After an offensive struggle in last night’s 2-1 game, the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs will take the field this afternoon with the winner taking the 3-game series. First pitch is set for 12:35pm today.
Starting Lineups
Chicago Cubs
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| Rafael Ortega – CF | Jonathan India – 2B |
| Frank Schwindel – 1B | Joey Votto – 1B |
| Ian Happ – LF | Nick Castellanos – RF |
| Matt Duffy – 3B | Mike Moustakas – 3B |
| David Bote – 2B | Aristides Aquino – LF |
| Michael Hermosillo – RF | Tyler Naquin – CS |
| Robinson Chirinos – C | Jose Barrero – SS |
| Sergio Alcantara – SS | Tucker Barnhart – C |
| Adrian Sampson – SP | Tyler Mahle – SP |
Starting Pitchers
Tyler Mahle
What started in 2020 as a breakout for Tyler Mahle has continued through the 2021 season. He’s made 24 starts this year, going 10-3 with a 3.58 ERA, walked 45 batters, and struck out 155 in 130.2 innings. He’s really been on a roll over the last month, making five starts and posting a 2.40 ERA.
There are rather large splits when it comes to pitching for Tyler Mahle. Righties have hit him well, posting a .266/.336/.512 line against him with 15 home runs in 287 plate appearances. Lefties, though, have hit just .177/.260/.268 with three home runs against him in 259 plate appearances. Night and day. His home and road splits are almost identical. He’s given up 15 home runs in Cincinnati and just three on the road despite making two more starts on the road. The OPS difference is 303 points higher in Great American Ball Park. His ERA at home is 5.74 and just 1.86 on the road.
Pitch usage from 2021
| 4-Seam | Splitter | Slider | |
| Velo | 94.1 | 86.4 | 87.0 |
| Usage | 53% | 14% | 33% |
Adrian Sampson
Today will mark the first time that Adrian Sampson will pitch in the big leagues since September 27th of 2019. He spent all of 2019 with the Texas Rangers posting a 5.89 ERA as he split time between the rotation and the bullpen. In 2020 he played in Korea where he made 25 starts with a 5.40 ERA. This season the 29-year-old has pitched in Triple-A Iowa where he’s had a 4.96 ERA with 33 walks and 61 strikeouts in 81.2 innings and given up 19 (!) home runs.
IN the minors this year righties have hit .310/.383/.573 against him. Lefties have hit .265/.347/.490 against him. On paper, the Cincinnati Reds offense should be able to crush a low strikeout, high home run allowing in Triple-A pitcher. But they play the games for a reason.
When and Where
- Game time: 12:35pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv,
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 81°, cloudy, 5% chance of rain
News and Notes
Despite the loss on Tuesday, the Reds did not lose ground in the wild card race as the San Diego Padres also lost last night.
Joey Votto is going into the Hall of Fame
This morning C. Trent Rosecrans and Jayson Stark of The Athletic teamed up to write about Joey Votto and how he’s a Hall of Famer who just hasn’t yet been inducted.
Hunter Greene ejected, 2nd rounder debuts
Last night saw Hunter Greene ejected after throwing a 102 MPH fastball behind a batter following the 3rd home run allowed in the first three innings of the game. Down in Arizona at the complex league level the Reds 2nd round pick Andrew Abbott made his professional debut. More details on both of those things at RedsMinorLeagues.com if that’s something you’re interested in reading more about.
NL Central Standings
Playoff odds via Fangraphs
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff % |
| Brewers | 73 | 47 | 0 | 99.3% |
| Reds | 65 | 56 | 8.5 | 41.2% |
| Cardinals | 61 | 57 | 11.0 | 6.7% |
| Cubs | 53 | 69 | 21.0 | 0.0% |
| Pirates | 42 | 78 | 31.0 | 0.0% |
All is Lost! All is Lost! NOT! Despite the tough loss last night the Reds are still in the thick of the NL Wild Card race! Thank you Colorado Rockies! Plus, there are STILL 41 games left in the 2021 season! For the matematically challenged out there that means there is still 1/4th of the season remaining! Winning the NL Cemtral will be challenging no doubt but other teams in past years have overcome 8+ game leads! The remaining schedule still favors the Reds but they need to take care of business, starting this afternoon! Go Reds!
Pressure’s on. Cant be losing a home series to these Cubs right now.
So a bad HR pitcher making his first start in forever…. Mahle at home….. sounds like an over sort of day. Reds should win this. Upset about yesterday, but we are not going 42-0. Get right back on there… nice to see the Berreros start at short. Its put up or sit time with him. Unfortunately the reds can no longer “develop” players at the MLB level, needs to produce. Here is an opertunity.
Hope Mahle is on today.
Bring the Energy Boys.
Glad Barrero starting.
just to see more of what he has.
Have to win every series if we want to have a chance at the playoffs. As I said yesterday the Division Title is highly unlikely. I’m not putting my money on passing the Brewers they are too good of a team.
Wild card is our way in and who knows what will happen after that.
Anyone else think this Frank Schwindel guy looks kind of like Ryan Freel?
Here we go again
Reds should have tried to trade for Ian Happ. He obviously loves hitting at GABP.
Just stop pitching to him.
Ian Happ loves the GABP. Mahle not so much.
Note to Mahle! Keep saying to yourself, “I am not pitching at GABP, I am not pitching at GABP!”
Time to hit.
Why throw a meat pitch to Haap he is killing it here, just walk him.
I believe that’s HRs in 2 straight games for Happ! Maybe pitch around him?
Just an awful start.Only guy that can hurt us does,we go down in order against a guy throwing 91 and Mahle nibbling after the homer and walks the lead off hitter in the second.Guess I will go cut some grass and check back later.
I hope Mahle settles own soon. his is hard to watch.
Cubs batting practice today.
Mahle is throwing meat, get the bull pen up, can’t afford this type of game.
Wow. Mahle? Velocity is down….throws way too many waste pitches that aren’t even close. He throws sliders to righties, but the ball is off the plate from start to finish? They’re not swinging so its a total waste? Then he has to come in with a fastball and gets hammered. 14 man pitching staff so use it!!! This is a game where the Reds should score alot of runs!
And, again, a walk precedes the HR! So typical and borderline ridiculous!
So far, 38 pitches and 3 outs.
Mahle isn’t fooling anyone.
Reds are in danger of losing the series to the AAAA Cubs.
Bell, please get the bullpen up and do not wait until Mahle has given up 5+ runs!
Too late
Was worried about playing a team that had lost 11 games in a row AND is now just playing a spoiler!
Mahle with 17 hrs allowed at home and 3 on the road? Thats insane? It has to be a mental thing. He’s a different pitcher on the road.
this is getting away fast
Naquin way over in right-center on a breaking ball and a guy throwing 92?
Who’s our long guy?
Hoffman? Pitched 1.1 on Monday evening. Santillan and Justin Wilson pitched last night.
I’ve seen enough! Bell, what say you?
Reds cannot afford to lose this game. Am borderline ok with Hoffman over Mahle at this point. From here on out, a Mahle start at home should just be skipped. Reds need to get it together immediately after this inning.
Ball game
Sigh Mahle stinking it up
Weren’t the cubs up 7-0 on the brewers and lost 15-7?
yes they were
And there is the 5th run! Maybe now Bell?
He just raised the Bell white flag.
Paging Mr. Greene . . . Mr. Greene . . . please pick-up the white courtesy phone.
Mr Three home runs in 2.2 Greene… .Mr Tossed out the game greene? No thank you, not yet.
If we’re not careful this going to turn into a good ol fashioned but whippin…not in our favor. Mahle throwing batting practice. Nine relief pitchers in a pennant race. Time for a change?
Bell, Mahle doesn’t have it today!!! Please do something, anything!!! We can’t afford to throw games away at this point.
Raining here and looks like this one is already over.Guess Bell has gave up and Mahle is going to take one for the team today.
you have to give this game to the bullpen ……Mahle has nothing
Embarrassing. Cubs have tanked and aren’t even pretending to try to win. If Reds lose this series it may be time to seriously question their chances down the stretch.
I hate losing! And I hate losing to a depleted Cubs team in the middle of a pennant race!
Since it is too late to jinx the team now, I woke up to see the Reds at a 3-1 favorite (extremely long odds for an MLB game). Then, after seeing the Cub’s pitcher stats, that explained everything. Then, after Mahle imploded at GABP, that is more of the same. Oh well, the game is young and all is not lost. Moose is up so.. sorry 1-22 now after that 3 hit start.
Tommy Thrall mentioned that Naquin is the hottest hitter on the team with a 7 game hitting streak and 11-27. Next pitch, he hits the dinger and Barrero, who tore it up in AAA, follows with an infield hit in first AB. I guess that is why Moose bats 4th while Naquin and Barrero are at 6th and 7th.
Maybe we can score at least 1 run against a pitcher with an ERA of 5.89! Good grief Charlie Brown!
Can’t get them all back at once, but some of our hitters are only looking to hit bombs so.. that’s “helpful”
What a joke.Bell waves the white flag and the hitters give up as well.
THAT’S a start! Hopefully that breaks the seal.
Need baserunners as well.
If Aqunio takes either of those last 2 pitches, that’s a 2 run homer from Naquin. I absolutely hate the approach of some of our guys when down by a larger margin than normal.
It’s call “plate discipline”!
Moose is now 1-22.
Aquino is 7-37 in August .189 with 12K
Naquin and Barrero with hits.
Let’s start with a hit! Sampson is “bringing it”! 91 mph!
Bell raises the white flag. Reds hitters say hold my beer.
Why, with an army of relievers, would you bat your pitcher who has given up 5 runs in two innings with two on and two out behind 4 runs?
Bacause David Bell has so much more information than you do (or more likely, he didn’t even get anybody ready in the pen).
Alright seems that Naquin opened up the can of worms. Got it around to the top of the order for the second time through. Short leash for Mahle.
Took Reds Over 5.5 today and Naquin Over 0.5 rbis +140
1 down 1 to go
See if Bell pinch hits for Mahle here?
game over on 9 and a hit every inning. both still obtainable
I would rate Mahle and Gray as the 4 and 5 starters right now and it isn’t close.
Well 95-97 mph Mahle has a gear that Vlad can’t touch, but this Mahle is mediocre. Maybe he needs an IL?
Gutierrez throws strikes. Mahle nibbles.
I think Mahle is our #5 pitcher in 2022. Sonny Gray is done, hopefully we can get someone to take him.
I’m in section 127 have never heard balls hit so hard by the Cubs. Looks like a Sean Doolittle type of day
from what i have seen from Mahle today, I would have hit for him..just saying…..if he can’t get thru this inning, then Bell blew it again
Barrero and India should be hitting 1st and 2nd at the top of the lineup.
Change my mind.
I agree. David Bell’s line ups are always a bit of a mystery to me.
I knew he wouldn’t pinch hit, no sign of urgency here. Don’t worry the Pads and Cards will lose again today, that is Bells thinking.
Mahle can’t pitch the edges. It’s either off the plate or down the middle. The Cubs are sitting on the grooved middle pitches.
Leaving Mahle in there to me is not demonstrating a sense of urgency. Just another game.
Insane at best.Use those 9 guys that Bob says we need out of the pen.
Hoffman up
Mahle doesn’t have it so why send him back out there.Bell is just dumb and should have hit for him.Waving the white flag twice in one game is insane.How many more does he have to give up.
So instead of possibly 5-2 or 5-3, Bell leaves Mahle in to make it 8-1 or 9-1 when we have a 9 man pen? This is why Bell gets the criticism he does despite their record
Now Mahle is going to hurt himself trying to overthrow the fb
Bell is just clueless in games sometimes.Its almost like he doesn’t recognize what he sees or doesn’t believe what he sees.Ross will not let this game get away without using every pitcher he has you can bet on that.
Alright. Lets get some baserunners yea?
Got out of that one…somehow. 🙂 Time to score.
Cubs need 21 outs still. They have to pitch in GABP too.
Reds got this if they can hold Cubbies to 6.
Alright…. Mahle bit down there…. not all of the BR were his fault either. Keep Hoffman warm….but lets see if we can get another inning. Reds need runs here before this turns into an AG game
One more inning for Mahle unless he turns into the Incredible Hulk!
Need baserunners. Joey please take one for the team.
Or you know, just bunt.
The double will work. Way to battle Joe-eh
Wow… would have been another run if not right at someone. Pitch before would have made it 5-3 if Nick had waited a fraction of a second more. Its clear they have figured out the cubs pitcher….now just execute.
Good baserunning Votto … Or not
I guess the team figures they will have 40 games after today to make a run, maybe true but not with Bell as manager, he has zero feel for the game.
Moose is just an automatic out
Not sure what the shift looks like for Moose, but if it’s anything like normal, I don’t understand not bunting.
Looks like an unintentional intentional walk to TB, they will pinch hit for Mahle this time
or not
Or Tucker will leave the bat on his shoulder.
Strikeouts looking with runners on will be the death of me.
Barrero made that play look easy.
Barrero looks locked in! He should play everyday until proven that he’s not ready, but he won’t.
Move Farmer to 3rd full-time and keep Barrero at SS!
Stephenson should lead off again after this inning. Leave Farmer on the bench as your back up catcher
Barrero looks great.
Farmer is a gamer but Barrero needs to be handed the keys. He is ready. It’s not Barrero’s fault the Reds have 2 overpaid 3b in decline….nor is it Senzel’s
Play the best 8 and roster the best 26.
So you’re saying Barrero’s better than Farmer based on 3 ab’s ? Really?
At the point with Mahle in GABP that it might be time to see what the Reds could get for him in the offseason. And it might lower the return, but using him in a package to get the Moustakas money off the books wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world either.
was thinking something similar
All in on that one. Mahle probably draws decent interest. I think that the only reason they are playing Moose is to show he is OK and climbing back to his mediocre level of play for trade considerations.
Unfortunately, like Suarez before him, this gambit is trending the wrong way to the detriment of the team, Bell’s “everything is all right” managing philosophy, and Bob’s sunken cost conundrum.
My wife has a major problem with Bell, she begs for him to be fired. I can’t disagree that much, I just wish he would make better decisions.
Now. Do. Some. Damage.
Anyone miss Jesse Winker?
13 innings and 2 runs against the Cubs.
Time to step up…3rd time thru the order
Enjoyed Lecure saying that if he was manager he wouldnt start Mahle at GABP
Spot on.
With the exception of Votto, most of the Reds batters have low batter IQ. In a game where you are trailing by more than 1 run, need to stop swinging for the fences and get on base via a hit a walk or even a HBP. Too many strikeouts and way too many swings at pitches out of the strike zone! Be patient and shorten up your swing!
Every lefty, ESPECIALLY Moose, should be looking to bunt for a hit if they’re giving it to them. Definitely down 4.
I think Sam does a really nice job, wish he was in the booth more often. Overall the team looks flat. Maybe they thought the Cubs would continue to roll over, this could be a bad home stand if things don’t change.
Clete
Give Hoffman two innings. Aside from that HR, the Reds have to start scoring runs with a purpose. Otherwise no choice to accept the loss and sent AG out there and protect the bullpen for Miami. Need to figure out how they are going to replace Winker’s bat in the lineup.
Good job Hoffman! I’m done for the day!
Dive Aqunio? Why is a ball almost hitting your foot?
Baseball….lol. We beat them 14-5 and looks like we can name our score, but now they’re winning the series. If the Reds make the wildcard and lose 7-1 to LA is that a successful season? I like our potential for the future, but this team is just missing something? Would you trust Miley to hold LA to 2 or less in 6 innings? I wouldn’t. Castillo?
Its going to be a big offseason. $73 mil for Moose/Geno is a dark cloud over the young talent starting to mature.
Didn’t realize it was a day game. Wish I’d stayed comfortably numb. If the Reds can’t been mediocre teams at home, it’s hard to take them seriously as a playoff bound team. This is supposed to be the easy part of the schedule. Dropping the opening series of the homestand is not encouraging. You guys enjoy. I’m giving up my masochistic ways for a while.
This game is very embarrassing until now… The AAAA team seems to be the Reds and the Cubs would seem to be in the race for a playoff spot… I wonder if it is the same Padres fans are feeling against the D-Backs and Rockies… it is baseball…
Nick C needed a rehab start before he came back. Looks lost half the time.
Bunting is illegal, confirmed. Gotta homer or nothing. Great culture.
Cubs pitchers have been hammering our left handed hitters on the inside part of the plate, especially Votto. Something Mahle should have done.
The reality is this team could be in for a slide and I hope I am wrong. the facts, Castellanos has not been the same since his injury, Winker hurt, Votto seems to be cooling off, India playing hurt, Mahle and Gray unreliable and Bell making some strange choices. No use talking about Moose, Suarez, Shogo or Aqiuno.
Reds dont have the best 26 players rostered and dont play the best 8. Nick Krall and David Bell are getting exposed.
There’s no way Barrero isnt the every day SS. He’s the best SS since Larkin. He makes the smooth Zack Cozart plays but has the Larkin athleticism. There’s no way Nick Senzel isnt one of the best 26.
Winker’s injury is exposing the frauds. India is playing hurt too
So is moose.
Schebler did it for half a season. Some baseball players are cut from the cloth you never admit you cant go.
Akiyama? What happened to that nice little 4-12 hot streak? It’s a 4-17 cold streak. Sample size. smh
Spot on with respect to Barrero and Senzel.
Third base has become a black hole for offense. And Bell’s answer is to bat Moose 4th??? Sure. That’ll work.
I’m still a firm believer that Lopez should be starting somewhere on this team. We have enough guys who are going to have a high OPS do to mainly homers. We need guys to hit in front of them/ hit behind them to drive them in when there’s less than 2 out runner on 2nd/3rd. Aqunio/Suarez/Moose don’t add anything to this lineup that it needs. Akiyama tries to do what I’m talking about, he just fails at it.
I cant disagree but if Farmer starts over Barrero at SS and Aquino-hitting .195 since Opening day 2020 and Shogo at a sub 600 OPS play over Senzel—-good luck on Farmer, let alone Lopez playing over the $ 64 MILLION 3b AARP black hole.
Lopez can play the OF. Managers all over the league are playing people in different positions than they’re projected to play. It’s not unheard of. They’re athletes.
“ Lopez should be starting somewhere on this team.”
I’m down with that.
I like Lopez but practically speaking the Reds arent benching Moose and Suarez. Moose can hit righties and he will be back..hes just hurt. But why cant Farmer play that role? Let Barrero play SS and Farmer can play backup SS/2b/3b/1b/C and LF. He can drive the team bus too.
Suarez not Stephenson.. or Farmer? Yea, might as well just leave the better of the hitters to sit on the bench.
Can anyone remember the last time a Reds 3B got a hit??
Pepperidge Farm can’t even remember.
Scott Rolen? (I’m kidding…)
Give Frazier some respect.
Ok – that’s funny right there.
Wayne Krenchiki…
Will the Winker injury be the beginning of the end?
Bell needs to juggle the starting rotation as much as he possibly can for all remaining games: home vs. road. Castillo and Miley pitch at home and Mahle and Gutierrez pitch on the road. The home/road splits of those starters clearly dictate a move in that direction as much as is possible.
A 10 pitch 1-2-3 inning for Doolittle? Yep, the seasons over.
The reality is that the Reds are a .500 ball club. Since the all-star break they are break even. Not how a any team is going to make the play-offs.
The Padres are currently having a monster collapse and I find it hard to believe that the Reds aren’t a better team than the Cardinals and Phillies. It’ll work itself out.
Suarez, Shogo and Moose put them all on the IL for 10 days bring up, Schrock, Senzel and Lopez
Suarez: “I am hitting a robust .172.”
Moose: “Hold my beer ….”
Some good points made about the subtle but real downturn lately. Two guys with 3 innings combined in MLB this year shut down the Reds completely. Despite this, I think he is much more concerned with the titanic Doolittle vs. Hoffman battle for roster position when Antone returns. Hope to see Doolittle pitch the 9th but if he does and gives up a run then we have a tie and more problems for Bell in addition to who bats cleanup tomorrow.
I never thought I would say this but Doolittle is a different pitcher. He’s had 1 bad outing of the last 8 and he’s throwing legit 95/96 gas and locating Hes best lefty right now over Garrett and Wilson and those 2 arent getting DFA’d. Hoffman it is
Barrero with 6-4-3 no throwing hand flip-with the glove.
C’mon Bellkrall.
What a DP turn from Barrero!!
Hey Mr Bell! Let’s get that kid out in LF as soon as possible!! We can’t possibly let him stay at SS.
Cant mess up dugout chemistry.
Just a thought:
You know what helps chemistry? A guy who gets on base 3 times in a game and plays defense like the second coming of Ozzie Smith. What kills team chemistry: guys making big $$ who haven’t had a hit in 2 weeks but still play every day and hit in the middle of the order.
I think team chemistry is a thing – but winning and playing well create it. Getting curb-stomped at home by a AAA team because you can’t score runs tends to create bad chemistry.
Even against the Cubs not going to win many games scoring one run a game.
Gotta credit Duffy for bunting against the shift. Wilson never covered first.
You can tell that this team is as flat as can be and almost shocked about this series. Tomorrow they should play Barrero at short and Farmer at third. I have no idea who should play left but I am sure Bell will figure it out. LOL
Padres already trailing. Somebody is going to blow right past both the Reds and them for that final spot.
san diego already down to CO 3-0 in the first…..the padres are trying to give the reds the wildcard, but the reds say “no thank you” maddening!!!
Lets root for the Brewers tonight.
Yeah the division is gone. I was rooting for the Brewers last night. Hopefully we can keep the cardinals at bay.
Apparently the Cubs had a really rapid re-build 🙁
I hate the Stupid Cubs. Not real crazy about these Reds right now, either. ….
Barrero with 2 hits today. He will need to be sat. 🙁
He will be sent down shortly like Lopez and Schrock were after their shining with the bat. I would be happy if I never saw Moose and Suarez in a Reds uniform again. Just their being on the team is hurting the team.
>>> I would be happy if I never saw Moose and Suarez in a Reds uniform again.
They both stink.
I can’t stand listening to them try and explain this series away as well as already making excuses to lose to the Marlins, that is crap, a playoff ready team wins these series and does not make excuses, sorry Larkin and Sadek.
SS on base 3 times today…..only guarantees that Farmer will be back at SS tomorrow
Ha Yeah and batting clean up
Yep! Barerro definitely not ready for “The Show”! He’ll be on the bench tomorrow as Bell follows the Dusty Baker model for rookies!
Good thing Bell saved his best pinch hitter Stephenson for another day.
As I was leaving GABP a seventy year Woman stopped me and said “That was pathetic”. I couldn’t agree more.
5.89, 5.40, 4.96 ……those are the 3 era’s from the last 3 stops the cubs starting pitcher had in MLB, Korea & AAA ……he looked like Cy Young to the Reds hitters
Barrero with a nice game. He probably won’t get another start for awhile with our proven middle of the order hitters Suarez and Moose always providing the Reds with league-worst 3B production.
They both stink. Barrero should play third,..but no way Tinkerbell would consider that.
After such a fun first half, I really hate to see the season unravel this way. Since the all star break this seems much more like 2017 than the first half of 2021.
No, it certainly has not been all that promising. Every time someone has brought up how easy the last part of the schedule is, I practically cringe. That means absolutely nothing, as the results of the past couple days show. There are no guarantees. All the teams in MLB are professional baseball clubs. Some are better than others, sure, and some are much better. But even the worst teams are capable of beating the best teams from time to time, and hot/cold streaks for both good and bad are part of the game. That’s why they play the games on a field and not on paper or with a computer. So, I don’t care what their schedule is like over the next 6 weeks– Just Win!