If the Cincinnati Reds have any chance to win the division this year they almost have to sweep the series that they are starting tonight against the Milwaukee Brewers. First pitch is set for 8:10pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Cincinnati Reds
|
Milwaukee Brewers
|
| Jonathan India – 2B | Kolten Wong – 2B |
| Tyler Naquin – LF | Willy Adames – SS |
| Nick Castellanos – RF | Christian Yelich – LF |
| Joey Votto – 1B | Avisaíl García – RF |
| Mike Moustakas – 3B | Omar Narváez – C |
| Kyle Farmer – SS | Luis Urías – 3B |
| Tucker Barnhart – C | Rowdy Tellez – 1B |
| Shogo Akiyama – CF | Lorenzo Cain – CF |
| Tyler Mahle – SP | Corbin Burnes – SP |
Starting Pitchers
Tyler Mahle
The Brewers have seen Tyler Mahle three times this season. The first time went well for Cincinnati as Mahle fanned 12 and allowed a run in 6.0 innings in a 2-1 victory. The next two times weren’t quite as good as he allowed three runs in 6.0 innings on July 8th and then five runs in 5.1 innings on July 16th against Milwaukee.
Pitching on the road has been where Tyler Mahle has thrived this season. His OPS against is 325 points lower on the road (.553) and his ERA is 1.86 (6.00 at home). He’s been far more successful against lefties than righties, with lefties hitting just .180/.259/.280 against him, but righties posting a .274/.344/.522 line.
Pitch usage from 2021
| 4-Seam | Slider | Splitter | |
| Velo | 94.1 | 86.9 | 86.4 |
| Usage | 53% | 33% | 15% |
Corbin Burnes
One of the best pitchers in the game, Burnes has a 2.13 ERA this year. He’s only faced the Reds once this season but he dominated as he struck out 12 in 8.1 innings in Cincinnati on July 18th.
His splits don’t give much of a good game plan as lefties hold the better side of the platoon against him but are hitting just .215/.261/.289. Righties are hitting just .181/.224/.248 against him on the season. He has pitched worse at home, but that’s just about context. At home his ERA is 2.38 (1.87 on the road) and batters are hitting .203/.252/.270 against him in Milwaukee (.502 OPS on the road).
Pitch usage from 2021
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Cutter | Slider | Change | Curve | |
| Velo | 96.2 | 96.7 | 95.1 | 87.8 | 90.6 | 81.0 |
| Usage | 2% | 10% | 52% | 10% | 10% | 17% |
When and Where
- Game time: 8:10pm ET
- Where: American Family Field
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv,
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: It’s a dome.
News and Notes
Tejay Antone activated, Sean Doolittle DFA’d
We knew one of these moves was coming. We were unsure where the other shoe would drop to make it happen. But this afternoon we found out who was on the move out of Cincinnati and it was Sean Doolittle who was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Tejay Antone as he comes off of the injured list.
NL Central Standings
Playoff odds via Fangraphs
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff % |
| Brewers | 76 | 49 | 0 | 99.6% |
| Reds | 69 | 57 | 7.5 | 64.0% |
| Cardinals | 63 | 60 | 12.0 | 4.3% |
| Cubs | 55 | 72 | 22.0 | 0.0% |
| Pirates | 45 | 80 | 31.0 | 0.0% |
Doug, I always look forward to your pregame write-up. I typically read the comments here as Iisten to Tommy and Jeff on the radio.
Here’s hoping we can gain on the Brew crew but more importantly stay ahead of the Padres!
Big series here. We certainly have the opportunity to close the NLC gap, but also to cement our position for #163.
Hoping tonight’s children’s book “Mr. Mahle Hits the Road and Flattens Bernie” is a big success.
Bean Yelich.
Still haven’t forgot about the shenanigans they pulled last series with injuring our best player and taking out Boxberger in a very opportune time for a mystery injury.
He didn’t pitch for 4 or 5 days afterward
Isn’t Corbin Bernson a little old to be playing baseball? I mean all those years on LA Law plus his time in all 3 of the “Major League” movies. And wasn’t he a 3B guy in those, not a starting pitcher?
This is the brewers best pitcher. If the reds can beat him, they have a excellent chance to win the series. Need some heroics from the top of that line up again.
Agree. It’s going to test our patience to see if we get more hittable pitches.
My wife just saw our first glance at Sadak in his “gear” … hope he’s OK. Going to be a long road back regardless.
Fortunate for him he didn’t land face first and injure his mouth, but not so fortunate for us though.
Agree
Its simple…if we win we root for the padres to beat the dodgers. If we lose we root for the dodgers to beat the padres. Reds need 2 out of three here.
Totally agree.
Interesting perspective.
RoY takes a patient, rare walk.
Burnes has never pitched this deep into the season? That’s interesting.
All three( Peralta, Woodruff) have never pitched this many innings. Peralta already on DL with shoulder inflammation
One of the bigger challenges with a young core, especially after the 2020 seasion of 60 games.
Nuts!!
Debated on how much to engage on RLN tonight given Mahle “The Nibbler” is toeing the pitcher’s plate for the Reds! I see Barrero is MIA, again! Hopefully he’ll get a chance to contribute as a PH later in this game! Whatever happens, please do not let Kolten Wong, a former Dirty Bird, be a factor tonight! Go Reds!
Ahh the 3-2 kid.
Too many wasted pitches by Mahle already.
Lorenzo cain hitting 8th
I guess you can hit overpaid past their prime guys 8 th
Well, it’s either Cain or Bradley in CF and they are both overpaid.
The worst part of that double was the long AB he forced. Mahle’s pitch count already running up.
Mahle proving my point! 20+ pitches and still not out of the 1st inning!
Another full count, another hit. Good thing it was right at Naquin to spare the run.
Time to start up the GIDP machine
Full counts on each batter so far.
It’s still early, but Mahle has no movement on his slider.
Well at least its only 1 nothing and not three nothing with that swing
I was more than a little worried about that.
OK, only one run there is pretty much a gift. If we can get out of the inning without Yelich scoring, that’s a good thing.
And we play from behind! Nothing new there!
India draws lead off walk. Of course, Bell doesn’t send him or start the runner. Statue at first base, easily doubled up on grounder to second! Uuuggh!!!!! Common theme all year long. I know Reds are adept on offense. I am not complaining about this offense and what they have accomplished. Why not be aggressive though? Put pressure on defense. Strive to be better!
Mahle could take some lessons from Vlad!
I can’t stand when Mahle pitches. I think we need to trade him and Senzel to American League for whom I don’t know but it opens a spot for Greene or Lodolo. Almost 30 pitches in 1st inning ?
I agree! His pitching “style” drives me nuts! Won’t be around long tonight with a 31 pitch 1st inning!
It’s his breaking ball. When it’s good, he’s good. But when he doesn’t get good movement and/or can’t throw it for strikes, he becomes a 1 pitch pitcher. Also, does he have a change-up?
I agree he needs to work on his pitch efficiency. And it can drive you to distraction watching him waste so many pitches. But…..
Tyler Mahle is 10-4. That’s nothing to sneeze at. But away from the Great American Launching Pad, he is flat-out dominating. Mahle’s record on the road is 7-1 with a 1.86 ERA, and a 0.99 WHIP. And if the bullpen holds up tonight, he’s gonna jump that to 8-1 on the road.
You don’t trade that away. Not no way. Not no how.
So I’m thinking Mr. Mahle needs to have a few quick, clean innings … or we’re going to see the bullpen around the 4th tonight.
Patience and crooked numbers. Perhaps Lord Votto can get one back here.
Adames out of the game
Hmm Adames didnt look hurt in anyway when he crossed the plate and he was smiling walking back to the dugout.
Need to check Burnes’ hair for “stuff.”
Why is Moose at 3B and not Farmer with Barrero at SS? Come ON Bell. It’s not like we’re in a tight WC race or anything like that.
Because that’s never going to happen … whoever has set the “Moose/Geno must play” rule won’t back down even if the stats back up what we as fans see.
No MLB manager is gonna put a rookie like Barrero just called up into the lineup against Corbin Burnes in a pennant race
DTB wouldn’t do it against the Pie-Rats … and certainly not against FO orders.
Why not? What’s worse, taking a chance on an unproven rookie who might perform well or continuing to put in underachieving veterans who have done all the “proving” we have needed to see at this point?
Bell should take a chance on the kid. It might pay off.
Let me introduce you to Kevin Cash, manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. He is most certainly a major league manager.
He is playing a rookie at SS and batting him 3rd in the batting order.
Oh yea – the Rays are in first place by 4 games. They even traded away their starting SS to make room for Franco. And the Brewers were the beneficiaries of that move. (I am NOT advocating trading away Kyle Farmer, BTW)
It can be done. Tampa showed that. It should be done in Cincinnati, but it won’t be.
Completely dishonest comparison. Eduardo Rodriguez ( current ERA over 5) is no Corbin Burnes who would completely overmatch Barrero. They brought their hotshot rookie SS up expressly to assume that position on June 22, so nowhere near the critical do or die must win pressure as this series is (now, was) for the Reds right now. And the guy he replaced at the position was an interim player replacement rookie himself, so not an established vet starter where it would be a potential soap opera. Completely disingenuous comparison
Not our best lineup and Burnes at 24 pitches after 2 innings.Just not a good start offensively.Barrero,AA and Ty Steve are just better.I am out for ahwile.Go Reds.
These two line ups don’t match up well for the Reds, they can’t afford to get swept here. This is a bad pitching match hopefully the next two night are better. Mahle looks bad tonight, he is the Reds #5 vs the Brewers #1.
I’m changing the title of tonight’s children’s book ..
“Mr. Mahle Visits Bernie and Can’t Get Him Out”
Same old story with this guy … throws a million pitches before he even gets midway thru game … million dollar arm 10 cent head
Book it … almost every single game
Sadly, BoR, I must award you +500 for that very accurate statement
WHat statement?
Love seeing all the bashing on Mahle threw 2 innings… lol it’s currently the 5th inning and he has stuck out the last 4 batters and is at 84 pitches. People need to settle down and just enjoy the game.
India didn’t “feign” the throw, John. He ate it because he knew it wouldn’t be worth the risk. To “feign” is to fake or imagine … no decoy move involved here. Nothing or nobody to decoy.
If Mahle snaps that pickoff throw to 1st, he gets Cain. Not enough on the throw.
Need plate discipline (patience) against Burnes! He will make a mistake at some point! Hold the line here and get him in the later innings!
Detroit up 4-0 early on the Dirty Birds! C’mon Reds! Let’s go!
Not looking forward to playing Detroit they have been playing really good baseball the past 2 months. They had a terrible start but since June they are doing really good overall.
Is RoY’s left arm dangling a bit there on his way back to the dugout? Gee I hope not …
Let’s GO!!!
4th inning and I really miss Jim Day
Maybe a rally will keep you preoccupied
I can’t hear the name Jim Day in any voice but Eugenio’s
Perhaps it would … might also preoccupy Sadak.
Yep – I’m glad Sadak is ok . But his non stop chattering is aggravating . Guy needs to come up for air every now and then ….
I’m stuck listening on radio since I am in the Milwaukee Market I don’t get to watch any of these games unless I go out to a sports bar.
Alright 2 and third no outs with Votto at the plate…. cooking with gas here
REALLY need to score some runs here — with bases juiced and no outs.
Time to CAPITALIZE!!!!!!!
Bases loaded nobody out, let’s do better than lately, please.
Ball 3 … count 1 & 2
Come on Moose. Put it in play.
It’s early but I feel like the past few games I am starting to see Moose start to have better plate appearances. Plus tonight he has had a good night. Hopefully this is the start of something with Moose It would mean so much if he got hot right now for this team.
Yep on the PAs but he is scary as all get running around the bases still. Better straight line speed but every time he turns a base he rocks like a boat rolling in heavy seas and I hold my breath he doesn’t capsize.
YES!!!
Made Debbie smile 🙂
That’s better … much better.
Alright, Moose got another hit. May be coming out of the slump. Tie game, still no outs
He showing signs of life. Hopefully you are right.
Moose connects–tie game! Bases still loaded. C’mon Farmer…
Moose comes through.
LA Law is throwing a lot of balls
+100
Farmer harvests another run
+500
Farmer! Reds 2-1.
Burnes is human after all.
Small ball … beating Counsel at his own game.
Nice. One run at a time. Clutch singles hitting
Tucker with a productive out. 3-1. This great.
This is happening… this is really happening
I Love this
Akiyama really bailed out Burnes there
Really isn’t fair. Mahle has hit Burnes better.
He did – he’s pitiful at the plate .
Little bit
Nice inning, but man does Shogo look bad, not the kind of pitcher he can hit. If there is one. {LOL}
Mahle showed better plate discipline
The Reds seem to have an infatuation with defensive-first center fielders, don’t they?
That might be league wide. Not a ton of offensive first CFrs in MLB
He only has trouble with the ones that throw over 80 mph.
Was thinking the same when I seen the lineup. Burnes will eat him up
Shogo flailing at out-of-zone pitches and taking in-zone pitches. He’s just not a ML’er. Reds would be smart to cut bait and use that roster spot for someone that is viable. He’s not gonna get better.
They won’t though. They might next summer.
I’m glad Akiyama is good with the glove.
Too bad he can’t hit a lick.
Big inning for the Reds. Big damage for the Brewers. Burnes burned a lot of pitching capital that inning. Now Mahle must hold the line, and later on, the top of the order needs to plate a few more.
Burnes had a 34 pitch inning, if I can count correctly.
Big inning here for Mahle .
Go take a seat and have another
cheeseburger Rowdy
Rowdy has swallowed a lot of aggression, and cheeseburgers
Him and Vogelbach.
+100
Always big to shutdown the other team after your guys take the lead.
Mission accomplished Mahle
Slow paced game, 8:10 EDT start, “school night” … not sure how long I can stay up here.
why is Adames out of the game?
Report was a tweaked hammy
I hope he rests it for a few weeks Better safe than sorry
Mahle hit 96 on that pitch to strikeout Peterson. Havent seen that in a bit.
Mahle wins me the Over on 6.5 Ks. He has really settled down after the first
He has at that. Much calmer, more focused. Likely to get us through 6.
But according to many after 2 innings tonight he should be traded for sure he is terrible.
Moose smacks another one. Seems to be coming around.
Hope so. Need something from 3B.
2 Hits for Moose…. gonna say it was a slump and he is going to revert to something better then Suarez here
Definitely possible. He squared up both of those times. We haven’t seen that in the past couple of weeks.
Dude more worried bout his hair than pitching …..
My wife noticed that
he took a couple of walks too in recent games…. If he could get hot this team could be insane.
Having a day off on Monday must have really energized Moustakis.
Farmer has to get Moose to 3B in that AB. You have to get the ball on the ground to the right side.
Not to worry, Tucker scored him anyway.
Nice hitting Tucker !
TUCKER!!!
Little oppo flair … Debbie likes that!!
He has really had a nice season to date
Shogo offensively is brutal – I mean pathetic
TB with his second RBI.
I sure hope he’s on the roster next season. I have to believe the Reds’ two catchers are the best combo in baseball.
Nice hit by Tucker to plate another one. Keep it up! Burnes doesn’t have it tonight (at least after that big 4th inning).
You can tell he’s getting gassed. Counsel probably should yank him rather than risk a shoulder injury like with Peralta.
If Burnes is hiding his Spider-Trak in his hair, it isn’t working right now.
Shogo is the Freezer
Akiyama looks totally over matched
Bring up Inciarte from AAA – he can’t be any worse !
Trust me he can be, This is why he was released by the Braves.
You guys are forgetting this guy for the brewers is a very good pitcher. Go look at Akiyama’s stats since July 1st. They really are not that bad.
Eye test … doesn’t cut it
He’s hitting .204 on the year, with a .536 OPS. Has he only faced Burnes?
On the total year yes his numbers are not that great. Again look at the past almost 2 months. Much better numbers.
He’s been better of late, but the heavy inside stuff definitely has him tied up tonight.
I looked.
On July 1: .224/.289/.263/.522
Now: .204/.287/.249/.536
You call that “not that bad”? His high water mark in the interim was a .224 BA and a .575 OPS. Just an awful season.
According to “The Cowboy” Akiyama has a lot of trouble with any pitch 94 or higher.
I wish Votto would take fielding as seriously as hitting. He did not even get off the base after the pitch. That should have been an easy out.
Fielding Bible says Votto is the 22nd best first baseman defensively. He is -2 defensive runs saved. So, you are correct – he really isn’t a very good defender this season.
Must have gotten caught up in a little swirling cross-wind there. But he caught it, so that’s what counts.
Swirling from the air conditioning
Thankfully can’t draw pictures in the scorebook.
Yep. Looks like your standard F-7
Boy there are times when Aquino looks like Les Nessman out there.
+1
As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!!!
Got to shut down the commenting for the night. Still watching. Would love to see a couple more Crooked Numbers.
Catch you all tomorrow.
Looks like the Lorenzen batting days are over, or he would have batted here.
Already double switched. He’s in the 8-hole. AA is in the 9-hole.
All in all not a bad night for Mahle. Wish he could have gone longer than 5.2 innings, but only gave up run run. 8Ks, 1BB. Rough first inning and faded toward the last, but not bad. Burnes had a much worse night for the Brewers (serves him right, being a Brewer and all!)
Seems to have a rough time in the first 2 innings. 1/3 of the total runs he has given up this year come in the first two innings.
Bring it home, all. Have to turn in for the night …
Get him out of there.
Big time trouble here, might have left him in one batter to long.
Two batters?
I turn away from the game for 5 min, and it goes sideways
I wish Givens had throw the changeup to Yelich…Looked like 100% fastballs.
Followed by 4 straight chaneups to Garcia.
Have to change speeds some right?
This is why Relief pitchers only pitch one inning.
Maybe mahle isnt the problem
Dag nab it. Lorenzen gave them a little oxygen, and they rally
Hader time now.
Bullpen burning it down again … just unbelievable
Fascinating how when it goes south for one reliever, the rest follow like lemmings. Never the same sequence of names.
Reds hitters now need to come back against Williams and Hader.
We have done damage against Hader in the past… Hopefully it can happen again.
At least Bell used the best he had…can’t fault him there.
Nope. Sometimes you just have to hand it to the hitters.
Relievers are going to give up runs period…. Just wish we could win this game… starting to look like we will have to hope for better results the next 2 days.
Not over yet… Hang in there fans.
THis is not good. Both Main closer options burned. Still have TJ but if we are to win this we have to produce for 6 outs on the defense. I am totally ok with one inning per pitcher now.
Cardinals Lost , Dodgers leading bottom of 4th against the Padres 1 – 0
Yep I guess we root for the Dodgers tonight
Part of the problem was they didn’t even get 6 innings out of the starter, puts way to much pressure on the bull pen. However Lorenzen has to do a better job. Good news Cardinals lost and Pads playing Dodgers, going to be a tough come back.
Just checked back in. Why in the world did Bell leave Lorenzen in after things started going south? He’s done well since returning but no one goes the whole year without giving up runs. A couple on with no outs might be a warning sign.
This one isn’t Bell’s fault. And I am no Bell fan.
The walk by Lorenzen to Peterson was a joke. 3 singles to score a run and then he walks Peterson to load the bases. Can’t walk that guy in that situation.
Moustakas needs to build on his new streak
Not going to be instantly getting hits every at bat. would have been awesome if he had cranked one but alas…. tapper and out.
Mahle pitched great
Bullpen blew a 4-1 win
Period . If you are winning with the SP getting you to 7 th up 4-1- gotta win
Brewers are a better team and have a bullpen that shows up
All the time
Reds beat burnes except still lose because bullpen isnt ready to be a champion
This is now at best a 1 game season against the dodgers or giants
Too bad the bullpen couldnt be better
I didn’t think they would win tonight but, never thought the game would play out the way it has. One more chance if not go get them tomorrow, much better match up. However, Castillo needs to give innings.
This night has become a disaster.
I feel terrible for Antone. Best case scenario is that he didn’t blow out his UCL and will be ready for Spring Training. That said, is the move tomorrow Hunter Greene?
It happens to all teams.
Geez…Antone just hurt himself..
Pitch several rehab innings and throws 5 pitches and gone again.
His fastball is great, but he threw mostly breaking stuff.
I was looking for the sharp, late break he had before the injury and didn’t see it.
It’s incredible how great the feeling was 2-3 innings ago. Cruising. Then everything falls apart. Now Antone prob back to the IL.
Yep, what a terrible two innings
And now Antone is hurt.
Swell. Just what the bullpen needed!!
I’d like to say l’m surprised by the re-injury to TJ Antone but I’m not. I had a feeling that might happen. He was off for such a long time. I feel bad for him. I just hope his career isn’t over.
Joe I am with you I feel like they were rushing him back. I just feel bad they pushed him to get back so far.. I know he probably pushed himself as well though.
Well they can’t bring back Doolittle so it might be time to bring up Lodolo.
Will probably be Moreta.
I have no idea what the Reds roster move will be, but they must have a contingency for this. They let Feliz and Doolittle go, so who’s next?
Moreta’s turn surely.
Lodolo has to be packing his bags. That was awful to see…especially after 2 DFAs.
I’d go Hunter. Lodolo was just skipped in the rotation for shoulder fatigue. Plus, that fastball and slider could be nasty out of the pen. Maybe even Aroldis Chapman like?
I’d prefer Hunter too.
It’ll be neither.
Cessa came back after almost walking Bradley. Big out.
Well that should do it. Good night folks
And Cessna serves it up ! Thanks man – ballgame ! He has not been very good here lately …. put it on a batting tee … garbage pitch
Cessa
Welp. That’s a bummer.
i don’t believe how this game suddenly is crashed in this way… leading 4-1 with Lorenzen backed up by Givens, Sims , Antone, Cessa in the BP seems to be a secure win but tonight was the Lorenzen blowing turn…
Well, we might miss Hader now 🙂
No, he’ll be in.
Cessa looked good his first outing with the Reds, but he hasn’t shown much since. He doesn’t look like he has a fastball. And Wong is a guy you have to pitch around.
It’s kind of fitting that the bullpen blew this game. They are the primary reason we aren’t winning the division.
And Geno gets his whiff in for the night ….
This move is just to get AG some reps. He’s been out of the loop forever. Game’s over
Bullpen implosion on full display
They need to win at least one of the next two, the division is gone but game 163 is there for the taking and you never know what can happen in one game. They have to put tonight behind them and not let the Brewers put them into a spin as they did post all star break.
Well this is unfortunate. At least this bullpen collapse, is the exception and not the rule. Lets see who the replacement for TJ is when he gets Tommy John
another Tommy John for Antone? He´s already one 3 years ago… I think this injury is not for TJ surgery again…
Let Antone recover until spring training.
Basically every guy in the bullpen failed tonight….nice job guys
Hello darkness, my old friend
There is no reason to not play Barrero tomorrow. Put him in center field if need be.
I agree ! Find a way to get his bat in the freaking lineup !!!!!!!
Ah! Garrett should has pitched against Wong… after was late…. Really I see the Reds a little better than Brewers in positional players and starting rotation but the BP is a weight hard to carry on…
I’m not sure the Reds are better than the Brewers in positional players. The Brewers lost Adames early in this one, and they lost Escobar yesterday as well. Wong is a heck of a player – he might be the best player in the NL Central. And then when Yelich hits they are tough to beat. That catcher Narvaez has been better than he should be; same for Urias. They have a tough lineup. You can’t give them an opening or they kick in the door.
The Reds have the top 3 positional players in the NL Central, Votto, Castellanos, Winker. It’s not close. I’d also put India above Wong or anyone else in the Brewers lineup.
Adames is probably better then Winker when you consider defense and baserunning. Its close, but his point stands. They removed Bradley Jr and Hiura from their lineup. They’re deeper and Yelich is starting to hit again as well. They’re pretty good. We can flatout mash better, but that situational hitting in the 7th was something the Reds can’t usually do.
And that was an “afghan national army” level collapse of the bullpen there. Arent destined to win them all. Still 4-1 in the last 5. Rooting for LA now.
The grit and determination of the Brewers is impressive. Hats off to the class of the division- a fun team to watch.
Another game blown by this “still” Tinderbox bullpen…..and Antone hurt again. Milwaukee will have a 10 game lead after this series. Get the golf clubs ready…lol
Tough loss, but the Reds weren’t winning the division anyway. Reds will take down the 2nd wildcard, but that might be 1-n-done if the pen can’t put guys away any better then they did tonite.