The Cincinnati Reds got an unexpected off day on Sunday after rain and snow postponed the finale of The Ohio Cup until August. The Reds are still on the road and today they’ll begin a series against the last place Pittsburgh Pirates at 6:35pm.
Starting Lineups
Cincinnati Reds
|
Pittsburgh Pirates
|
| Nick Senzel – 2B | Adam Frazier – 2B |
| Jesse Winker – LF | Bryan Reynolds – CF |
| Nick Castellanos – RF | Ka’ai Tom – LF |
| Mike Moustakas – 1B | Phillip Evans – 1B |
| Tyler Naquin – CF | Jacob Stallings – C |
| Eugenio Suárez – 3B | Wilmer Difo – 3B |
| Tucker Barnhart – C | Troy Stokes Jr. – RF |
| Kyle Farmer – SS | Kevin Newman – SS |
| Tyler Mahle – SP | Mitch Keller – SP |
Starting Pitchers
Tyler Mahle
After a tough outing the last time he was on the mound, Tyler Mahle will look to avoid pitching in the home run derby that his last start turned into (that was the 10-home run game between the Reds and Cubs).
Depending on which side of the plate a hitter stands on you are going to see drastically different results with Tyler Mahle on the mound. Right-handed hitters are basically Mike Trout, posting a .326/.380/.674 line against him. Left-handed hitters are basically a pitcher, posting a .123/.230/.185 line against him. So far this season managers haven’t stacked the lineups with righties, but maybe they should consider it for now (he’s faced 74 lefties and just 51 righties).
Pitch usage from 2021
| 4-Seam | Splitter | Slider | |
| Velo | 94.5 | 87.4 | 87.2 |
| Usage | 55.4% | 12.2% | 32.4% |
Mitch Keller
It’s been a tough start to the season for Mitch Keller. Through six starts he’s posted a 6.29 ERA in 24.1 innings with 15 walks and 24 strikeouts. He is coming off of a strong start, though, throwing 5.2 shutout innings in San Diego.
Lefties and righties are both OPS’ing over .800 against Keller this year. Righties aren’t hitting for much average, but they’ve hit for power as they’ve posted a .239/.327/.478 line against him. Lefties are hitting .294/.393/.490 against him and have one fewer walk than they have strikeouts against him. Keller has big home/road splits this season. He’s made three starts at home and hitters have hit .362/.456/.617 against him with 9 walks, 10 strikeouts, and his ERA is 10.13 at PNC Park.
Pitch usage from 2021
| 4-Seam | Slider | Curve | Change Up | |
| Velo | 94.5 | 87.5 | 78.6 | 90.8 |
| Usage | 57.4% | 20.0% | 18.3% | 4.3% |
When and Where
- Game time: 6:35pm ET
- Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio (formerly Fox Sports Ohio), MLB.tv
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 58°, cloudy, 1% chance of rain
News and Notes
No Toddfather
Todd Frazier was designated for assignment prior to the game tonight by the Pittsburgh Pirates. That means that the Reds are going to miss out on facing off against their former third baseman. That’s not good news for Cincinnati as Frazer was 3-35 on the season.
Todd Frazier has been DFAd by the Pirates. Ben Gamel will be activated for tonight’s game.
— Jake Crouse (@JakeCrouseMLB) May 10, 2021
Wade Miley wins NL Player of the Week
Pitching a no-hitter earns you Player of the Week honors.
Congrats to @JMeans25 & Wade Miley!
(MLB x @chevrolet) pic.twitter.com/SnoHf1Dtcz
— MLB (@MLB) May 10, 2021
NL Central Standings
Playoff odds via Fangraphs
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff % |
| Cardinals | 21 | 14 | 0 | 45.3% |
| Brewers | 19 | 16 | 2.0 | 55.1% |
| Cubs | 17 | 17 | 3.5 | 16.3% |
| Reds | 15 | 16 | 4.0 | 15.5% |
| Pirates | 14 | 19 | 6.0 | 0.3% |
Suarez down to sixth playing 3B. Getting closer. 🙂 Farmer at SS again. Hmm
Some folks showing up on the road would help the Reds enormously, especially against inferior competition.
Like Good Ol’ Tuck. Barnhart has struck out on the road in 15 of his 33 plate appearances.
45.5% K rate. Good times.
Per Doug’s post today … This feels like a week that we could be pointing to in October, if the Reds come up a win or two short of the playoffs.
Go Redlegs.
I wanted to see Todd Frazier
Oh well
Let’s score some runs
Now squeeze Votto in there at the 6 hole before Suarez when he gets back and we got what I would consider probably our best lineup. Maybe shuffle some guys around above them when Shogo, India, and Stephenson are in the lineup, but I like Votto 6 and Suarez 7. It should be easy to do if they run with this for a few weeks as long as Votto is game when he gets back.
We go down on 6 pitches and Mahle throws 8 and walks the first hitter.We are just dumb as dirt as far as a baseball team.Gone for tonight.Wasting my time.
Mahle walked the first batter.
I can’t watch just checked Gameday on my phone which doesn’t show the pitches history.
Is he getting squeezed? If so that’s bad news because it steals his game from him
No, he’s doing what he often does: getting ahead and then not wanting to throw another strike until it’s 3-2. He’s his own worst enemy.
Bummer
Geno!! The other way with power! We have to hope something clicks?
Of course Mahle hangs a breaking ball and gives it right back. I’ll keep saying it! We should skip Hoffman (and Castillo) with all these days off, otherwise you have Mahle pitching on 8 days rest like tonite. Thats wayyyyyyy too much! They have to keep them in a rhythm one way or the other.
Man just getting a look at this Pirates lineup and it has more unknown players than the 2007-2009 teams before Clint Frazier managed!
Please Reds don’t humiliate yourselves with these guys
Of course I like the Suarez HR but it worries me that it’s all he will be thinking about again. He needs to think “be a good hitter” first and just let the HRs just come.
Maybe he’ll notice he hit a home run by NOT pulling the ball, he’ll become more willing to hit the other way, and his batting average will rise 150 points in the next few weeks. Maybe.
Mahle to me looks like he just doesn’t concentrate at times. He’s too good to be doing that.
Pitched last Sunday….8 days off. Nobody can stay sharp like that.
Senzel hits some rockets, but he doesn’t seem to get any lift on them? You have to get some of them over the infield to do damage. I don’t think he’s a leadoff hitter despite good wheels. Naquin takes pitches and can hit it out of the park or try Shogo.
I like the one two punch of Winker/Casty at the very top coming up as much as possible while they’re hot at least. Potential to score a run every time.
I agree! Throw first pitch strikes and stop nibbling! Again, no defense for a walk! Playing with fire and running up the pitch count!
Senzel with a hesitation halfway down the line, before he tried running harder…..too late then Nick.
I liked the 2 strike hitting approach though.
I liked the hard hit the other way too on two strikes.
An already crappy Pirates lineup is missing Moran, Polanco, and Hayes. C’mon, we HAVE to beat these guys.
NO excuse for these walks by Mahle.
+1,000
You have to think that Frazier’s career is probably finished, unless he can get another minor league deal with a completely non-contending team like the Tigers or Orioles. It’s a shame if it’s true.
He’s only given up one run, but this is just painful to watch. A bunch of minor league hitters and Mahle is determined to get them out by hoping they’ll swing at balls. More often than not he’s hitting the target, but the target is off the plate or low. I just don’t understand this approach.
Good hit by Moose
Bloop … walk … oppo field hit … run.
Great setup for big inning.
Keller might press and make a mistake.
One of Naquin’s HRs would be good here ….
I’ll take that, too.
Keep rollin’
I have to think if the Reds can find a taker for Akiyama’s contract they’ll trade him.
Akiyama for Story straight up? Gives the Rockies a piece for the future and gives Akiyama the potential for more doubles in Colorado’s outfield.
haha I don’t know if it will happen but I’d be good with that.
Or do the Giants need an outfielder? If they are still contenders near the deadline, could they use him?
Dudes at bottom of order showing up to bust game open.
Good to see.
Nice hitting Moose and Naquin….3-1
Come on Suarez. Get a run in.
Nope smh
Interesting that the Pirates still have a couple of sections of outfield seats covered by tarps with advertising. Wonder if they figured they’d make more money from advertising than by selling seats there given the team’s expected performance and lack of attendance.
Tucker! Nice.
Dudes at bottom of order showing up to bust game open.
Good to see.
Huge hit by Tucker….needed those 2 runs.
If Barnhart is not the future then NOW is the time to trade him while he’s hitting the ball and coming off a gold glove.
You need 2 catchers
Reds have perfect catching scenario- veteran GG lefty and big power righty young gun with 1b and DH in the future
Tucker has 7.5 million option 2022
Renegotiate to 2 year 10 mil guaranteed 2022/23.
I’m not saying they shouldn’t necessarily. I am saying I doubt Big Bob will. So IF he won’t then now is the best time to trade. His (Barnhart) value probably won’t be higher.
I wander how much value Farmer would have on the trade market.
2 heifers, a bag of seed corn and an antique plow
Much more value if 1983 when Farmers night every year at Riverfront in late july
hahaha Come on now. He probably has some value.
Wow. Mahle walks. Top of the order. Could use a couple more. By far the best inning by Reds hitters in nearly a week!
Big inning against a bad team.
Get back to .500
Bell in his pregame radio indicated Naquin was playing really well and sometimes guys like Shogo coming back from injury need to work their way back in and shogo will get some starts but he actually said… sometimes things change.
It would be appear against RH pitchers naquin is the starting CF
2010 and 2012 reds destroyed bad teams. Nothing wrong with that.
Maybe RLN will slow down on referring to Naquin as a 4th OF/scrub, etc. The guy is pretty good vs rhp! Just missed the LF line then peppered one down in the RF corner.
I’d still like to see them phase Shogo in there somewhere. Jesse should keep practicing 1B. Lets face it…..any righty with a good slider is going to mow down Suarez just like they mowed down Duvall when the Reds try to run him out there while he was struggling.
KYP….know your personnel!! Winker to 1B and Moose back to 3B vs tough righties.
Shogo in the OF
He is a 4th OF/Scrub.
That is who he has been his whole career. He is age 30.
IF he is re-defining himself after 6 weeks in 2021 … great.
He should never take an at-bat away from Senzel … and right now, he isn’t.
If Senzel were to stay at 2nd … Reds are running with Naquin/Shogo in CF.
Lots of contention-window future in those two. /s
His career ops is higher then Senzel’s? Maybe he’s just a late bloomer? He’s had alot of injury issues too. Senzel has 1 gabp hr that blooped over the wall, but thats been it.
Maybe it should be Shogo vs Naquin for playing time anyway?
Nick senzel is the new leadoff hitter
Puts it in play
Walks
Doesn’t strike out
Runs
Shogo is the perfect leadoff guy in my books. I’d be happy SA, NS, JW, NC as the 1,2,3,4 two guys who can run the bases, before 2 guys that can clear the bases.
Good ABs by Senzel tonight. Looks like a hitter.
I dont get the Senzel worship on this site. Injuries may have zapped whatever potential he had – but so far he’s the most over-hyped prospect since Jurickson Profar.
Career .245 hitter with little pop or speed and he’s 26yrs old next month. Oh and those OBP worshipers – he’s at .315.
He’s a slightly better version of Kyle Farmer but Farmer can play SS and is a 3rd C. The only difference is he hasnt reached his age-27 season. He may have a breakout like Winker this year at age 27, but Winker was far and away better than Senzel at the same ages.
I’m afraid Farmer, Shogo, Senzel, Naquin are all versatile interchange-able role players. That’s okay – you have coverage from injuries and can play the hot hand.
Senzel has been hitting it pretty well lately! 1-4 tonite with 2 rbis, but that 2nd at-bat was a screamer to the 1B for a double-play. Personally I think Naquin is better at this point, but he can run and his walk to K ratio this year is 8 to 10. Thats pretty good! I think with the way Senzel sprays the ball around that he could be a .280 hitter (.360ish obp). He’s better and younger then Shogo and you could look at a guy like Whit Merrifield to find an example of a late bloomer. Senzel just can’t stay healthy. We don’t know what we haven’t seen yet.
If you really were Corky Miler you would know that Senzel is a ball player. This team doesn’t have many, if any but him that are true ball players.
And if you have to ask what I mean by a ball player, I know you aren’t Corky
Well, there’s been a lot of criticism of Senzel here so I don’t know what you mean by worship. He’s far too young to think that injuries have zapped his potential. Last season he was out with COVID, don’t consider that the same as I would an on-field injury. Some of us think he has value and will continue to improve over the next several seasons. That’s not worship.
Came home from dinner out to see we’re up 7-1 (knew it was 1-1 at the restaurant). Saw some of our guys were getting it done. Mahle walking too many. And got to watch Geno look at a very hittable strike 3 to end an inning.
Then the blooper 2B and poorly played 1B. At least it’s 2 outs now. Dial it in, please.
I like this Tom guy! If only every opponent had a 5’8 Star Wars nerd hitting .150 batting 3rd…..lollllllllllllll
Played at UK
(That’s University of Kentucky for those across the big pond lol)
Reds doing what they need to on the road against a last place team
Mahle getting it done and offense getting it done
No shame in beating bad teams badly.
Thats what good teams do
Still, four (4) walks by Mahle in 5.1 innings! A better team would have turned those walks into runs!
The Reds should give Hoffman a few innings tonite and skip him in the rotation. We have a chance to sweep and Bell could throw Sonny and Miley out there on regular rest for the next two. At that point Castillo could actually get out there and pitch on 4 days rest like a normal starter. I truly believe thats part of his problem. Luis hasn’t pitched on 4 days rest yet!
I heartily agree with this.
I don’t mind skipping the 5th in a rotation, but I believe Castillo’s issues are more than having too much rest. The Reds also seem to be dead set on a 5 man, we could have skipped several starts so far this season.
I like your thinking and logic! So logical that the Reds management team, namely Bell, will completely ignore it!
Scratched out another one. Nice hustle down the line by Mahle.
Bell lets Mahle hit for himself with runners on the corners, then removes him after he gets one more out on 5 pitches. Winning just isn’t fun for Bell unless he’s found some way to over-manage.
Hey, just be thankful it wasn’t one of his double switches
He didn’t want to do all the over-managing in one inning. He sat on the double-switch until he had a 10 run lead.
Bell would be more effective with Ouija board!
Naquin! Monster shot.
Naquin got it it pretty close to Garrett-proof?
Naquin!
OK guys, don’t cash in all your chips tonight. We’ll need runs tomorrow, and the next day, and ….
Got to like that one by Naquin. Nice to have men on ahead of him.
Because then … Geno …
Naquin is the Reds 2022 RF, book it
Thats a really really good thought .
Bell basically said in pregame that Naquin has overtaken Shogo
Why? Because All Star castellanos is opting out and Naquin is starting Reds OF next year when Castellanos is in Boston or SF
Naquin is Ryan Ludwick 2.0
Which ain’t bad as long as he doesn’t blast his shoulder to smithereens on Opening Day 2022
Here comes AG. Hold it together, guys…
I’m a little nervous for Garrett right now. 1st game since the hubbub, and a lot of down time. His arm might be too fresh, hopefully he can stay calm and within himself.
if he can hold them to 8 or 9 we will be ok
And there’s the infamous Bell double switch. At least Suarez won’t strike out again. But Blandino instead of India? Really builds the kid up doesn’t he.
It’s time to send down India, and bring up Rodriguez. Have India play SS everyday in AAA, and let us see if Rodriguez can handle himself on the Reds.
I’m not convinced he’d adapt to it, even at AAA to learn the position. But I do agree if he isn’t going to play, he needs to go down.
I’m not either, but I’d rather have him try to adapt to it in AAA. There is no where for him to play today, it’s going to be more difficult when Votto comes back. So the only way I see him getting in regular playing time, without a slew of injuries, is at SS.
True enough about trying at AAA. My bigger beef would be the impact of jerking him around to different positions. But I agree his playing time will be limited.
I understand, and agree with the “jerking him around” sentiment. Some people are very mentally flexible, and some guys aren’t. I don’t know enough about India to say how he’d be. You tell Lorenzen we need you to be our SS for the rest of the year, and his reaction would be. I can do it, not that Lorenzen should be our SS. Just saying it is between the ears, I think India has show the physical ability to potentially play there.
I’d say this was a good night for AG. Fairly solid performance and left them stranded.
It was a nice night, he’s got to like sawing that bat off.
That was fun to watch the replays in slo-mo
Might as well finish with AG! He’s at 22 pitches thru 1.2 innings!
+100
Lifted for Pinch hitter.
Sal will finish it.
Pirates dugout when they see Big Sal is coming in …
“So you’re saying we have a chance?”
Oh good God! Would like to know what kind of compromising photos Big Sal has of Bell
Bet you one Kentucky Derby winner that Big Sal walks the first batter!
Not tonight, Dennis. Sal looks pretty locked in as he took them out in order.
Nice night of fun for all of us. See you all tomorrow.
Enjoyed being wrong about Big Sal tonight!