in Dolittle in later in the inning.
Ouch. Dusty rolling over in his Houston grave.
Now THIS is feeling more like the Reds I’ve come to know and…be frustrated with. I knew there would be trouble once Bedrosian was brought in.
He’s the one guy whose not MLB ready.
So much for a strong BP.
Being in Lucas for the next two innings. I don’t trust Garrett either
0-2 and a walk. Doolittle isn’t locating per Brantley. Bell really treated the 5-0 lead as mop up and pulled Antone early.
The Diamondbacks are hurting personnel-wise. We should sweep.
Saved by the Moose.
Turns out Dolittle’s bad Spring has carried over. No more high leverage for him for awhile.
Mark it down. Doolittle didn’t have it when we needed it but he got VERY lucky.
The ‘back end’ of this pen is still very unsettled. With Garrett’s struggles and Doolittle yet to prove he’s ‘back’, that leaves Sims.
Allowed both inherited runners to score, so his ERA doesn’t get blemished…they call this a Lorenzen special.
LOL.
Sims on but I better not see a ‘set up’ role emerge here.
5-3 and the Reds response is nada. Feels like the D-bags are getting two more chances to KO a gassed opponent.
This statement feels more true now that they tied it up in a flash.
The Reds have bats and 5 is a season low so they need to step up bc I don’t trust the pitchers on 5-9 close outs in a game. Not yet
Leadoff walk for Sims…it’s contagious.
We need a vaccine.
Oh well. What next?
Down and in to a lefty…said it 1000 times.
I stayed up Reds! Man these west coast trips are the pits!!!
It’s hindsight but the Reds have left a ton on base tonight. Didn’t seem to matter when the D dags were listless.
Lol! Bell’s management strikes for the first time in 2021. Poor management of the bullpen has it tied and his little league let everyone play style has 2 of the starting lineup already subbed out!
I know it’s hindsight, but pulling a hitter that was 3-3 in the 6th inning is a Bell special. Never seen a manager want to switch out his better players in the middle of the game as much as him. Back end of the bullpen might need some shoring up if they do want to chase a playoff berth. Hope they can rally back!
Winker was limping on the sac fly
I knew as soon as he took Antone out, we’d lose. No sane manager would make that move. Antone was unhittable. You only make that move if you want to lose, or if you are real dumb!!! Bell is an idiot! He can’t make stupid moves like he’s always done and expect to compete with the Cards. No chance. He’s the worst manager I’ve seen. Fire him!!!
Antone is on a pitch count. He’s building up his arm strength. My God….have to be able to hold 5-0 lead vs a garbage team?
Did he look like he was tiring to anyone? This “pitch count” thing is just something they make up. It’s not based on anything but hunches.
30 pitches is a pitch count? He was throwing 70 in Spring training.
And then he got hurt and had to start building up again from scratch.
In hindsight, maybe you just leave in a relief pitcher who’s cruising along and can easily go another inning or two instead of making a 5-0 game seem like some sort of chess match where you have to try to outsmart everyone.
Amen to that.
I concur. Oh, but this won’t be the only dumb move Bell makes. He routinely makes these kinds of illogical moves. That’s what he’s all about. Now,…lets see if because of that moronic move, he kicks off a losing streak for us. Time will tell.
Joey 0-5. Just got to have him batting 3rd and playing every day
he needs a day off or three
Bell should be fired before the game ends. This is on him. Pulled Winker. Pulled India. But Old Joey is still in there. All 0-5 of him.
And he’s played everyday with no in game subs like the game the guys. It’s sad.
Top 9, tie game and runner on with no outs. Votto gets a fat
2-0 pitch for a routine fly. The Suarez steps up to hit into a double play. They are 0-9 between them.
Bell has to think about a change at 3 and 4 if the Reds give this away.
I concur. But he won’t make a change. He would have to be smart to do that,..which he is NOT.
Bedrosian and Doolittle? They’re both castoffs for a reason. I don’t know? Bell might be forced to put Lorenzen back in the pen. Perez might be the wildcard? If he came in instead of Doolittle then we might not be in this mess.
OR,… if he had just done what every other manager in MLB would have done, and just left Antone in the game,..then we might not be in this mess.
Pitch count???? Antone would be starting over our current 3rd-5th starters Moe, Curly, and Larry except he’s building arm strength and he’s on a pitch count.
Sims finally settles down and starts pitching well, so of course it’s time to get him out of the game because he throws with the wrong hand.
Bell drives me nuts at times too, but this isn’t on him. It was 5-1 with 2 outs and nobody on and they got 2 more runs off Bedrosian/Doolittle. Then Sims walks the leadoff man on 4 pitches and serves up a HR. Just a meltdown, but Antone was already on a pitch count and he had to go with someone. 5-0 didn’t seem like an emergency situation. Now lets play some free double baseball))
If he leaves Antone in there’s a good chance it’s still 5-0 going into the 8th.
You can always say it’s the players’ fault whenever something goes wrong. The manager never throws a pitch or swings the bat. The manager’s job is to make decisions that maximize the chances of success, and removing a relief pitcher who’s cruising along, and might be your best relief pitcher, when you’ve still got a few innings left in a game that isn’t an insurmountable lead, isn’t maximizing your chances.
Get over it. Teams do not burn their best reliever up in 5-0 games unless it is the playoffs, particularly on the first game on road trip. If your bullpen can’t hold 5 runs leads, you aren’t going to win many games as a manager anyway.
What does “burn” mean in this context? He’s already probably not available tomorrow. Another 15-20 pitches isn’t going to cause him to go on the disabled list.
ON A PITCH COUNT….please read
They don’t…they just react. It’s like Winker coming out. He was seen limping, but they have their own agenda.
You seem to think “pitch count” is something a manager is required by law to adhere to. It’s something he and the pitching coach make up based on hunches. My hunch, based on how strong he looked on those last few pitches, is that his arm was strong enough to throw another inning without destroying his season.
Well they have to fight the 162 war & not your win game 7 at all costs approach. Not Game 7 of a big playoff series, but just game #7. Once again….if Antone was 100% then he’d be starting
Va Reds…..yeah so much talk about playing time for Naquin. Do they not remember Senzel and Winker play OF for the Cincinnati Reds
I don’t think having Antone pitch three or four innings instead of two innings is a “game 7, win at all cost” mentality at all. Throwing 50 pitches instead of 32 pitches isn’t quite as big a deal as you’re making it out to be, especially when the guy is throwing as hard as he ever has in his life and showed no signs of tiring whatsoever. This “pitch count” thing is made up. They don’t actually know how many pitches he’s able to throw. What if the pitch count had been 30 and they let him go over it? Should Bell be fired for taking such a risk? Of course not. We’d all say “well, it’s made up.”
Somehow I forgot the extra inning rule. So Suarez makes the last out in the 9th, but starts off on 2nd? I was thinking it was the leadoff man.
Tucker’s bat has been huge tonight.
Who is this amazing left-handed catcher the Reds suddenly have? Where did this guy come from?
My fellow Hoosier Tucker is killing it this year. I’m not buying that he’s a .340 hitter, but he’s picking them up when they need it!
We have to survive AG now.
The training wheels are off this time. No safety net available.
Anyone think they aren’t scoring with nobody out and man on 2nd with the way Garrett has looked? We need a screamer at someone….maybe 2?
Big first out without the runner advancing.
Nice inning by AG. AG hadn’t looked good in my view this year but he shined tonight. Not perfect but good enough. Bell made so many bad moves. Pulling out antone after two innings and removing starters as though he assumed the game was already won
Winker tweaked something, the rest were normal Pinch Hits for the Pitcher. I didn’t see anything too weird.
They’re trying to baby Antone til he can start. Really blame can be cast on Mahle for only going 4. I think they were trying to send him a message by not letting him get the win, but he nibbled too much and drove his pitch count up.
1:30 on the East Coast….at least it was for a W.
Night Night
Bell’s strategy pays off!
what a train wreck
Yes! Little shaky from Garrett, but another W. Glad to see them battle back after the rally.
That win was scary!
It’s a good thing that none of us are managing. “Bell is terrible. Why did Bell do this stupid thing. Why have pitch counts for players coming back from injury…” Oops! The Reds won.
The Reds are 6-1 and you’d think by some of these comments they were 1-6.
Doug,
You know I just think it’s lack of confidence in Bell. I know he thru 96 pitches in 4 innings, but Mahle had not given up a hit. And then to remove Antone after two quick innings makes no sense to me. I am sure the guy can throw more than 30 pitches in an outing. Anyway, not complaining(except maybe about Bell) but watching him manage is scary sometimes.
How are you sure that Antone could do that?
Throw 30 pitches? He could do that warming up. I would be the last one in favor of him getting hurt by throwing too many pitches, but even guys rehabbing throw more, don’t they?
Starters do, sure. Antone, however, wasn’t ready to be a starter when the season began. You’re making assumptions based on him being healthy all spring and starting when he wasn’t and wasn’t. He noted at the beginning of the regular season that he was not built up to start yet, but was ready to be a reliever. We were 8 days into the season yesterday. It feels like it’s a big assumption to think he was ready to go out there and throw 45-50 pitches.
Doug,
Not going to argue, just seemed an awfully short outing to me.