The Cincinnati Reds (24-28) are riding high off a big 11-1 win yesterday. The Reds won consecutive games for the first time in two weeks. They will hope to make it three straight tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies (25-29) at 7:10 PM.
Well, everyone, there’s a new sign right at the front entrance of Great American Ball Park. pic.twitter.com/IXiqqaiOSR
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) June 1, 2021
Starting Pitchers
Sonny Gray is coming off a dominating performance against the Nationals (6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K). Gray only has two career starts against the Phillies (both coming in 2019), and he has a 3.09 ERA in 11.2 IP (3 BB, 10 K).
Since the start of 2018, Aaron Nolan ranks 6th in baseball in fWAR (12.8) among pitchers, just ahead of guys like Bauer, Kershaw and Greinke. He has a career 3.72 ERA in 6 starts against the Reds. The good news is the Reds beat him twice in 2019, and Nola actually has a 5.40 ERA over his last four starts this season.
Starting Lineups
| Phillies | Reds |
| 1. Odúbel Herrera (CF) 2. Jean Segura (2B) 3. Rhys Hoskins (1B) 4. J.T. Realmuto (C) 5. Brad Miller (RF) 6. Andrew McCutchen (LF) 7. Alec Bohm (3B) 8. Ronald Torreyes (SS) 9. Aaron Nola (P) |
1. Eugenio Suárez (3B) 2. Jesse Winker (LF) 3. Nick Castellanos (RF) 4. Tyler Stephenson (1B) 5. Tyler Naquin (CF) 6. Kyle Farmer (SS) 7. Tucker Barnhart (C) 8. Jonathan India (2B) 9. Sonny Gray (P) |
Nick Castellanos has an MLB high 17-game hit streak entering play today. He is hitting .455/.526/.697 during the streak. Castellanos leads the NL for the season in fWAR (2.8), AVG (.356), SLG (.638), wRC+ (183) and OPS (1.051).
Eugenio Suárez has reached base in all 6 games in the leadoff spot this season with a .958 OPS.
Mike Freeman was promoted from Triple-A Louisville prior to the game. Reliever Michael Feliz was placed on the injured list. Earlier in the afternoon the Reds promoted Cionel Pérez after they placed Max Schrock on the injured list.
Conclusion
There are still 110 games left in the 2021 baseball season. The way that Wade Miley continues to pitch should be very encouraging for Reds fans. If he can continue to be an above average pitcher, the Reds rotation is really good. Luis Castillo is going to figure it out. Tyler Mahle is a rising star. The Reds have plenty of quality options for the fifth spot. The Reds rotation is going to keep them in the race for the NL Central this season. Tonight, it is Sonny Gray’s turn to keep the line moving. Go Reds.
Per Cot’s contracts, the Reds own a $10 million option in 2022 on Miley. For a lefty change of pace strike thrower who induces weak contact and is in the conversation as an All Star- his contract suddenly seems team friendly and valuable
Even if the Reds drop out of it in the next month – Miley could have huge trade value at the deadline for a lefty pitcher controlled thru 2022 and pitching at an All Star level.
Go Reds and lets hope a 20-10 june is about to unfold.
@CTrent just tweeted the following
Reds placed RHP Michael Feliz on the injured list and selected from Louisville the contract of IF Mike Freeman
Freeman looks like an ultimate 4A guy. Nearly 34 years old he has been bouncing around the upper minors and MLB for a number of years. Listed as a 2B/3B/PH/DH. Lefty hitter. MLB career OPS slash in 347 PAs is .315/,330/.645; OPS + 71
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/freemmi01.shtml
We know DB likes lefties. 🙂
Just going to chime in here: There was no injury designation for Michael Feliz to the IL and we all know what that means. As such, players on the COVID injured list do not count towards a teams 40-man roster, which means that despite calling up Freeman and adding him to the 40-man, the team is still at 40.
Does that mean the Reds could have brought up Alfredo Rodriguez with no roster implications for a free cup of coffee?
Whoever is brought up would likely be DFA versus option when sent down; thus exposed to waivers and possible loss. Thinking Votto and Aquino possibly (likely) will be activated within 2 weeks. Particularly true with Aquino who is on the 60 day list and will require both a 40 man and 26 man spot to activate.
Curious they chose Freeman. Rodriguez would seem to be more useful. Oh well. Hopefully, Freeman will hit like 2020 Freddie.
Some hard hit stuff by Batman and Superman. Back to you, Sonny …
Nola looked good for all the talk about a slow starter. He was forced to display his full repertoire in the first.
So Joey’s in L’ville for up to 6 days on this homestand. Dayton has two 6-game homestands starting next Tuesday. If he needs more time, that would be the next destination I’m thinking.
Missed it by THAT much …
Sonny being relatively efficient to this point.
Time for our bats to wake up and do their thing.
AWAKE!
Naquin!!! 2 run shot!
That works … really works with TySteve on ahead of him.
Tyler Steve is a good hitter that will only get better. A REAL hitter. He should work out at other positions so he can spell people and keep his bat in the lineup like Johnny Bench did.
If he could hit like Molina, who constantly goes the other way, but pulls the ball with power when they come in on him, he will have a successful career.
+500
Farmer picking up where he left off yesterday.
Stephenson is hitting and playing defense better at first base than any Red in two years. How can you put Votto back in and put Tyler on the bench. Maybe Votto can play a couple times a week when Tyler and Tucker get a day off.
Yes you gave up a dinger. Don’t lose the pitcher because it’s in your head!
Is Grays streak of 6 hits or less still alive.?
No….ended 2 starts ago, I think
Yeah I looked it up. Pirates of all teams ended it.
Woah. Suarez looked like a hitter there instead of a K happy slugger. Good job.
That’s what I’d call an unlucky bounce off the mound.
Farmer did the best he could there but just not a real good SS. He makes the regular plays though.
He played that very well, and gave Stephenson a perfect long hop…. Stephenson just whiffed.
Farmer has played a solid to very good SS IMO.
Given his age and salary, sure he’s a valuable reserve at this point… but there just isn’t anyone better right now in the system, or affordable on the trade market.
AlfRod but he would need a roster spot.
Yep. Suarez needs to STAY at 3B. Good play.
Dandy D Geno!
Cards Ace Jack Flaherty out with significant oblique injury.
Cubs SP isnt anything
Brewers cant hit
Refs need to go now.
Sonny not sharp tonight! Nearing 100 pitches and not out of the 5th inning yet!
Same old Reds bullpen! Gotta walk the first batter faced,
look for Freeman in the 3 hole tomorrow
LOL. Good stuff.
Suarez really doesn’t like hitting with men on base. At least it wasn’t a DP.
Jump out 2-0, but Sonny didn’t have much tonite. Good game though and Nola doesn’t have much either! They have to find a way to grind out games like this!
Need a strong performance from the bullpen tonight and chip away at the one (1) run lead.
And now we’re really smoking in the dynamite room. Not sure how much more I’ll watch. I need to be up and around for my 8:15 meeting tomorrow.
Question from me is which Garrett do we see tonight?
Well, so much for Hembree holding the line!
Why did Bell use Brach yesterday in garbage time? He’s about as good as anyone they have except Antone. I just don’t see how this team ever makes a sustained run with this bullpen?
Another GABP / Coors Field East classic, I see.
Good thing the Phillies bullpen isn’t that good.
I struggle to count on AG
I see clearly why your struggle is real.
Yes, he does not inspire confidence this year — IN THE LEAST.
AG is just lost! Gets behind in the count and then throws a meatball. Hard to watch!
I honestly like him the best when he is suspended.
My wife told me that she would just lay off his slider and wait for a strike, if she figured that out the whole league knows it.
Karma? This game will humble anyone. You can’t hide.
This isn’t football where you can blame your offensive line, or the coach’s play calling.
This isn’t basketball where you can blame the refs and cry foul.
To AG’s credit, he just wore it. No antics after the K, no mouthing about the boos.
We need this dude and hopefully he grows from this experience. Good guy it seems.
AG is terrible. So sick of this bullpen.
The Clete is strong.
Apparently Bell is waving the white flag.
Good job guys! Took a one (1) run deficit and made it a blowout! Can’t catch the Cards, Cubs and Brewers by losing against a team like the Phils who have been struggling!
Its over brother. This team is never getting back to .500. They finish up 4 in red-hot SD on June 20. They’ll be double digits out. 9 games out at best. The time to look at the big picture will arrive in 3 weeks or less
What the … I had to be away from the radio for a while. When I left, the Reds were up 2-0 in the 3rd. Now the 6th and down 10-3?
!!!
This bullpen may drive me to drink.
May? When AG comes in I fire the blender up and get out the Jose Cuervo 1800!
Thanks for the tip.
AG comes in and batting practice begins!
Clete …
Like what are you doing when you’re not pitching. How are you not working on your stuff? Head-case or something else?
I miss Sal Romano.
“I miss Sal Romano” … the night the RLN Game Thread broke.
Lol where have you gone big Sally?
And there’s that classic Bell management that I pointed to on the other thread. Down by one, you don’t toss gasoline on the fire. Antoine & Sims can be used when the Reds are trailing. Foreign to Bell I know. I’m starting to question whether there’s any upside to Garrett – trade him, alive him, whatever.
Alive=waive. Apple autocorrect can be unfathomable. BTW, I expect Bell will clear the bench now.
Release Garrett. He’s done.
Blandino has a 0.00 ERA over 2.2 innings.
I’m not watching on tv tonight, is Blandino on the bench or is he in the bullpen?
Castellanos ain’t givin’ up….
… but it ain’t enough. Poo.
David Ross ex Red called Amir Garrets act garbage. At least robert Stephenson didnt talk trash as he got beat and didnt fight people.
Barry larkin said it. This is a fastball league and your slider isnt there if you dont have a fastball
It’s worth noting that Bell double-switched so he could leave Hembree in to start the 6th. That worked out about as well as every single one of us would have predicted.
They need to have a heart to heart with Nick C. If someone is going to give you quality return for a rental then they want them asap.
Man. Poor Amir has struggled tremendously (per the eye test) ever since the second half of 2019. At the same time, having Raisel as the closer (and the immense meltdown of poor David Hernandez) somewhat overshadowed Amir’s struggles. This year is something else though. Yikes.
AG era now 9.56
Anthony Rendon got $245 mil (35 per year)
Zero and I repeat zero % chance that the Reds pay Votto $25, Moose $16, and then pay Castellanos $160 mil/5 years or something. Not happening
Nick C and Wade Miley could get 2 top 100 mlb players at the AA/AAA level
See what happens at STL
But Suarez Castillo and Garrett showing zero signs of being All stars and leaders
0-1 in june after starting the month 4 under .500.
Mike freeman and Scott Heineman playing
Its getting late early
Perez….lol. Ball 8 ball 9. Juuuuuust a bit outside
This is insane to keep running him out there. I’m taking the week off from this dumpster fire
AG’s job going forward should be driving the bullpen cart if the REds have one! Knowing AG he’d probably wreck that too!
everyone knows AG’s slider is a ball, he lived on it when they were swinging at it and that ship has sailed long ago
Heineman, a career .187 hitter, why waste a roster slot? And it’s not like he’s young with a potential upside. At least Perez, who will likely walk the lead off batter, is only 25.
The bullpen is a dumpster fire of bad decisions. Of course Garrett and Sims have added gasoline to an already bad situation. Not sure it can be fixed by start of next year. If Antone did not pitch well we would be behind the Pirates.
How bad are the Louisville relievers if Perez is the guy they keep calling up?
I’m actually starting to be mystified and look forward to the train wreck out of the bullpen.
It’s so predictable at this point. Get your popcorn and watch the mutiny.
Where’s Stephen King when you need him!
Add Garrett to suarez and Castillo
Garrett was supposed to be best reliever with iglesias gone and Lorenzen injured. Garrett ERA near 10
Suarez supposed to be top hitter. Hitting.160 with negative WAR
Castillo worst starting pitcher in baseball
Bell just rotates AAAA players du jour
The starters are so in love with striking guys out that they will never go deep in games. Thus, they only go 5-6 innings per start max. If the Reds are teaching this philosophy, they should invest invest in quality bullpen arms to cover the rest of the innings. Alas, they took the cheap way out.
That’s a great point. I remember Brantley saying something the other day during the Cubs series about he’d rather have a pitcher that goes deep into the game but doesn’t get a ton of strike outs.
Now we know why Mike Freeman was called up … to finish up on the mound.
Well, at least Perez didn’t walk the leadoff batter!
Perez @36 pitches. Bell seldom lets a good reliever top 20. 6 hrs allowed so far. Sorry but those of you sticking up for Bell really have your work cut out for you. This game followed his usual pattern.
This will be the 6th time this season that the Reds have given up 10 or more runs.
One of these days Blandino’s going to get a win out of the bullpen.
I more suspect that his zero ERA will disappear long before the win arrives
maybe tonight
And there it is. HR #7. Tell me again why bad pitchers and non-pitchers are allowed a higher pitch game. This “modern game” is irritating
Bell is not to blame for Hembree and then Garrett just vomiting all over the mound.He is to blame for only using Antone and Sims in games we are ahead or tied.It was a winnable game down 4-3 going to the 6th and quickly it vanished while our best watch for the second straight day.He may not use them tomorrow or the next day but he could have tonight.May not have made any difference but you have to try don’t you?
Embarrassed twice now on your home field. Cringe worthy.
Now we know why Mike Freeman was called up … to finish up on the mound.
It was inevitable….slam.
If Geno didn’t lolipop that throw over to 1st on Janikowski there wouldn’t have been a slam. Not that it matters…Just a lazy play.
Wow, left for awhile ((Reds down 10-3} and while I was gone the Phillies scored another touchdown!
This is just plain embarrassing. And it’s happened more than once this year — at home.
REDS take opener, avoid the sweep
Bell should be fired for this debacle alone!
Well, certainly from the pattern of such games. This was hardly unique this year. When the game was close, the Phillies brought in a guy with a 0 era and the guy with the 6+ era once the game was a laugher. Bell takes the opposite approach. There’s a reason the Reds are 7-2 in extra innings. The game is tied, he usually goes with Antone/Sims. Trailing by1? Pour gas on the fire, let everyone play, and maybe Blandino can pitch again. Sorry, indefensible at this level.
Is the new manager going to bring in new players? Otherwise it’s not going to matter. The Reds have one good reliever and one solid reliever and then a whole bunch of gas cans covered in lighter fluid and matches.
Send a message I guess but the person who gets to make the call to fire him is the one who needs the message sent to them and no one can fire the ownership group.
True, though I contend the players are better than their performance.