The Cincinnati Reds needed 12 innings to pick up the win last night, but they got it done. At 3:10pm ET this afternoon they will go for the series split after a rough start on the road against the Colorado Rockies.
Starting Lineups
Cincinnati Reds
|
Colorado Rockies
|
| Nick Senzel – 3B | Raimel Tapia – LF |
| Nick Castellanos – RF | Connor Joe – 1B |
| Tyler Naquin – CF | Trevor Story – SS |
| Eugenio Suárez – SS | Ryan McMahon – 2B |
| Tyler Stephenson – C | Garrett Hampson – CF |
| Shogo Akiyama – LF | Josh Fuentes – 3B |
| Kyle Farmer – 1B | Yonathan Daza – RF |
| Jonathan India– 2B | Dom Nuñez – C |
| Jeff Hoffman – SP | Antonio Senzatela – SP |
Starting Pitchers
Jeff Hoffman
After spending give years pitching for Colorado, Jeff Hoffman will face off against his former team with the hopes of getting a series split. He’s been roughly league average through seven starts, posting a 4.70 ERA (97 ERA+) in 30.2 innings with 30 hits, 15 walks, and he’s struck out 27.
For Hoffman, he’ll be looking to rebound as he has struggled the last three times out and hasn’t reached the 5th inning during any of his starts in that span. Hoffman has held both lefties and righties to a .782 OPS this season. He’s gone about it very differently, though – lefties have 10 walks and just 9 strikeouts against him, but they aren’t hitting for much power. Righties have just 5 walks and have struck out 18 times against him in fewer plate appearances, but they’ve shown more power against him.
Pitch usage from 2021
| 4-Seam | Slider | Curve | Change Up | |
| Velo | 93.6 | 82.3 | 77.3 | 85.1 |
| Usage | 53.7% | 16.2% | 17.9% | 12.2% |
Antonio Senzatela
After a strong season in 2021 over 12 starts with the Rockies where he posted a 3.44 ERA, Senzatela has struggled this year as he’s posted a 5.97 ERA (77 ERA+). He doesn’t miss bats, but he doesn’t walk many hitters (11 walks and 22 strikeouts in 34.2 innings). He’s a high ground ball rate pitcher, but has had a high home run rate.
Both righties and lefties are hitting over .300 against him. Righties have posted a .302/.357/.556 line against him in 71 plate appearances. Lefties are sitting at .301/.356/.470 against him but with 6 walks and just 8 strikeouts in 90 plate appearances.
Pitch usage from 2021
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Slider | Change |
Curve | |
| Velo | 94.3 | 93.2 | 86.0 | 86.1 | 78.4 |
| Usage | 47.3% | 1.2% | 38.5% | 10.2% | 2.8% |
When and Where
- Game time: 3:10pm ET
- Where: Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio (formerly Fox Sports Ohio), MLB.tv
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 63°, Scatted Thunderstorms, 55% chance of rain
News and Notes
Amir Garrett is back, Winker gets a day off
The suspension is over for Amir Garrett and he’s available today in the Reds bullpen. Jesse Winker is just getting a day off today.
Nick Castellanos gets the best advice from a fan in Colorado
Castellanos found a way to slander Manfred without getting fined LMAO pic.twitter.com/c2wrt8mheK
— alex (@alexndr_92) May 16, 2021
The Farm System is rolling in starting pitching
Over at RedsMinorLeagues.com this morning I took a look at some of the performances from yesterday’s games, but also noticed just how good the starting pitching as been in the minors. Every single starting rotation for the Reds four farm teams has an ERA under 3.00. Go give it a read and check out all kinds of fun notes from around the system.
NL Central Standings
Playoff odds via Fangraphs
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff % |
| Cardinals | 23 | 17 | 0 | 43.8% |
| Brewers | 20 | 20 | 3.0 | 47.7% |
| Reds | 18 | 19 | 3.5 | 17.5% |
| Cubs | 18 | 20 | 4.0 | 16.3% |
| Pirates | 17 | 22 | 5.5 | 0.4% |
Reds get a win today and a cards loss at SD and reds only 1 behind Cards in the loss column and ahead of the rest of the Nl central in loss column with giants/brewers coming to GABP
Win the series and get out of Coors.
Tie the series- win the road trip
Can’t win the series. Hope for a split.
I have seen enough of Hoffman. Groove it on an 0-2 count. Package him and home run Castillo for anything.
There is a theory that it is especially difficult to play at normal elevation on the day after a Coors Field trip, so I suppose if you had to give Winker a day off, this is as good a day as any. But this leaves a lineup that is ordinarily very lefty-heavy with only two LH hitters against what appears to be a hittable RH pitcher.
They are going to need at least 2 IP out of Amir Garrett today, and hope that the bullpen’s B-team can give them 2 serviceable innings.
Suarez creeping back up to 4th. Needs to be batting sixth.
Would have liked for he and Farmer to switch positions today.
As in SS and 1B
Probably gonna have to score 5+ to win this one.
With Hoffman starting today, both the offense and bullpen shall take a step forward.
Interesting line up, Senzel starting at 3rd. Glad to see Bell got a little out of comfort zone, though I’m not sure Suarez at #4 slot makes a lot of sense.. It really needs to click today with SF coming up, Glad to see Winker getting a rest after yesterday.
Geno anywhere from 7th to 9th makes sense right now. Farmer is more consistent.
Hoffman starting out on a Hoffman note.
HP umpire definitely did not help Hoffman out. That alone continues to frustrate me. Zero consistency. Nothing like the “book” says to call it. And games get altered as a result. It’s well past time …
Ump didnt help Senzel out either. Hoffman needs to stop the walks. Especially 4 pitch walks.
That pitch to Senzel was a ridiculous call.
Agreed on Hoffman going deep in the count an putting himself in a position where they ump decides for him.
I don’t dislike umpires.
But I hate bad umpiring.
And just as I dig on Geno, he does that to lead off the inning. Let’s score this inning, guys.
Double to right. I would love to see more of that from him.
Keep digging ! Lol
Although it’s worth pointing out that Suárez has the most AB and most games played on his team, and leads it in strike outs.
But his OPS is second to last behind Akiyama who just started playing last week.
Hoffman has good breaking stuff and fastball 94-96. What else do you need to be a decent 4th-5th starter? He just gets behind too many people. I guess they just hang with him. What else are they going to do? Evidently Antone is a reliever for now so maybe Lorenzen provides a backup plan for Hoffman or Castillo?
Suarez has best gap to gap power since votto in his prime and Adam Dunn before that.
Easy double off right center fence. Why he tries to pull the ball I dont know. If he simply swings at strikes only and hits the ball where its pitched, hes a good hitter
Exactly. He did that all the time a few years back and was hitting with good average and drawing walks. Then the home run got into his head.
That’s got to be a monkey of Shogo’s back. Add to that the catch from yesterday, and maybe he’s ready to settle in.
TySteve tried the whole AB to hit behind the runner.
Said it before, but I love his approach.
His catch tool needs to get better though.
The good work comes pays off as Geno scores on the infield single by Shogo.
“ His catch tool needs to get better though.”
So should he be the heir apparent at 1b then?
Depends on if Kolozsvary ends up being the real deal this year I think. And—ideally he does improve and sticks at C
Winker at 1st
Stephenson will be fine at catcher for the next 6 years.
I can dig it
Ruined a 3-0 count from a struggling pitcher. Too bad.
One of the biggest pet peeves I have is based dealing with 2 outs. It’s so unnecessary.
Speak-to-text error… I meant “base stealing”
+1000
Shogo has to go there though? Their catcher was 0-15 and Coors gives up a million bloop singles. Now in gabp I agree unless the hitter has no power.
Stephenson, Senzel, and India consistently hit opposite field. Now Castellanos is going that way as well.
I love the opposite field approach. Reds added a run by going opposite.
Crush the shift!
Im going to give David bell and Nick Krall credit for attempting the Suarez SS trial -its mostly failing- but also letting India get a legit shot and playing Senzel at 3b and 2b based on injury situations
This is watchable baseball when 3 top 15 picks age 25under in india 2b Senzel 3b and Stephenson C are all playing . Ill take this sunday lineup
Agree with that.
I was also rather intrigued with the lineup but then I noticed that it changes quite a bit over each game. Granted there are a few injuries now but guess how many people have batted in the same spot and played the same position in at least 3 of the last 5 games (all against RH pitchers of bad teams).
[4,5: 0; 3: just 1] India at 2B and batting 8th.
Regarding Suarez, he has batted 4th or 5th in about 80% of his ABs with a (more than) dismal .126 average. At 6th, he is 5 for 13 (.384).
+500
OK, Hoffman handled the first 3 innings well enough. Pitch count isn’t obnoxious at this point either. Let’s put some more crooked numbers up here and keep the pressure off him.
Just listened to that post-game interview clip. Very good stuff! And spot on.
https://twitter.com/CincyShirts/status/1393987856364982273?s=01
T-shirt “LEGEND”
Watching Geno shake that hand … who else remembers the “freeze spray”? A substance now banned in 278 countries world wide. 🙂
Didnt realize they banned it. Back in my day they just rubbed dirt on it.
I’m pretty sure it’s banned. Can’t begin to imagine what was in it that did the job that quickly.
Was that DMSO?
0-2 pitch so lets go down-n-in to a lefty. For the 1000th time this year.
And then it all starts to unravel. Possible rain-out looming and if they pile on here, we may not get a chance to tie it up or go ahead.
And the walk comes around to score.
Like many before me have said, walks come back to haunt as cheap runs!
HOffman B- arm D results. He’s been around long enough that he is what he is. He’s better then the Fulmer, Romano, DeLeon types but I don’t want him in my rotation
Not when a guy in the bullpen has good enough stuff to be your ace.
Maybe … I was just ready to push pause. Got a glimmer of hope here if they overturn it.
Go ahead. It’s 4-0 again anyway.
The retreaded tires of Hoffman are bald already
Joe West had a clear and easy view of that foul ball–and called it fair.
He’s awful
Yes but he’s vested
Untouchable
Time to hit pause after all. Terrible fielding play.
Ok time to check the score later. I’m worn out with losing every adjective game that Castillo & Hoffman pitch. I already know the light-hitting Giants are going to launch a bunch of hrs in gabp like they always do.
Terrible arms in left and center today and Rockies know it. Not to mention the pitchers terrible arm.
Missed call on obvious strike 3 is going to kill the Reds today.
Bring on Robo Umps.
See above lol
This team just can’t get out of its own way.
CF?
Naquin screws it up
Senzel would’ve caught it, but then he’d end up in full body cast
Shogo would’ve also caught it, but he’s about to be suspended by the animal cruelty society for killing worms with every at-bat
Hoffman doesnt have a put away pitch and isnt a major league pitcher. Time to stretch out Antone and put him in the rotation
Thus also in tyler naquin doesnt have an arm . 2 hopper on a shallow fly center and then turns an out into a double
Call me old school but you need a strong starting 5 , power hitters at the corner infield and OF and strong D up the middle. This team has 3 starters and no SS and no real CF
Reds simply cant take that step forward
“This team has 3 starters and no SS and no real CF”
Well the owners get what they paid for right?
I got optimistic with the fast start and that’s why this stuff disappoints. We all just want our Redlegs to win, no matter how we end up expressing it
Hoffman has walked 3 so far! All three (3) batters who walked have scored! Imagine that! Even bad teams take advantage of gifts!
I can already hear the David bell excuses in the post game conference.
Time to give Santillan or Gutierrez a shot Hoffman has earned his demotion to AAA
This is still a winnable game. Let’s just hope Bell uses Hendrix, Garrett and Hembree before Doolittle and Perez.
They could always use Garrett as an opener like Tampa has used a couple of their lefties in recent years. It might make it easier for Hoffman & Castillo. Antone is one obvious option, but I get the feeling they don’t think he can get more then 3 innings.
IDK, but dropping 3 of 4 to this sorry pitching staff is inexecusable. They need to rally!
They have arms to try in the minors and Lorenzen might be back before too long.
This Rockies starter looks like he might be a good AAA starter. Nothing special at all and the Reds just hit ground balls or weak pop-flys. Were they out all night partying? I’d like to think so. This is just so disappointing. I really thought they’d be better than this.
Is there anyone who thinks Hoffman should stay in the rotation? If the Reds are serious about winning and putting the best team out there- they cant start Hoffman.
Barring a comeback- this roadtrip is a huge setback in 2021
Hoffman done for the day. Five runs, five hits, three walks in four innings. I don’t want to hear about unearned runs or strikeouts. The walks came home to score and the Rockies hit the ball hard.
#AntoneForRotation
#HoffmanForBullpen
+1,000
He has no business in this rotation
Teeball game has broken out
What a f***** clown show! I’m done. I got yard work to finish.
The Rockies are 15-25, yes 15-25! Show some class! Looking like the Bad News Bears!
Very bad baseball being played by the Reds right now.
Clete out!
Shogo akiyama cant throw a ball 120 feet to 2b and cue the Benny Hill music from there
Dick Williams did a lot of damage with roster construction and payroll and the Dodgers trade.
Neither SHogo nor Naquin have an arm. Just pathetic. Naquin looked awful on that line drive. I’ve turned off the game. They look like they can’t wait to get home. Don’t even get me started on Hoffman. If he’s not sent to be a long man in the BP or just DFA, then the Reds mgmt has no clue.
Hoffman is not even an average 5th. starter. He should take over the role recently vacated by Romano. If AG has settled down and is centered in on pitching, then he can close and Antone should be moved to the starting pitching corps.
Story’s 4th strikeout. The Reds have to trade for him. He would fit in perfectly.
If they can get consistency like this from Garrett that will give them 5 relief pitchers they can count on. Perez, Fullmer and Doolittle need to pick it up or replace them.
This team lacks heart! It is evident by the effort on the simple things like throws in from the wimpy-armed outfielders not named Castellanos!
Would like to know the Reds record against teams with a losing record.
Please don’t confuse things like not having a strong arm with effort. The two things are not the same at all.
Yes and no
Naquin tried his best on that weak
Throw home and tried on his failed catch on a liner.
Shogo lobbed a lazy dying quail in to second with 2 runners on base that triggered a truly tee-ball play.
It was clearly an error of being passive and mentally lazy. This is MLB and not being able to complete a routine 120 foot throw from lf to 2b is not ok
I’m not confusing the two Doug, just frustrated with the lackadaisical play by some of the younger players! Are you watching the same game as I am? As a former baseball coach and player (2nd base), infielders are taught to come and meet the throws from the outfield and NOT let the ball bounce if possible! Bad things can happen when thrown balls bounce or short-hopped catch attempts are made!
Agree.
I was agreeing with Doug not Westrick.
Actually where Naquin failed on that throw home is doing a very poor job of lining himself up to make a strong throw with his momentum going forward. He had time to do that but didn’t. As a result the throw was “all arm”.
You are still confusing things. Lack of heart, not doing things fundamentally correct isn’t necessarily a lack of effort or “they aren’t trying” thing.
It’s very simple to say “that play wasn’t great” or “that could have been better” without calling into question ones effort. One can try very hard and give all that they have and still make mistakes, be them mental or physical.
Reds never hit on this road trip other then the first game against the Bucs.Oh sure they scored 8 after being down 10-0 and 6 after being down 8-2 but they got cookies to hit and they did.Lucky they won 2 games in extra innings or its a worse trip cause they were dominated by scrap heap starters.They have 2 guys that will give you a professional at bat in Wink and Casty and we are 7 or 8 under without them.In the first 2 games our starter was left in way too long just like today and we faced 6 Cy Young candidates all on the road.We got on the bus to go to the plane after they scored 5 in the 4th.Four hits in 7 innings against Cy Senzatela.Its the same team we always showcase on the road but the young guys got to play today so I am thrilled cause soon and very soon somebody will realize where the future of this team lies.As much as I want us to win its better if we get so far behind the Cards we are out of it by July 1 if we can see some more young players.
There is hope.They just brought in a guy with a 10 ERA.Cookie time.
If Senzel didnt swing at two balls out of the strike zone it would be 6-2 bases loaded and no outs. But hey it is what it is. I dont know what it is with relief pitchers and walks. Drives you nuts.
Rockie announcers: Senzel swings at 1st pitch 50% of the time…2nd behind Seager.
I’m fine with ambushing the 1st pitch….as long as it’s a strike. Senzel swings at a lot of junk it seems
Senzel needs to understand the pitcher couldn’t find the strike zone. He needs to take until he gets a strike.
That ball just hung up there for Suarez a second to long.
not quite on the barrel….looked close to the label on x-mo.
Wow…thought Jesse got all of that….so close.
Jesse didnt have a reaction like he got it all. Bummer
Doolittle’s in. Lord help us.
Here we go. Nice hit Senzel and Nicky 2 bases up.
You just can’t stop watching because this team DOES NOT give up.
Just put it in play, Geno
We are tied folks!
Crazy game
All the clear people need to be called back in. Lol
Clete*
I take back everything I said. Can’t believe they’ve come back in this game. They looked dead.
Our bullpen isnt as bad as the Rockies. Holy cow they are terrible
Incredible. Never quit!
Wild pitch….a new offensive weapon!
Yes and they are bringing in Antone.
Why Antone ? He faced the same batters last night.
Game!!!!! India can play 2nd period!!
High 5
Game ending DP….what a win!
Sympathy to the Cleters. They missed a helluva comeback.
Totally agree
Holy! This team gives me heart problems. Great win!
Don’t avoid the swear filter. Just say Holy Crap.
Hi Doug. I wondered if my masking was sufficient enough lol. Now I know. Won’t happen again.
That was big! Great comeback. Needed a split at least.
Holy guacamole! I would like to “circle back” on every negative post I made today! Huge comeback win! Nice job by the bullpen to allow only one (1) run! Sometimes better to be lucky than good but today the bullpen was excellent! Makes the trip back home a lot better! Whew!
Didn’t turn it off but had to leave the room and hide for 5 minutes with Geno up and the game on the line, haha. Creeped back just in time to see them go ahead! And what an amazing DP! Redlegs!
A “back door Clete” 🙂