The Cincinnati Reds will go for the series win this evening as they try to win their 6th straight game over the St. Louis Cardinals. First pitch is set for 7:10pm ET.
Starting Lineups
St. Louis Cardinals
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| Dylan Carlson – RF | Jonathan India – 2B |
| Paul Goldschmidt – 1B | Jesse Winker – LF |
| Nolan Arenado – 3B | Joey Votto – 1B |
| Tyler O’Neill – LF | Tyler Naquin – RF |
| Paul DeJong – SS | Eugenio Suárez – 3B |
| Tommy Edman – 2B | Kyle Farmer – SS |
| Harrison Bader – CF | Tucker Barnhart – C |
| Andrew Knizner – C | Shogo Akiyama – CF |
| Jake Woodford – SP | Luis Castillo – SP |
Starting Pitchers
Luis Castillo
After a disastrous start to the season, Luis Castillo has turned things around in a big way over the last two months. Since June began he’s made 9 starts with a 1.76 ERA in 56.1 innings and allowed just two home runs. Opponents have hit just .178/.277/.234 against him in that span.
His splits haven’t really been that much different on the season as a whole. Lefties have a .727 OPS against him while righties have a .695 OPS against him. Lefties do walk a lot more, but they hit for a little less power. His home ERA is 4.28 and his road ERA is 4.50 and the OPS difference is just .002.
Pitch usage from 2021
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 96.9 | 97.2 | 85.9 | 87.9 |
| Usage | 28.5% | 22.7% | 19.0% | 29.8% |
Jake Woodford
Ah, yes, the guy that Nick Castellanos flexed on. Woodford will be getting just his second start of the year in the big leagues. He made 17 relief appearances with the Cardinals between April and the end of June, but did made three starts in Triple-A Memphis in early July before returning last week to St. Louis to start against the Cubs. He threw 5.2 innings of 1-run, 6-strikeout baseball in that start.
The splits for Jake Woodford are extreme. Right-handed hitters have a .158/.324/.246 line against him this season with 10 walks and 15 strikeouts in 74 plate appearances. They draw a ton of walks, but so far they haven’t made any sort of good contact against him. Lefties on the other hand are hitting .351/.400/.632 against him with 4 walks and 12 strikeouts in 65 plate appearances this year.
Pitch usage from 2021
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Slider | Curve | Change | |
| Velo | 92.3 | 91.9 | 83.0 | 76.6 | 84.9 |
| Usage | 28.8% | 30.4% | 23.0% | 15.2% | 2.5% |
When and Where
- Game time: 7:10pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv,
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 85°, partly cloudy, 1% chance of rain
News and Notes
Reds trade Mark Payton to the Mets
The Cincinnati Reds “traded” outfielder Mark Payton to the Mets today. Traded is a weird word to use given that New York sent $75,000 in cash to Cincinnati for Payton. The Reds designated him for assignment earlier this week and instead of hoping their claim went through, the Mets felt he was worth acquiring via a check instead.
Max Schrock called up
The Reds also made a roster move this afternoon, calling up Max Schrock from Triple-A Louisville. He’s taking the spot on the roster that was vacated by R.J Alaniz, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left calf.
NL Central Standings
Playoff odds via Fangraphs
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff % |
| Brewers | 57 | 41 | 0 | 91.% |
| Reds | 50 | 47 | 6.5 | 10.6% |
| Cardinals | 49 | 49 | 8.0 | 3.1% |
| Cubs | 48 | 50 | 9.0 | 2.5% |
| Pirates | 37 | 60 | 19.5 | 0.0% |
Cubs and Cardinals standings in the playoff odds section are reversed…
Fixed. Thank you!
As they say you can’t sweep them tomorrow if you don’t beat them today.
Hope it’s hotter than Hades in Cincy! We all know LC pitches better when in warmer weather!
Cubs lost to Dbacks 7-3.
Let’s score alot and give Hembree and Brach the night off.
India must have a very discerning eye at the plate, because he seems to walk a lot.
Him and that other Kid. Both of them seem to have a good sense of the zone and what to do with pitches.
3-up, 3-down (thanks to the DP) and a 5-pitch walk to open our half.
Let’s see if tonight’s HP ump can find the strike zone with both hands, a map, and a flashlight.
And then Da Wink!
Shrock coming back. I like it! Hope he gets a start soon like Lopez did.
Arenado .800 ops for $35 mil/year? No thank you. Good player and great defensively, but the Coors effect always clouds everything. Signing him never worried me for a second.
That was a pretty good pitch. Just froze JV in place.
If Suarez is going to hit his once a week home run, now would be a good time.
ALright, Suarez a grand slam will get RLN to stop talking smack about you for at least 5 minutes
Make or break here for Geno. He just needs to go with a pitch and find green or at least deep enough to plate India.
NUTS!!!
just under it… at least not a strikeout or DP
that is a weird at bat for geno…I was thinking double play all the way for some reason
Amazing.
Really don’t understand why Barnhart is to batting ahead of Suarez and Farmer. He’s been a much better hitter than those 2 guys.
I was baffled as well. Maybe Farmer, but not Suarez. No reason at all to bat him ahead of most anyone (including Shogo).
Only pushed him to 18 pitches to boot.
Warm night, so let’s see LC work some magic and then pile on with crooked numbers.
Not good. Need to exploit opportunities like that. I got Schrock on a travel day, but yet again Lopez is on the bench in a place where LH batters have the advantage.
To be fair LHB have the advantage 80% of the games. That shouldn’t be the primary reason for who starts. After saying that, yes Suarez needs some pine time.
No productive AB and then THAT? Sorry, I’m really soured on him. I think his head is totally messed up at this point all the way around. He needs to sit for several games and “think about what he’s done (or not done)”.
My vote would be for him to sit and think about things from now thru the end of September.
Bells allegiance to Suarez is really hurting this team, Schrock or Lopez would have made sense tonight.
+500
Can’t fix managerial cluelessness – follows Bell like a dark cloud
No MLB manager in their right mind would continue to run Suarez out there no bat him fifth in the lineup on top of that
How does performance not matter – just unbelievable !!!!!
2-0 count and 92 mph right.down.broadway and Geno pops it up. This guy wears me out. All the pointless/time wasting stats in baseball and they don’t give you runners stranded. Wink/Nick/Joey in front of him….he has to be on some kind of record pace? Every week he has 2-3 games where he strands 6-9 guys!
Also worn out with India going station to station. Both those hits were right at guys, but whats wrong with hit-n-run once in a blue moon? Guys only throwing 92? He’s not missing bats.
Bright note…Naquin 13 for his last 42 (.309). Good ballplayer….not great, but useful!
Cant assume the Double play but COMMON MAN
Yeah. That last camera angle showed just how bad the throw was.
Reds NEVER TRY TO SCORE ON BASE HITS – not sold on third base coach at all – dude is way to conservative for me
Make sure we play from
Behind again – every stinking game , every game
Bout sick of Harrison Bader killing this team
Who’s expecting an error by TB now? Lol
C’mon give us another DP!
No, really, now would be a great time for another.
India needs to learn to eat those no chance DPs. Slowly hit to 3rd, and you are never turning 2 unless molina or Votto are running.
Exactly.
2 bases on a single? Is that legal?
Suarez and farmer worst left side of infield in mlb and its not close
Reds should have 3 runs
Farmer is a 26th roster guy
Suarez needs to sit
He just needs to sit
Mike Mou$takis…another wonderful signing. $16-18/mil a year for a guy in his 30s with a .750 career ops. Almost to the level of paying David Dimwit bailey $50/mil apiece for 2 no-nos
got to appreciate the speed of Shogo there
Why not send Akiyama. If he gets out India leads off the 3rd.
Only way reds win game is gabp homers
Castellanos isnt there
Someone has to homer
Or do what we just did there … 🙂
Guy pitching for stupid Cards ain’t got squat
That’s what I’m talking about!!!
Flex on em Wink!
There you go wink
wink wink
Winker emerging from slump…..vs righties at least.
Big hit by Winker going the other way vs the shift – something he was not doing during his slump.
But don’t forget – those 2 runs scored because Shogo hustled and beat out an infield hit. He isn’t a burner, but I don’t think any other Red beats that throw.
Lets recap Suarez so far tonight, Bases loaded 1 out, short fly out on 2-0 pitch. Second inning error to lead off inning, cost run and drives up pitch count. Would somebody please wake Bell up.
Suarez is part of what will be know as the Lost Season of 2021 for the Reds. The Reds can’t afford to let seasons like this slip away, but they did. A few small moves could have made a huge impact.
Its mostly been injuries though. Moose/Senzel hurt as well so they’re not getting average production at 3B with or without Geno.
Bullpen? Lorenzen 1 inning on the year. Antone/Sims both hurt. Warren’s hurt. Sonny has been on the IL 3 times too. No way they could catch Milw with their pitching and superior health. Wong is about their only key guy thats missed time.
Bell is an analytics guy who follows the numbers
Small moves though…..yes you’re right imo! They could’ve sat Geno in June and got some improvement from Schrock/Lopez/Barrero (SS) and Farmer to 3B and 1-2 decent arms from somewhere. Wouldn’t have cost them that much and we’d be 3-4 games better atleast
Without MM getting hurt India might be our best prospect in AA right now. But you’re right, injuries have hurt us this year. I was referring to trading for 1 good BP arm, or 2 decent ones. Also the Crew grabbed the most obvious SS on the market in Adames. It cost the Brewers a couple of BP arms, we could have given a comparable value in prospects out of ur top 10 guys.
Sorry folks but Bell may claim to be an ‘analytics’ guy but there is no real evidence.
Not a Shogo fan, but his hustle led to 2 runs there. He hit that ball fairly hard so even with the SS taking his time, it was impressive to beat it out. Otherwise its a 1-2-3 inning. He could be a solid defensive OFer which can really help the Reds on the road in the bigger parks.
Yes, yes, YES!!! Love our DP combo!
Gabp is packed
India and Winker solid at 1/2
Nick…. “oh I would have lunch with Woodford”. Isnt that a flex ontop of a flex
Speaking of Nick, gotta hold the fort until he comes back! A 6 game lead can disappear in a week!
Are you allowed to watch tonight, Dennis?
Asking for some friends …
Don’t have TV coverage here in Florida! Following the game on ESPN website and checking comments on this blog! My heart couldn’t take it if I could actually watch a game live!
The GoFundMe isnt going well. We got a wooden nickel, a used match stick and a bottle cap.
Farmer hitting .340 in July! He could slide to 3B and be a defensive improvement over Geno. That leaves Barrero vs Geno and Barrero is hitting .301 overall in the minors with 11 hrs/11 steals. So right off the bat you’re improving defensively and with your team speed before you even factor in their bats.
Sold! Where do I sign?
Senzel is the replacement
Moose interview looks like 3-4 weeks
Suarez is just awful
At least 3-4 weeks. Even at that, he won’t be ready for full-time service anyway. It’s a nagging kind of injury.
I’m with Larkin, no pitcher ever should be MVP, unless that pitcher is Shohei Ohtani
whom the reason he would be MVP is not due to Pitching alone
The 34 HR, and the 1.030 OPS sure help, lol
Didn’t hear the conversation, but you would think Lark would remember the one exception to that because they played at the same time. Orel Hershiser that one year was everything. Won every game regular season and playoffs. He was unbelievable
Cant believe Delong didnt score on that double. Reds will trade for him at the deadline. His base running will fit right in.
LOL
I’d take him if we can get Bader as well to play CF.
+100 Bader has been a thorn in the side of the Reds ever since he was acquired by the Cards!
One change in the MLB rules that, as a baseball traditionalist, didn’t bother me was the intentional walk no longer requiring the pitcher to throw 4 useless pitches! Plus, it speeds up the game!
Agreed. The actual pitching was wasted activity on the off chance that something crazy might happen.
but it was worth it for the occasional wild pitch and lean over and hit.
Totally disagree. I remember Pete Rose smacking a ball down the line on an IBB, not to mention the opportunity for a PB or a WP. None of these happen frequently but they do. Speeding up the game is a lousy reason for rule changes.
Pete was a unicorn in that way. I’d still rather skip the theatrics. But that’s just me.
There was also a key play in the WS or playoffs when there was a 3-1 count on Bench and they (Oakland?) called for the IBB. They fooled Johnny and threw a low outside edge screamer that Bench struck out on.
It’s amazing they can’t find better ways to speed up the game. The 3 man rule has been the only rule change that makes sense thus far. And don’t even talk about this ghost runner garbage unless you’re in favor of the 10 run forfeit.
Arrenado is killing it tonight. NOT!
Mahle take notes… this is how you pitch into the 6th
Joey Freaking Votto!!
Has Joey discovered the Fountain of Youth?
I think he discovered leverage. The further down the bat handle the more power he can generate on a swing.
Meanwhile Suarez needs to learn the opposite, choke up a bit Suarez, couldn’t hurt.
LC at 79 pitches thru 5 innings! Hope for a 1-2-3 6th! In the meantime, time for a Crooked Number!
Well, Joey heard you and delivered.
I’m greedy Mark! Want more!
I’ll give Geno a bit of a “tough luck” on that one. But even that’s probably a bit of a stretch at this point.
I’ve been one of Suarez’s biggest defenders, but that ship has sailed. I still think the best solution for him is to fix him. I just don’t think it’s going to happen in 2021. I’d start platooning him with Lopez right now, and Moustakes when he comes back. I’d also put Senzel at SS to get him some real time at the position. Then when 22 comes around reassess who’s the fit where. There should be a DH, so that should help.
Other than Senzel as the regular SS (maybe that’s not what you meant; Farmer does need a break not named Freeman), I’m in agreement. Time to platoon him and drop him WAAAAY down the order.
The only thing we can count on with Senzel is that we can’t count on Senzel. To me that makes him a reserve / utility player type. So yes, if he can add SS to CF, 2B, and 3B, I think he becomes very valuable. Being a utility would also give him some extra rest, and hopefully keep him healthy longer through the year. I just don’t want the Reds to have Senzel as plan 1A at any starting position.
But but but….. Joey should retire….. lol
+100
OK, we all “hate” the Dirty Birds (less tonight with The Neck Tattoo nowhere in sight). But you have to give props to their outfielders. They are making the plays tonight. We’re hitting. Just not finding enough margin on many of them.
But at least we’re up and our SP is performing.
Feliz 1IP, 2K and a hit. Louisville
And my LC will have 7 Ks bet comes through
Pitchers can go 6+ that aren’t named The Hulk?
If LC can get through 7 I will feel much more comfortable
+100
I think Akiyama will be the guy who hits the sign and somebody wins the truck.
+500 for that thought and the laugh that goes with it!
I laughed too.. I will laugh louder if it happens
You should put all your money on it. The odds have to be astronomical
yea betting Shogo will hit a home run does not sound like a sound investment. Shogo robbing home runs…. that’s another matter
Will they allow him to hit from second base?
After that catch, maybe he can pull it off tonight.
That was heckuva catch!
That’s why you put up with his weak bat.
Holy cow!! I thought that was gone.
Oh.My.Word!!!!
Thought that was going out. What a catch!
Typical GABP camera work….tracking that ball like it was over the power stacks.
Shogo knows Defense, maybe we can get nike to start a new Bo Jackson like ad.
Shogo knows OBP, ok, maybe it’s not as exciting as Bo knows.
Bo was another unicorn. Sad he only played that short time.
I’d say Wink’s slump is over. Anybody else care to weigh in?
I missed India at bat. Walk or hit?
Sharp grounder up the middle. Pitcher might have nipped it, but nobody else did.
Single.
On base machine. Thanks
Jesse off a lefty…now we’re cooking!
He just nailed that one
He is squaring up the ball. And he hit that double hard into left-center.
If the slump isn’t dead, it’s got a foot in the grave. A few more ropes into LF, and he might carry this team for a week or two.
Guys are playing hard and feeding off the crowd! I still think Milw is too good, but you never know.
I agree. The Bernies seem to be doing the majority of things right this year while everybody else is waffling around. Stupid Cubs are mailing it in and trying to sell off pretty much everything not nailed down and/or walking away come October.
The NLW is going to be tough to beat in the end. Still thinking 3 of them make the dance.
Jesse Breaks the Back of the dirty bird
Pulls the feathers out of their wings.
So Brock then Hembree tonight? Santillan ready if needed?
I’d save HH if it’s not a save. TS would be a good option
That didn’t take long to change 🙁
Naquin attempts his best Shogo, but it was a no go.
Compare Shogo’s play to how Naquin played those two balls.
When I see Naquin (or Winker, for that matter) track a well-struck ball, images of a monkey and a football come to mind for some reason.
What the heck is Bell waiting for
STUPID
Get him out now !!!!
Goldy is a ball player. He just is.
Suarez 3-0 ground out to SS..
alright…. lets not let this slip away.
Not sure Brach has it tonight. He’s looking a little lost right now.
Brach doesn’t have it. 3 batters and goodnight. Of course Bell will leave him in
I’m completely done with Bell too. C- at best. Yeah he has a garbage pen, but he has no feel for guys at all? Brach is 35. He can’t pitch 3-4 times a week.
Its obvious?
Brach isnt fooling anybody.
Right, it’s time to pull him
So kyle Crick has become available…. think he would do any good?
DOOLITTLE???????
Doolittle warming? Have they completely lost their minds???
Is Bell in the dugout or up in Bob’s office counting receipts
Bailed Bell out – what a moronic move leaving him in
Bullpen on verge of letting another one slip away ….
We love us some Suarez right now
Fire Bell
Nice double play saves the day (or the inning, at least)
Well, the call is reversed. No DP. Still a great play.
Alright Geno…. your off the hook tongiht
And then Geno does that. Let’s see if it holds up.
The one camera angle looked like it would have gone foul had he not snagged it (or touched it).
At least it gives time for Doolittle to warm up. Brach is getting ripped.
Credit where it’s due.
That was a whale of a play, Geno. Probably not a DP, but a good play.
what a bailout that was
Good overturn. Got to get one more and at least Bader is out.
Stupidity
And now bringing DOO DOO in
Bell better take him out !!!!!
Get Brach out NOW. He has given up nothing but ropes all game!!!
Last batter either way for Brock.
*brach
This makes no sense? I’m trying to pull up yesterdays box score to see what the pitch counts were. Santillan? Brach is getting lit up and Bell has Doolittle?
Oh is it time Bell? Sweet! It’s Doolittle 🙁
Dolittle better get carpenter out. Get out the inning and get to the ninth.
Only 2 outs were 390 feet to CF and a screamer to Geno. Cmon? This doesn’t take a genius to figure out. We’re lucky Bader didn’t give them the lead
Bell awoke from his nap Everybody!
now they have pulled carpenter
Brach saw 7 batters. 7. Managerial malpractice.
got to warm up the next pitcher though
What in the heck is Bells decision making process – he’s pitiful !!!!!
Not just Doolittle. But against a righty.
Maybe tonight it will work out.
Didn’t the bullpen rob Castillo of a win in his previous start? Doolittle really needs to man up here.
2-0 after 6 last Sat with Castillo
6-1 after 7 vs KC with Castillo
They lost both
And a marginal call on top of all this. It just never ends, does it?
DoLittle… our unlikely hero
Last night’s hero camps out under the can of corn. It worked out this time.
Never doubted you Mr Doolittle
Alright everyone. We can breathe again.
Dennis must have stopped watching/following
+250
Lmbo. I was wondering. Maybe somebody should sit with him every night.
Now if they’d stop playing that stupid Jägermeister commercial …
3-2 count bases loaded and 2 outs. Doolittle gets him. I can die now. I’ve seen it all.
Santillan threw 10 pitches last night. No reason he couldn’t come in after Brach’s 3 hitters.
Perhaps Bell forgot he was out there in the pen?
Who gets to AAA first, Lodolo or Ashcraft? Didn’t think I’d be pondering that question 2 months ago. Ashcraft is dominating AA. 7 more scoreless tonight 8K’s
I may need to take a little trip to go see them play. My daughter is in Rome and that’s only about 90 minutes away.
Unfortunately I’m too far away for that, but yes it could be a fun 2 nights of baseball. I really think both will be up sooner than later in Louisville. If Lodolo was being inched back from his blister IL stint, he’d already be in AAA. Ashcraft seems to be a man on a mission. I’d like to see these guys get the chance to face AAA batters soon, so they can find their weaknesses like Hunters doing now.
They will be back in Huntsville, Alabama August 17-22 including a double header on the 19th. Fun place to watch a ballgame.
Time for Shogo to hit the Tundra sign
and JUSSSSST a little short
I think we jinxed him.
Still can’t believe Bell stuck with Brach that long. He’s darn lucky. Anyway, I’ll let it go now – maybe.
Padres have lost so we are making some progress
Somebody wake up Dennis. This place is about to get rocking!!
HH pitching to contact. I like it!! You can still K guys, but its so much easier to make them hit it rather then throw it by them. Lorenzen is 30 and he hasn’t figured it out yet
REDS WIN
This makes me smile. Even more that we didn’t see The Neck Tattoo (and probably won’t tomorrow).
Buckled down and played some ball tonight. Way to nail it down, Heath!
Not Dead Yet. Take another series… potential sweep tomorrow. Gain a game in the WIld Card chase, and there is still a chance that the white sox wake up their bats
Jesse a well-deserved Jim Day spot tonight. Been too long since we’ve seen him there.
I love they didn’t bleep him on the lefty/lefty response 🙂
Doug would have nailed it.
you need a slight delay on the broadcast to get a filter in. Not going to happen when its live.
Somehow I don’t think any 8 year olds heard that and then immediately were scarred for life or jammed bobbleheads into each eye and jumped into the Ohio river.
Da Wink said a bad word 🙂
Sleep tight, all. Back at it in 15 hours. Bring your brooms.
Wink,
Final warning on RLN!! You’ve been around long enough to know the rules)))))
And Nick and Jesse leading the league in FEC finest
Fines*
I think Homer started it all after the second no-hitter 🙂
LOL