Wow, wasn’t that an emotional roller coaster between 1 and 2 a.m. Cincinnati time early today?
Instead of plummeting into the abyss of failed relief pitching outings, the Reds withstood Corey Seager’s late tying homer off Amir Garrett and rode Jesse Winker’s power to an important win. Tonight at 10:10 p.m. Cincinnati time, the Reds will try to win back-to-back games against the home-standing defending World Champions and presumptive best team in baseball, Los Angeles Dodgers.
It’s an important start for Jeff Hoffman, against a team that has routinely teed off against him in this very stadium.
Starting Pitchers
| Name | IP | ERA | FIP | K% | BB% |
| Jeff Hoffman | 20.1 | 2.66 | 3.83 | 19.0% | 8.3% |
| Walker Buehler | 25 | 2.16 | 3.09 | 22.1% | 1.1% |
Hoffman has been a very pleasant surprise in the early going for Cincinnati. So far, he has assumed a role similar to Tanner Roark when he was a Red — go no further than two times through the batting order. His statistics are much better than anyone could have realistically hoped for after the difficulty of his time in Colorado.
Buehler … Buehler … Buehler … What more can you say? The guy is an ace-caliber pitcher who this year has struck out 22 batters for every walk issued. The Reds will need to stay close, because he is not likely to give them many opportunities.
Bullpen
We probably won’t see Tejay Antone tonight after his late-game heroics Monday. Lucas Sims, maybe, after 32 pitches in an inning and two-thirds last night. It will be fascinating to see how Manager David Bell manages the situation tonight if his bullpen is in a position to try to hold a tie or lead late.
Starting Lineups
| Reds | Dodgers |
| LF Jesse Winker | RF Mookie Betts |
| RF Nick Castellanos | SS Corey Seager |
| 1B Joey Votto | 3B Justin Turner |
| 3B Mike Moustakas | 1B Max Muncy |
| CF Tyler Naquin | C Will Smith |
| 2B Alex Blandino | CF Chris Taylor |
| C Tucker Barnhart | 2B Gavin Lux |
| SS Kyle Farmer | LF Matt Beaty |
| P Jeff Hoffman | P Walker Buehler |
With righthander Buehler pitching, Reds Manager David Bell gave Eugenio Suarez and Jonathan India the day off. Judging by Suarez’s recent performance and the numbers immediately below, Bell made a good call.
Comparatively, Dodgers hitters have been facing Hoffman for years while he was pitching in the National League West for the Rockies. There are not many batters Hoffman is likely to feel comfortable against, based on the numbers below. If he pitches well tonight against a team that traditionally rocks him, that’s another good sign.
Additional insights into the statistical history of the players in today’s game are available all season long at BaseballSavant.com.
News and Notes
Mike Moustakas has been activated from the 10-day injured list. Good to have Moustakas back.
It will be interesting to see if Hoffman can continue to pitch well.
The bats better score a bunch tonight. No Antone and likely no Sims. Hoffman 6 innings and 3 runs allowed seems like best case.
Garret should be a go today!
The Tomato woke up to good news this morning that the Reds won. Hope tomorrow morning has the same result waiting! No telling how late I can make it tonight but by 11pm it’s going to be time. Go get a series win boys!
That is how you start off a game! Go Wink!
Looks like the Cubs will fall tonight. A Reds victory and they are no longer in last place.
Farmer in – again no Senzel. Is Farmer in the long term plans for this team at least as much as Senzel? Don’t think so. There is no way anyone can convince me, at least untill I see it, that Senzel can’t at least play SS as good as Suarez (probably better). Is Farmer hitting a whole lot better than Senzel? Who has the potential to be a game changer at least with his speed alone? Who has the most overall potential? SMH I’m not against Farmer. I hope he goes 5 for 5 tonight.
At shortstop Farmer is much more in the long term plans than Senzel is.
I think you missed my point. 🙂
Adam Duval playing center field for Miami tonite makes a nice sliding catch. The guy is a great fielder.
He was always in the running for a gold glove with the reds. Good arm too.
I love me some Adam Duvall
Isn’t this a guy not good enough for our long term plans I cant remember.
He was a 30 yr. homer 100 rbi guy with gold glove defense. I liked him. He couldn’t hit much for average or have a high obp and lots of Ks which I didn’t like but for a LF he wasn’t bad. Good guy.
I just really like the guy, whether he plays well or not.
U of L baseball star, inspiration for kids that find out they have diabetes and then see that it doesn’t have to stop them from their dreams.
I don’t think he was part of the Reds’ long term plans. They got Lucas Sims for him—now he’s a different story…
Winker is a MONSTER!
Question: How hot is Jesse Winker?
According to the Cincinnati Reds hotter than 27,000,000° F.
https://twitter.com/Reds/status/1387229186507649026
hahaha It’s nice to see him that hot.
Hoffman reminds me of Gray, as he really competes. He’s tough. I can see why they wanted him, vs. Robert, who I always liked. Hoffman really competes. Teammates love that.
If there’s one thing we can say in David Bell’s favor that he has done for the Reds is the fact that he played a very large role in bringing Johnson here a pitching coach. He’s the best.
Yes. A similar profile is their vision for starting pitching.
Notice how Buehler is ahead of every batter? He just pumps in the strikes. Hoffman seems to be behind every batter. 1 inning sample size.
Hoffman seems confident and that means everything. I don’t think you can count on Hoffman & Miley to be sub 3.50 or whatever all year, but if one is 3.50ish and the other is 4.25ish then thats not bad.
Cool that Johnson was able to present Bauer with his award.
Buehler’s on pace for 1000 strikeouts tonight.
I have done the math and this checks out.
Nice snag by Votto. Another good inning by Hoffman.
I’m like this Hoffman. When Castillo and Gray come around, we will be looking good top to bottom in the rotation.
“I” not “I’m”. I wish I could edit comments 🙁
If one gets hurt we have Tejay to take over. SP looking good.
If there ever were a moment in this specific time, would there be anyone but Joey to walk against Bueler tonight?. It was meant to be.
Naquin was looking at first base on that strike out swing
Not sure you can win with a 2 man offense? That was a bad at-bat for Naquin. He has to shorten his swing and make contact there. Then they’ll come back home and have 6 guys swinging it, but the pen gives up 8 runs.
2 awful at bats in a row with second third and one out – pitiful – typical Reds
Hoffman continuously falling behind – not gonna end well for him
Dude can’t throw the ball over the plate – pathetic
That ain’t good.
92 right down the middle then 92 right down the middle. Thats why you’re a fringe guy. Well Buehler vs Hoffman is what it is. Kershaw is hittable.
Exactly ! Can’t get away with walking people and falling behind professional hitters – ain’t gonna cut it at this level
Right down Broadway. No major leaguer is missing that.
Not to mention Walks Walks Walks.
Well Suarez….but he would watch it go by.
Just Awful – knew it was coming a mile away
If the Dodgers score a few more runs in this game, then it’s a perfect game to get Garrett out there and work through it.
Get him out – tired of this walk-a- thon
5 walks and 1 hit (3 run homer) knew it would get bad after not scoring in the top half of the inning. Time to get some runs guys!
It was considering naming my next born child “Hoffman” and then that 3 run shot woke me up from my dream
I just hope AG has the night off
Tranquillo, let the Hoffman bounce back next inning. Let’s get those runs back against Buehler this inning.
Jim Day? What?
Wow are we going to finally see De Leon as a long man?
We have to play small ball. Have to score.
Good AB Tyler – RBI – #4 hitter potential
Winker is simply a professional hitter – guy just RAKES
Good thing Winker’s hot. 🙂
YES, nice ab. Fell behind 0-2 but was still able to put it in play and drive in a run. I like that kid.
Let me say it again … Winker is a MONSTER!!!
Tie game…Stephenson and who else…Winker
Good stretch by Votto
….and a pick. 🙂
Stay Hott Winker so much Fun.
Always had an advanced feel to hitting.
If can stay Healthy, He can put up some Nice Numbers.
Blandino standing up there like a statue ! SWING THE BAT !!!
Alex with 3 Ks tonight, those 3 strikes all called, got to swing to hit! His average dropping fast.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that with two ball “boys” in the way and one in the middle of left field play.
I was thinking after the Lux strikeout, might have walked the bases loaded to get Buehler out of game and maybe try for the double play. Have to try and rally again!
Umpire is terrible. Strikes are balls and balls are strikes. Oh wait its Angel Hernandez. Now I get it.
And ZERO accountability
DeLeon is worse than Garrett. Send him down or release him.
Suarez on deck. Double switch time?
Good job by Barn and Farm to get a run home.
Angel Hernandez. What can you say.
Well—on this site I can’t say anything appropriate to him without being banned lol
Horrible call right there ! Not even close – you can’t do any better than that then yea , put a robot back there – geeze that’s brutal
Need a Nicky longball right here.
VOTTO!!!!!
Finally, JV gets a hit when it matters. Almost like the old days. Alas Suarez struck out.
Votto nice needed that
Vintage Votto
time for Jeff Brantley to suit up
Oooh. Good catch Casty.
Let Fulmer go 2 and finish with Sims. No Garrett!
hahaha Sounds good but don’t count on it. 🙂
Whew! Breath everybody.
Sure would like to see a couple insurance runs…..
Worried about BP holding this Down.
Rightly so.
Mooose!
I’ll take Romano over Doolittle or Garrett.
Wow. Good job there Mr. Pitcher.
Is Bell going to put in Amir G in the 9th inning?
Bell gonna Bell ……bullpen mismanagement at its finest . Can’t help himself . Wow
Wait, how was it mismanaged?
Winker = MACHINE
Get us insurance, Nick
27 outs , 13 of them strikeouts!
Another good hit Wink! Had me worried there for a second he was gonna try for three. 🙂
Fingers ,Toes and eyes are crossed. Here we go.
what a call…strike 3 all the way
Woohoo! Doolittle is not doing little tonight so far. One more.
Hernandez is going to Hernandez. We’ll take it.
Awesome! Way to go Mr. Dooalot!
Maybe Doolittle can only Close. Who knows but I’ll take it.
awesome!
we are coming for you Pittsburg!
a blow out loss tomorrow would not even bother me
Two in a row from the mighty dodgers! Can the reds sweep? The top part of that lineup is awesome. Go reds!!
Someone bring the Broom for tomorrow, we might need it, Sweet! We have got to stop walking batters. 8 tonight and they only had 4 hits but 5 runs. Guess we have room for improvement. Goodnight everybody!!!!
First win for Hendrix, Congrats!
That puts us back at .500 right?
11-12, I think
So the Reds take the series, on the road, against the best team in baseball but had their rears kicked by AZ, one of the worse, at home? Unreal.
Another fine win. Jesse Winker is a one-man wrecking crew. Great to see Joey get off the schneid too. A chance to sweep the Dodgers? Maybe we’re good? I sure hope we don’t affix our gaze squarely at MLB forcing Lucas Sims to pitch in the sleet as a deciding factor in us looking up at Milwaukee at the end of the year.