The Cincinnati Reds (29-31) are coming off a disappointing series loss to the Brewers. The Reds will look to rebound starting tonight at 7:10 PM against the Colorado Rockies (25-38). The Reds enter play 5.0 games back in the NL Central (4 games back in the loss column).
Starting Pitchers
Tyler Mahle has a carer 5.91 ERA in 4 starts against the Rockies. However, earlier this year he had a brilliant start at Coors Field: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K.
Kyle Freeland has only made 3 starts this season as he has dealt with a shoulder injury. Freeland started the wild card game in 2018 for the Rockies following a spectacular season. He has been anything but that since. Freeland’s 5.79 ERA since the start of 2019 is the second worst of any pitcher in baseball with 175+ IP. Freeland has a career 7.76 ERA in 4 starts against the Reds. His last start against the Reds came in 2019 when Phil Ervin had 6 hits in the Reds wild 17-9 win.
Starting Lineups
Rockies
- Raimel Tapia (L) LF
- Brendan Rodgers (R) 2B
- Charlie Blackmon (L) RF
- Trevor Story (R) SS
- Ryan McMahon (L) 3B
- C.J. Cron (R) 1B
- Yonathan Daza (R) CF
- Dom Nunez (L) C
- Kyle Freeland (L) P
Reds
- Jonathan India (R) 2B
- Jesse Winker (L) LF
- Nick Castellanos (R) RF
- Tyler Stephenson (R) C
- Joey Votto (L) 1B
- Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B
- Scott Heineman (R) CF
- Kyle Farmer (R) SS
- Tyler Mahle (R) P
The bullpen without Captain Hook
I don’t have to tell you the Reds are in big trouble without their best reliever (and possibly their best pitcher overall) in Tejay Antone (who was placed on the injured list today). Believe it or not, there are actually two relievers with a better expected ERA (Statcast) than Antone:
Heath Hembree 2.45
Lucas Sims 2.63
Tejay Antone 2.70
The other peripheral numbers on Hembree are a mixed bag, but all you can do is hope that he can be effective. Sims is a really good RP, despite the 5.01 ERA. Reds will have to rely heavily on those two and hope the SP can go deep in games (which is a bad strategy normally). SP like Wade Miley’s numbers get pretty bad a third time through the order (.798 career OPS against, high as .874 against in his last full season in 2019)…..but the Reds RP average OPS against is .778, and that was with Antone. It will be crucial that David Bell picks the right spots to use those two, while also not overusing them in the process.
Conclusion
It was a tough day for Reds fans with the announcement of Antone being placed on the IL. It just adds to a brutal week with the Gray injury. The positive vibes from the 4-game sweep of the Cardinals have mostly evaporated. That being said, if there was one team in baseball that you would want to play right now, it would be the Colorado Rockies in your home ballpark. The Rockies are just 5-24 on the road. Go Reds!
Let’s hope for big leads…..real big. 🙂
A fast, efficient Mahle start going 7+ innings. Minimize Bell’s opportunity to “manage”. Or lose again.
9-0 Mmmm no. No enough. 🙂
not*
I don’t follow Statcast, but I have watched every game this season and I think most Red fans would agree that Antone has been the team’s most reliable pitcher. Somebody is going to have to really step up and the answer is not Doolittle.
Mahle has been the stopper
Beat Max Scherzer to stop reds freefall.
Won @ STL to lead the way.
No reason Mahle doesnt build on what he’s done this year tonight
Sweep the rockies and Reds get a chance at the Brewers again on monday
Go Reds
Once again as with the last W vs Mil, the unique aberration of Stephenson at C vs LHP occurs. His at C and vs LHP ( very small sample) split stats at least do support his batting #4 … meanwhile his splits for at 1B (.171 avg, 1 XBH, 11 BB) and vs RHP more suggest a classic #8 deployment displaying very limited power … check it out for yourself
One if not both doubles that Mil game were line hugging darts vs LHP at catcher. It’s not like he’s banging shots off the walls or even into the gaps. I know, fun with small samples lol both superior split BAs shot way up based on that 2 for 4
Joins the crowd with a big fly HR vs LHP, knocking him out of the game … faces the RHP and … takes a BB
Credit bobby nightingale for actually being a journalist and reporting facts and information
Antone has forearm inflammation- yes a throwing injury
Golden opportunity to get through that inning with about 10 pitches … and he had to start nibbling.
OK, not so bad in the end.
Time for a crooked number.
For the pregame, David Bell was gently asked if not calling up another pitcher could possibly weight heavily on the bullpen. He said this gives an opportunity for someone in the bullpen to step up and it happened on the offensive end. Yes, that true but…
Looks like he doubling down on the comment yesterday about his struggling relievers “I will continue to support them and am convinced they will improve because there’s a reason they’re here.”
Yes, I’ll give you that one too because they can’t get much worse according to the Law of Averages.
Meanwhile, Heineman gets the nod over Akiyama again. I don’t think the previously mentioned Law applies in this case.
That works.
Touch ’em all Nick C
Six pitches to get 3 outs.Aren’t you glad it just took Wink and Casty 3 pitches to get 2 runs.You can’t make stuff like that up
It dawns on my Geno back at 3B playing the way he has makes up at least a little bit for our SS situation. Doesn’t erase it by a long shot … but it does help mitigate it.
2 runs per inning? I can deal with that.
Somebody got “Heiney” goin’!!!
I keep saying start Heineman, jk nice shot my man
Scott H doubles the score….
Both hits have been HRs this year
Heineman rules.
no lead is safe with this bullpen-maybe the FO will trade for another bullpen catcher
Did Heinemans Homer ricochet back and Tapia in left caught it? Lol
Bell is a genius.We should all agree not to ever ever complain again about his line up.
AA in CF tonite. I still think they’re swapping Scott H. for AA, but who knows?
Someplace that shall remain unmentioned has frozen over – Heineman hit a homerun. Suarez had a double. Maybe he and Story can change dugouts this weekend. Come on Bob, fork over the dough.
Guy just popped out to India and Sadak said “That one is hit pretty well.” Lol Sadak needs to judge those flyballs a little better.
Oh my
Bat on ball will always out produce whiff whilst trying to hit home runs. So I’ll still take India in the lead off spot.
3 innings in a row??? What gives?
Preparing for future bullpen appearances
Who’s this new first baseman for the Reds?
If Mahle can throw another 4 shutout innings and the Reds can score another 5 runs, I’m going to start feeling pretty confident about this one.
Best of all, Mahle is only burning about 12 pitches/inning. Holds up, he can go 7+ without Bell going to the bullpen.
We’re all going to be disappointed if there isn’t a crooked number fueled by a dinger this inning, right?
Based upon what happened to the 7-0 lead the Reds had in the 4th game of the Cards series more runs are warranted!
Whoa!!!
8-0! This one might actually be bullpen-proof!
That’s what the mechanic who made Bonnie & Clyde’s car told them! No problem, it’s bulletproof!
+500
My guess is Bell will start pulling the starters to give the Rockies a chance. And as for “bullet proof”, they were up 7-0 over the Cards and barely won.
If Freeland ever gets DFA’d, he’s assured a spot in our bullpen.
He does have the resume … 4 dingers in 4 consecutive innings … when can you start?
What would it take for Rockies reliever Mychal Givens (age 31) to change dugouts? He has a 2.91 era (3.38 career). He’s had experience closing with the O’s. Why not? Shouldn’t cost that much. Maybe they’d like to try to fix Garrett?
sold
OK, this is what I’m talkin’ about!
Just tuned in. Had been a little bummed out after the performance last night and then the news about Antone. But an 8-0 score in favor of the good guys does wonders for the spirit. Keep piling on, I say! No lead is too safe for this bullpen to potentially squander.
(Nice to see JV hammering the ball again.)
TySteve — our next budding power hitter. Keep it up!
We’re scheduled to miss Burnes and Woodruff again in Milw next week. It would be nice to get the long ball bats out against them too! Miller Park is a launching pad almost to the extent of gabp. First things first though….need this sweep to get over .500!
One game at a time! Won’t rest easy until out No. 27 is recorded in the top of the 9th!
Suarez is out. Wonder what’s up….
Reds leading 9-0, expect more subs. It’s the Bell way.
True, but it’s rarely Suarez.
Good point.
Very rarely is another option to Saurez on the bench. Usually OF and C/1B and only sometimes an INF … Saurez pretty much has had to play every game and still leads the team in GP (6o) and ABs… Farmer is next at 59
I’m wondering if he’s hurt. Bell rarely sits him — either for a whole game or part of one. Saw somewhere on Twittersphere that he was getting medical attention in the dugout. But that is just Twitter. Not verified in any way.
Per Mark Sheldon:
Suarez left the game with a cut finger, Bell says. Came from a “cooking accident” last night. “Not a big deal” Says he can play tomorrow.
Mahle beginning to struggle a little ….
Get AG up!
Here comes the Rockies comeback. 9-4
Alfredo Rodriguez at 2b again
Errol robinson at Ss hitting .150 with a .500 OPS .
Strong journalism from c trent and mark sheldon reds beat reporters
Maybe they can tweet more about Amir Garretts dog and FC soccer and politics
I’m thinking that Barrero will be up soon to play Short and they moved Rodriguez to 2nd.
You got media credentials?
Apparently no one does.
So much for the insurmountable lead! How many of you out there believe the current Reds bullpen can protect a 5 run lead over the final 3 innings? ‘Cause you know Bell will do a double switch and sub for Mahle because of the pitch count! Will be shocked if Mahle starts the 7th!
Another nice outing for Mahle. 1 bad pitch made it look worse then it was, but its not like giving up a 3 run HR with a small lead.
Agree it was a nice outing by Mahle! My fear is that Bell now has to manage the last 3 innings with a bullpen full of arsonists! His job would be easier if there was a modicum of consistency from the relief pitchers. Just hope he has a quick hook if whomever he chooses is not on! Man, I miss Sparky!
bullpen full of arsonists …
Dennis, wasn’t it you that got me on the “smoking in the dynamite room” thing?
+5000
double-switches:
Bud Black: 2
David Bell: 0
what the heck.
First batter and the Rockies relief pitcher walks him. We feel your pain Rockie fans.
Make it a double…8 straight balls
Looks vaguely familiar!
Watching the Mets – Padres game on the MLB Network! Jacob deGrom is just ridiculous! Hope the Reds miss him when it comes time to play the Mets!
Degrom is their best hitter as well.
Well, getting 2 back feels good
Still 9 outs to go!
Rockies are literally the worst road team in mlb history
Sweep the series and go to Milwaukee to determine if reds want to be a contender or a 4 th place team
Again, one game at a time! Unfortunately the Brewers are playing the Pirates. Therefore, as you stated, need to sweep the Rockies to stay close to the Cubs, Cards and the Brew Crew!
Normally, with an 11-4 lead, I’d feel fairly confident of a Reds win. But not with this bullpen. Bell now switching out several players — Castellanos, Votto. Hope we don’t need their bats later!
No worries on Votto according to most he should of retired already I am sure bench is better LOL.
Disco with a 2 hit shutout. Happy for him, but sick that we let him walk.
Disco on a 1 yr 6 mil deal
They decided to pay Shogo 7 mil instead to barely play. They can try to resign him, but the price of poker is going up I’m sure
Disco wasnt made for GABP. He handed out to many Souvenirs.
Under contract for ’22 at $8mil … after that UFA at age 35
4.54 lifetime gabp. You’re right, but I’d still take him as a 4th/5th starter any day of the week.
Not what I’ve found? Unless its wrong?
Anthony DeSclafani signed a 1 year / $6,000,000 contract with the San Francisco Giants, including $6,000,000 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $6,000,000. In 2021, DeSclafani will earn a base salary of $6,000,000, while carrying a total salary of $6,000,000.
I think he meant Shogo is signed through 2022.
It would be dumb for him to come back in reality. SFs park is huge and perfect for a flyball pitcher like him. I’m sure they’ll ante up unless the Dodgers or somebody with deep pockets steals him away.
I was just thinking the same thing. Pitchers like Disco should be signing a contract at big ballparks.
Yes JB like you I was thinking both AD would want no part of GABP and the Reds won’t be signing any veteran SP
Good job by Hendrix! Only 12 pitches! Must take him out, right?
Tip the cap to Heineman tonight. Homer and a great play at first.
Good call to give him another inning.Got to get away from this 1 inning stuff.Yeah he gave up a solo shot but he threw strikes and got 6 outs
Must say I’m impressed by the spirit of this team after so many bad turns of late — losing Gray, now Antone, and the dispiriting loss to Milwauee last night. But they came out fighting tonight.
I like Warren. He has good stuff if he can harness it? I’m no GM or scout, but I could watch 5 minutes of each and tell you he’s better then Romano, DeLeon, Fulmer, Bedrosian, etc. Why they ever thought that motley crew would make it is beyond me. Doverylittle too. 91 and straight as an arrow? Get off my team!
I hope your right, we need some relievers to step up, might as well be Art
Fulmer blew the save last night and took the loss.
My cat can pitch better than that bunch you mentioned! Pitching has not changed that much since baseball was invented. Up and in, low and away, change speeds and throw strikes!
Nick Howard had another nice outing tonight. I’d like to see him move up to AAA to see if his success can continue.
Reds are 10-3 in Mahle’s starts!
Excellent
Nice job Hendrix and Warren. Maybe Antone getting hurt will fire these guys up to be better. Sometimes these things can be an omen.
Bullpen holds . Not walking anyone sure helps.
Three innings 1 solo homer and a single.No walks and 5 punch outs.Don’t care we were up big and it’s against the Rockies.A win is all that maters
Good game!
Very nice, Los Rojos!
The Rockies are a team that you HAVE to beat when playing them at home and this is a great start
I think it’s safe to say we’ll all take the outcome tonight. Nice job all around. Plenty of crooked numbers.
Nice game! Finally some offense and a tip of the cap to the relief corps! Only one run allowed and NO WALKS! One down, two to go! Go Reds!
A good way to start the weekend. What a difference a day makes.