The Cincinnati Reds hope to break their seven-game losing streak tonight in a 10:10 p.m. start against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
Before you surrender to the notion that this is shaping up as a no-win situation, keep in mind that the Dodgers have lost five of their last seven. After their 13-2 start, L.A. has come back to earth a bit. Cody Bellinger is injured and out of the lineup. As you’ll see below, Manager Dave Roberts’ lineup tonight is not exactly Murderer’s Row.
Joey Votto has the day off from the starting lineup, with fellow slumper Eugenio Suarez hoping to get untracked against lefthander Julio Urias.
Starting Pitchers
| Name | IP | ERA | FIP | K% | BB% |
| Tyler Mahle | 20.2 | 1.74 | 2.81 | 38.8% | 11.3% |
| Julio Urias | 25.2 | 2.81 | 3.06 | 26.0% | 4.0% |
Mahle has emerged as arguably the Reds’ most effective starting pitcher in the early going. His strikeout percentage is eye-popping, slightly diminished by his high walk rate. The next step for Mahle, which might be to elite status, is for him to stop nibbling around the corners on most batters. This drives his pitch count up, which in this day and age means a reduced chance to stay in the game long enough to make a difference at big moments. If he will trust his stuff consistently, he could join the short list of top-end starters.
Urias is 6-0 over this season and 2020 and has conquered control issues which were a problem for him earlier in his career. He’s one of many shut-down arms on the Dodger staff.
Bullpen
We probably won’t see Carson Fulmer tonight after two impressive innings Sunday against St. Louis. Everyone else should be available as needed. (Can’t wait to see more of Ryan Hendrix.)
Starting Lineups
| Reds | Dodgers |
| 1B Alex Blandino | RF Mookie Betts |
| LF Jesse Winker | SS Corey Seager |
| RF Nick Castellanos | LF Chris Taylor |
| SS Eugenio Suarez | 1B Max Muncy |
| CF Nick Senzel | C Will Smith |
| C Tyler Stephenson | RF Luke Raley |
| 2B Jonathan India | 2B Gavin Lux |
| 3B Kyle Farmer | 3B Edwin Rios |
| P Tyler Mahle | P Julio Urias |
With lefthander Urias pitching, Reds Manager David Bell has gone with an all-righthanded-batting lineup — with the exception of otherworldly Jesse Winker.
Reds batters haven’t seen much of Urias in their career:
Comparatively, Dodgers hitters know what to expect from Mahle:
This Dodgers lineup, while formidable, doesn’t exactly make you shiver in your shoes. Mainstays Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner are not starting. Bellinger is injured and will not play in this series.
Additional insights into the statistical history of the players in today’s game are available all season long at BaseballSavant.com.
News and Notes
David Bell said there are no plans at this point to have Nick Senzel spend more time in the infield. He's played one inning at third and one inning at second when the team was short on the bench this year. #Reds
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) April 26, 2021
FanGraphs has some cool, free-to-use tools
(yeah, I am honking it because I have been a long-time member … and the pandemic almost killed the site off … but it is well worth $50 per year)
Reds … by position (starters and subs) … on the road this season:
wRC+
C – 52
1B – 54
2B – 64
SS – 60
3B – 62
LF – 133 (Guess who?)
CF – 65
RF – 47
It is amazing how equally bad everyone has been … except for Winker.
So … as much as we are all frustrated by Suarez and Votto …. other folks need to step forward, get some hits on the road and ease the burden on Mahle.
My pick for tonight on someone to surprise us … Tyler Stephenson.
This is a tough series by any measure.
The numbers get thrown out except on Wednesday when added to the prior 21
Dodgers on the road with 2 strong lefty starters plus dominant righty= trouble for every Reds team every year
If the Reds are going to at least one , this would be the game. Buehler and Kershaw next two. I’m tired already. It will be a miracle if I make it through to the end.
Win at least one. Gosh I’m tired.
To Tom’s point, about this Dodgers lineup having some chinks in the armor:
Early May 2018 …. Reds go to Los Angeles and pull the biggest shock in years …
Sweep a 4-game series at Dodgers Stadium
Homer Bailey even got a win in the series (!!!)
Reds had not done that in LA since the days of the Big Red Machine.
I was here for those games, and a lot of you were as well.
Baseball is the most unpredictable of games … that is part of why we keep showing up here.
Let’s hope for some surprises … Mahle pitching lights out near his childhood home, somebody giving him an early lead.
Go Redlegs.
That series made no sense
I remember that! 🙂
Start a winning streak and sweep the Dodgers. That would be fun. Sadly, I think being swept is more likely. But Reds fans can dream.
Milw swept SD on the road after the Pads played LA the first time. There has to be a little emotional letdown after such a tough series, but if the Reds don’t steal the opener tonite then it doesn’t matter.
Miami has this kid Jazz Chisholm. Crazy ability….runs like a deer and hits monster HRs at 180 lbs. He’s 2-3 with 2 steals off Corbin Burnes tonight and took a 100 mph DeGrom heater deep a couple weeks ago. Why can’t the Reds ever find guys like him?
I can’t think of any Reds hitters since Eric the Red and Josh Hamilton where you just saw talent oozing out of their pores like this Chisholm kid. Athletic ability doesn’t mean you can hit, but bat speed/wheels never hurt.
I mean the Reds had Joey Votto as the best hitter in the league for like a decade? Sure, he doesn’t run like Jazz does, but Jazz doesn’t hit like Votto (or at least he hasn’t yet).
Doug … really?
I didn’t think Indy was trying to compare Chisholm’s blue hair, gold chain and constantly slapping things in dugout to fire up his team … to Votto.
What will some folks do when Votto finally retires?
“Why can’t the Reds find hitters with talent oozing out of their pores”
Joey Votto was arguably the best hitter in the NL for a decade. He had hitting talent oozing out of his pores.
So yeah, Sliotar, really. What the heck are you talking about with the hair, chain, or firing up his team? He literally mentioned none of that.
I meant athletic ability. Hitting is almost like golf although I know nothing about golf. You can golf without being an athlete, but if you’re an athlete like vintage Tiger then you can take it to the next level.
Good call, Indy.
I watched a fair amount of Marlins games in SF over the weekend.
They are a scrappy bunch … Chisholm, Duvall, Dickerson, Aguilar … Donnie Baseball as manager.
Everyone has been cast off from another team … and they play like they don’t forget that.
Maybe their most recent first round pick.
Supermoon 2021
Why not a Reds win
All should walk outside and partake
Hot take: Mahle and Antone pitch 10 scoreless innings and the Reds lose 1-0 in the 11th.
Now prove me wrong!!*
*except Mahle and Antone. You guys prove me right.
This disclaimer is perfect.
Mahle was scored on and Reds won in 10, so you were wrong on 3 counts.
FYI for anyone who uses the APP to watch Reds games. Bally launched there app today. You have to sign backup with your provider and your ID and Password.
Figured some on here did use the app from time to time.
I missed that one. Good looking out!
You can bet on anything in MLB now so where can I bet on how many innings into the game the old Tomato makes it tonight before heading off to bed?
These west coast trips stink. Hopefully the Reds get out to a strong start tonight and I can dream of wins.
FWIW the game that made me a Mahle fan was my daughter’s first game- May of 2019, when he shut out the Dodgers alongside Garrett, Hernandez, and Iglesias. It was awesome. Let’s go Reds!!
Ain’t that a wonderment – Suarez struck out. Who would have guessed?
Only struck out once in 5 trips. Sign of progress or spurious result?
Any news from Moustakas? I was hoping to see him back in line-up for this series.
He’s not eligible to be activated until tomorrow.
Wow. 2 strikes called as balls. Then Betts hits a ground rule double. Yikes.
Mahle getting squeezed …
Big shock, huh? Suarez batting cleanup again and striking out leaving a runner stranded on 2nd. Seriously? This guy should be hitting 8th.
The 1st 2 pitches that Mahle threw were in the zone box. Ty Steve didn’t even attempt to frame them…both called balls. Big difference in 0-2 and 2-0 count.
Dear Home plate UMP. The Dodgers do not need help.
Dear Home plate UMP. The Dodgers do not need help.
How in the world is the score still 0-0?
Maybe Old-School’s Supermoon is affecting things.
It’s early but same old story with Reds pitchers! Walks, walks walks! Calling it a night since I work tomorrow!
Well the Tomato made it to the 4th inning. Game is tied and the game thread seems dead. Let’s hope for a W. I’ll find out in the morning.
2 runs by just making contact. Suarez and Senzel pick up the RBIs.
Thought Senzel went deep, but the sac fly was good.
Yeah. Good things happen when you make contact. Amazing. 🙂
Urias’s pitch count up over 70 … Winker and Castellanos seeing him a third time might bust this thing open, crazy as it feels.
Leaving aside the current losing streak, it’s good to see the younger guys taking over, 6 of 9 players in initial line-up were drafted by the Reds: Mahle, Stephenson, Blandino, India, Senzel and Winker.
Castellanos….Barrel Master!
Heck yes.
Great outing by Mahle … to qualify for a win … in the Lion’s Den … especially the way the first inning went.
It’s one game of 162 … but the Reds really need this one.
Bell has 12 outs to bullpen through.
Nick C. is 2-2 on the Urias changeup.
Rest of the league is 0-25
Mahle is starting to show why he has a no hitter and perfect game under his belt in the minors.
And with much better stuff today than when he threw them. He’s a classic projection pick that actually does project out at least as good at it kid was thought, more actually.
He may have a much higher ceiling than most realize.
Agreed. And I wouldn’t have said that a couple years ago.
Leftys vs Mahle this year are now 5-52 after that hit.
Tyler to Tyler, LLC. Huge Mahle K in the 5th!! And Bauer-esque fist pump en route to the dugout. Wow.
Watching Mookie Betts earlier in the 5th, and the TV team talking about his batting eye, this guy has always hit. I saw him play quite a bit in AA and AAA, and he was just superior. I’m enjoying not seeing the same old Dodgers. More spotlight on Mookie.
Heck yes.
Great outing by Mahle … to qualify for a win … in the Lion’s Den … especially the way the first inning went.
It’s one game of 162 … but the Reds really need this one.
Bell has 12 outs to bullpen through.
No accident he’s been on a team with Trevor Bauer, the way he jumped off the mound after that big K. Credit where credit is due.
Betts key catch in 6th was a lot more difficult to make than he made it look, I suspect. Dude is probably on his way to the HOF so tip of the hat, Mookie
Mahle done after only 5 innings…97 pitches
It’s looking good right now. Let’s hope Bell doesn’t start managing, like swapping the lineup to bring in left handed hitters.
Yeah. He has a hard time staying out of the limelight.
Why oh why is AG warming???
Sims for 2 and Antone for 2 should be the plan.
Unless Antone is now closing.
Amir Garrett warming up ?
lol I was wondering the same, but Sims can’t go 4
He could go 2, and Antone 2…by my count that is 9 innings.
Senzel and Suarez are really stinking it up. Suarez especially. They are giving up if Garrett is coming in.
Suarez tonight … 0 for 4 … 6 runners left on base.
This one could very well be busted open with another player hitting 4th.
Win or lose … enough with him anywhere near the top tomorrow. Sit out, move down to 7th … do something.
This is beyond ridiculous.
Today’s ABs … strikeout, 2 to SS, 1 to 3B.
Brantley said the other day …. Suarez comes out of slumps by hitting opposite field.
Suarez ain’t coming out of a slump yet.
He could definitely use a day off. Funny I thought his glove was going to be the problem, but that bat is looking real bad right now.
Suarez is done hitting 3rd or 4th, it’s just non-sense. He shall be kept in the line-up playing SS though, but lower in the order until he can figure it out again.
Oooooh Boy. Here we go.
#Count on AG
(I reserve the right to add the /s for sarc tag in a few minutes)
I don’t like bringing Garrett in an inning with runners on. Should have left Sims in to finish the inning.
Wow! Everyone but Bell knew this was going to be a bad move.
Garrrett blows this game Bell should be fired on the spot . No excuse for putting him in this game right now . Like he’s trying to prove a point . Dude is just not an intelligent manager at all .
Hope it works out …
Another Bellism.
LOL.
#CountOnAG
/s
The wheels on the struggle bus go ‘round and ‘round…
Raise your hand if you didn’t see that
coming !!!!!!
Bell has got to go !!!
Worst manager bar none in MLB …..
absolute clueless beyond belief
1 swing…tie game….the whole world could see it coming……
DFA
LOLOLOLOLOL BELL NEEDS FIRED!
Did Bell not know Seager can hit LHP?
RedAlert may on to something with the “gotta prove a point”.
You DON’T bring in Garrett there. Bell simply doesn’t know how to manage.
Chris Welsh pointed out that Bell is trying to get Garrett’s confidence up. Can’t use that situation to do it when you’ve lost seven in a row.
I’m sorry Tom but Bell is just plain nuts. You’re right. A manager might try that if we’re 8 games over .500 in first place but not NOW.
I guess Garrett was watching how Iglesias too much, though you have to get those L’s to be even with those S’s if you want to be a closer
You have got to be kidding me!!!! Bell is an absolute embarrassment to his profession. There’s just no end to this. Keep running Garrett and Suarez out there and losing games. Loss number 8 coming up.
Chris Welch with the David Bell defense LOL.
Yea that’s a joke !!!! No defense for that
period . Just being a stubborn , inept
manager . Ain’t going nowhere , winning anything with this guy at the helm . Has shown time and time again that he is
incapable of managing a big league team . Decision making is horrendous ‘
C’mon guys. it was lefty vs. lefty. That’s all that matters. It had to be the right move….as I’m throwing up.
Last years AG would have got the out. Bell plays by the book without exception. You would think he would have a better feel for his players than the average fan, but I guess not.
@Yerisdad
Welch is embarrassingly bad with apologizing for the Reds.
Too bad … it takes away from good points he makes.
Welsh
Where you at on all this Doug Gray?
Where am I at on what?
David Bell’s decision making…
I would have asked Antone to pitch the rest of the night after Sims – or at least as long as he could go and then figured it out from there if needed.
What would it take for you to call out David Bell in one of your columns?
Thank you for a voice of reason. I’d love to see you question David Bell for his insistence in using Amir in high leverage situations in your postgame. Someone that covers the Reds need to do it!
Well unfortunately I don’t get to ask him questions, so I can’t do that. But the question has been asked already and the answer was manager speak protecting his player and saying he has confidence in him, he’s a big part of the team.
Fans may not like it, but managers rarely throw their players under the bus for stuff like not succeeding unless it’s because of something that they are doing directly like a lack of effort situation. That’s just not how things are handled.
I absolutely understand that a manager or coach should never throw his player under the bus. I would never expect that from a coach! He could, however, use Amir in different situations until he shows he can get people out again! How many blown games is it gonna take? Even the armchair quarterbacks like me can see that Amir isn’t right! At this point I don’t blame Amir, I blame
David Bell. But it seems management is ok with the status quo :-/
In fact, he has a career ERA of 5.16!
His career ERA means nothing. He was not good as a starting pitcher and had a bunch of innings in that role. It skews things heavily in a role that he hasn’t been in for years. As a reliever, Garrett’s been good (well, until this year) to outstanding.
lol, why would you need someone who covers the Reds to call out Bell?
Title of the Column – “A move Bell makes doesn’t work out, we use 20/20 hindsight to call him out and look smart”
20/20 hindsight?! There were multiple commenters calling out the move before it was made. Go away Bell apologist.
3-1 Reds. Man on first. Let’s bring in the struggling “closer” who’s never really closed before and has blown multiple games already in a small sample size of 22 games. But…umm…a left was up and Sims and Antone can only pitch to righties lol
haha, this blog would obviously love someone calling out Bell every post. It’s bad writing though, so hopefully that doesn’t happen.
And I find it hilarious that because I think complaining about every weird little thing a manager does I should go away.
Bell should’ve just turned to Antone if that was his plan to close the game out anyway. I agree Garrett needs to be used differently, but as far as managerial moves go I’ve seen a lot worse than using your supposed best LH reliever for a tough LH hitter.
Doug, I meant to delete his career ERA. That’s why it made no sense as the last sentence. I personally feel for Amir. I think Bell is putting
a lot of pressure on him when he’s clearly struggling. It’s obviously not a successful formula! But I’d bet you money Bell will keep doing the same thing! Thanks for engaging with me in my Bell rants! Da Wink sure can rake tho!
I’m often Bell apologist and even I was yelling, “NOOOOO!” as Bell was walking to the mound to take out Sims.
I’d have let Sims record that last out and then brought in Antone for 2 innings to finish it (or, as Doug says, go as long as he could go).
Thank you Garrett. What a joke.
Might as well bring in DoNothing in to complete another defeat from the jaws of victory game
Good point.
Doolittle may end up in a high leverage situation here.
Feels kind of sketchy.
Our guys look like somebody punched the air out of them now.
Wonder if the Dodgers were clapping in the dugout….telling Seager that now you can easily hit a home run. Then Seager said to the Dodgers dugout, “What do you mean” Dodgers dugout said, “Look Seager, they are bring Amir G in to pitch”. Seager responds by saying, “Oh Yea, I see him now! Guys, I am going to tie this game up, get ready to add to my home run total this year, and I will be expecting high fives from everybody in the dugout….so get ready!”
Stephenson is out after hitting the ball well tonight. Correct me if I’m wrong but do we not have to score some more runs, at least one, to win tonight?
He did that to Stephenson on his last start as well. PH Barnhart despite Stephenson hitting well. Perfect way to erode a young guy’s confidence.
Yeah. Bell acts like we have a lead and putting defense in there to protect it.
Lol, thats exactly why Bell did it. I guess we’re also ignoring that Barnhart is handling the bat well.
One of the MANY things that just burns me up about David Bell!
Does he not understand that a manager does not have to double switch EVERY TIME. It is possible to just use a pinch hitter.
Bell gives away another one on a night when Mil & Chi have already lost. Bell & Garrett cost Mahle his last start (against AZ) as well. Bell is beyond embarrassing. Maybe the Reds should replace Bell with an AI program. Machines learn. Bell doesn’t.
Maybe Tony Stark left one for us. LOL
I am only following through game day, and that whole sequence was painful, can only imagine seeing it live on TV, things were looking up. Maybe they can pull it out but I’m going to bed.
It was as painful as you imagined.
Da Wink.
I feel much more confident … knowing AG can’t be in for the bottom of the 10th.
Antone better close it out … I don’t have any faith in Doolittle, either.
Good vibes only bats 4th and strands 6 more today
Count on AG with another game blown because we want his confidence to go up
David Bell ball folks!
Gotta love Jesse Winker!
Okay. We’ve got the lead again. Someone kidnap DB until the game is over. 🙂
Let’s see. Bottom of the 10th, Doolittle time?
Winker comes through! Can Amir G come in to the game, and try for another save in the bottom of the 10th?? Can we make an exception to the rule? Amir G needs more work to try to get right….I am being sarcastic of course! Why not put Amir G on the DL, that way he can practice in the bullpen, and if the Reds management sees him improving (if he can improve) during practice, THEN bring him into a game!
LOL.
Doolittle is still avaiable.
Antone absolutely needs to close this out, even if that knocks him out of pitching the rest of this series.
Yep. We have to WIN and then figure out the next day.
Would love to see how that conversation would go with AG. “Hey bud, youve been bad so we’re going to make up an injury and place you on the DL. Don’t tell anyone you’re not hurt, we’re gonna get you some bullpen practice in the meantime!”
This of course ignores that he probably already practices in the bullpen.
That all felt way too … desperate … for a game in April.
Much (much, much) needed win.
Poor Suarez looks lost. Doesn’t Bell realize he will be doing him a favor to give him some time off.
TJ hitting. Yeah!
I feel bad for Geno, almost 100 ab’s in and hitting about .130. I wonder if he can ever be the same player he was.
He just needs a better hitting approach and AWAY from SS,
He wants to hit 50 home runs. I knew that meant he’d strike out a ton trying this year but had no idea it would ruin him completely
Suarez , Senzel – both need to be sitting on bench. Horrid at the plate .
Well Bell messes with players minds more than he helps them figure things out. He’s been messing with Senzel since he got here.
Let’s see how Bell can mess this up ….
Bell should try some hit and run sometime. Especially with the lead, Nick on first and no outs. Guess waiting for that Geno Homerun.
Sorry about the grammar! Its late and I want a win!
Don’t worry about it. We’re talking baseball not taking an English exam!
Come on Tejay….have to have this game!
He did it! Goodnight Everyone
I think we won…did we win? 🙂
Big win! Bell fired every bullet he has and one 6’5 blank, but atleast we won a game.
Its fun to watch Winker and Castellanos do their thing! Perhaps Shogo can get on base regularly in front of them? Or Naquin maybe? He’ll draw some walks. I’m just not sold on Senzel over those guys, but if Winker is going to pop a bunch of HRs then I don’t want him leading off.
Agreed he is the 3 hole hitter!
Fitting the game ended on another blown strike call. What an awful zone tonight.
Got one. Great job by Mahle. Winker, and Antone. Extremely poor job by Garrett. Is Antone the closer now? It’s surely not Amir and Sims pitched the 6th and 7th today.
Also Suarez needs a day off… or perhaps several. His body language is starting to match his recent performance. Let him watch a couple of games.
Nice job ! – pulled Bell out of the fire . Not letting that guy off the hook though . He is an absolute joke of a manager – complete joke ! Tired of his terrible in game management costing this team wins . Inexcusable
TJ closes the door and shutters the windows. Nice finish.
Well put.
Much needed win.
y was my post taken down?
It wasn’t taken down. It never went up. First time commenters must have their comment approved by a moderator before they get “free access” to post.