The Cincinnati Reds will look to even up the series after falling last night 2-1. Hunter Greene takes the mound for Cincinnati and will look to continue what he’s done over his last two starts. The Blue Jays will send Alek Manoah to the mound. First pitch in Toronto is set for 3:07pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Here are the lineups for this international match up:
Cincinnati Reds
|
Toronto Blue Jays
|
| TJ Friedl – CF | George Springer – CF |
| Tyler Naquin – RF | Bo Bichette – SS |
| Tommy Pham – LF | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – DH |
| Joey Votto – DH | Teoscar Hernandez – RF |
| Tyler Stephenson – C | Santiago Espinal – 2B |
| Mike Moustakas – 3B | Alejandro Kirk – C |
| Colin Moran – 1B | Matt Chapman – 3B |
| Alejo Lopez – 2B | Lourdes Gurriel Jr. – 1B |
| Matt Reynolds – SS | Raimel Tapia – LF |
| Hunter Greene – SP | Alek Manoah – SP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Hunter Greene | 33.1 | 6.21 | 1.56 | 20 | 44 |
| Alek Manoah | 42.0 | 1.71 | 0.88 | 9 | 39 |
| Links: Hunter Greene’s Stats | Alek Manoah’s Stats |
|||||
Hunter Greene
Coming off of 7.1 no-hit innings his last time out, Hunter Greene will look to build on that against the Blue Jays. After allowing five home runs in a disastrous start against Milwaukee to begin the month, he’s given up just one over his last two outings. Control and walks have been a bit of a struggle at times and he’s walked four or more batters in four of his seven starts.
Right-handed hitters have crushed Greene this season, posting an OPS against him of 1.060 with 8 of their 18 hits being home runs. Left-handed batters haven’t had nearly the same kind of success against Greene, posting an OPS 350 points lower. Worth noting here that Greene has thrown zero change ups to right-handed batters this season as he enters his 8th start.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 71 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 18 | .290 | .366 | .694 |
| LHH | 83 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 26 | .200 | .325 | .386 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 98.4 | 87.3 | 89.6 |
| Usage | 54.2% | 39.2% | 6.5% |
Alek Manoah
Since being called up last season, Alek Manoah has been one of the best starting pitchers in baseball. He’s made 27 starts and posted a 2.81 ERA in 153.2 innings for the Blue Jays.
His splits are quite big. Right-handed hitters have basically no chance against, hitting a cool .111 with an OPS of .359 this year – and it wasn’t much different last season, either. Left-handed hitters handle things much better, hitting .279 with a .364 on-base percentage. They don’t hit for much power against him, but they have a chance to get something going.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 87 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 26 | .111 | .149 | .210 |
| LHH | 77 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 13 | .279 | .364 | .382 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 94.1 | 92.9 | 80.9 | 86.3 |
| Usage | 40.3% | 19.1% | 29.5% | 11.1% |
When and Where
- Game time: 3:07pm ET
- Where: Rogers Centre
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: They play in a dome
News and Notes
Joey Votto’s legacy at his high school
Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer looked at Joey Votto’s legacy at his former high school and how he’s remained connected 20 years later.
“Joey is the most sincere person you’ll ever meet,” said Stath Koumoutseas, who was Votto’s baseball coach. “He’s honest and he’s humble. He has never forgotten Richview. He’s still one of the guys. He’s a superstar, but he really enjoys coming by and talking with us. He has never forgotten us. That’s what sets him apart from most.”
Injury updates
David Bell said Kyle Farmer’s off day today is about “being smart.”
Mike Minor’s rehab start got good reports.
Nick Senzel had a scheduled off day yesterday on his rehab assignment and is continuing to progress.
Max Schrock is expected to start a rehab assignment soon.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) May 21, 2022
Reds prospect Connor Phillips struck out 13 batters last night
Last night was full of intrigue on the Reds farm. Connor Phillips, who came over in the trade with Seattle, struck out 13 batters for the Dayton Dragons as they swept a doubleheader that included a walk-off homer.
It’s going to take a very sharp Greene and some lucky breaks for our bats today. I wonder if the not-an-off-day in Cleveland played into setting this line-up. Then again, we do know we’re a bit hand-cuffed with those we left behind for this trip.
C’mon, guys! Let’s pull one out here.
Reynolds was 3-4 last night and is rewarded with moving to the 9 hole today. He has a bad matchup today though. Let’s hope for a big day by Greene and one of the LH hitters to carry the load offensively.
Remember, with Bell, one’s performance in last night’s game does not impact his lineup decisions that day. Often, the individual doesn’t even play the next day. Hence, many never build a rhythm, particularly the young guys. For instance, Lopez pull a Scooter today and wind up sitting tomorrow. It’s just the way it is. Of course, the odds of Lopez pulling a Scooter are vanishingly small.
Well, when you make out the line-ups for the whole season in advance …
#sarcasmfontoff
+1000
LDS Bell is probably going to hit for Lopez before his first AB today anyway.
@LarkinPhillips – that’s a really good point.
A funny point, but not an accurate one. A player’s performance has little to do with what he’ll do the next day. Pitching matchups do, though.
Well, it looks like moving one of the best hitters in baseball up in the lineup from fifth, on the worst team in baseball I might add, lasted about one game. 🙂 I guess it’s because we have such a powerful good hitting lineup. I mean where else could you consistently put him? 🙂
Very interesting lefty-righty splits for Manoah reported by Doug above. Bell has all of his available lefty bats in there.
Yep. The kid murders RH batters.
Interesting lineup. I do not view Renyolds in the 2nd lead-off spot as a bad move. If he continues yesterday, great, if he does not then the harm is minimal. Finally seeing Lopez in the lineup. Is there any word on India?
Here are the most recent media updates on all injured Reds players: https://www.mlb.com/reds/news/reds-injuries-and-roster-moves
Not a particularly encouraging update.
The Solomon signing appears to have been a complete bust. I doubt we will ever see him play in a Red’s uniform.
Nick Lodolo is most concerning to me. Just goes to show you that you can never have enough pitching.
And why is Friedl leading off yet again? He’s hitting .175.
Righties are batting .111 vs. Manoah, so pick your poison.
And TJ is hitting .158 against RH’ers so a hit today from the #1 slot will be a huge bonus.
But then the cleanup hitter is hitting .128 – what you going to do?
With this team, my only goal for first innings is that the opposing pitcher is forced throw double-digit pitches. They saw 10 pitches, so it’s a solid start.
Max Schrock makes Nick Senzel look like Cal Ripken, Jr.
Be nice to get them both back.
I see what you did there. 😉
Friedl is showing me a lot defensively. I didn’t realize he had that much range and skill to track down long blasts.
+500
And is it just me, or does the Rogers Centre play “big” despite only being 400′ to CF.
Good start for Greene. Would love to see him roll another one out like last game, especially against a good hitting Bluejays team.
No-hit inning streak now at 8.1 😉
Nice inning for Hunter after all. Got by with a little help from his friends.
In the past few games, opposing pitchers are pounding Stephenson with fastballs inside, and he hasn’t been touching them. Something to keep an eye on.
+100
Somebody noted that TySteve appears to be looking to pull way more than what we saw before. Maybe he’s adjusting after getting banged up? Then again, this kid kills RH batters, so …
There’s the 9-inning no-no 🙂
OK, he’s looking pretty good so far. Mixing speeds. The breaking stuff is nasty. Not being squeezed too much by the umpire (despite the BB issued).
The boys need to break through somehow. Now would be good.
Yes we all know Greene should have at least 2 wins. Plus would be nice to score some runs!!!
Curious if anyone thinks we will.see Ashcraft today after Greene? Personally wouldn’t mind seeing Ashcraft and Solomon pitch today..
I don’t want to see Ashcraft in a tied or close game.
Tom, any chance Ashcroft starts on Monday? I was planning on going to the game assuming he would start. I don’t know why I made such an assumption. Lol
Lopez just dialed in on that hump-back liner. good for him!
And just like that … we had 2 outs and nobody on
everyone sleeps on lopez… wouldnt have had him steal there. No way he did that on his own
Likely not at his level. 4A guys do what they are told or what the “book” says to do.
I am not ready to slap 4A label on him. He can hit pretty consistently for contact from both sides of the bat. if the power isnt coming then bell needs to recognize that and use him accordingly
I say “4A” in the sense that he won’t be a consistent starter in The Show. He’s the type of bench player that can provide value to a good team. Our Reds were chocked full of them in the 70’s if I recall.
So that was my intent in using the label.
I miss the days of slap hitters. Lol
You and me both
So basically, the players who on the “restricted list” are ineligible to enter Canada? Is that a fair assumption?
And broadcasters too, i suspect. LeCure in the booth, Graves in the studio, Welsh on the radio. Somebody’s absence is conspicuous??
Good point, that never occurred to me. I think I heard he was at his daughter’s graduation ceremony a couple days ago, but that was Thursday I believe. Thanks Daytonnati!
Alright, way to start an inning off
or not… or better yet Votto!!!! there we go
Lead-off slap single and a double?? Got to love that action.
And then THAT happened.
Really bad break. But Votto came through with two outs. Something we don’t see all that often.
Oh what could have been …
Nice smack by Joey!
Finally a run.
And it would have been better except for Pham’s shattering experience.
That and the “lucky” reaction by the pitcher and Friedl being off at the crack of the bat.
Our heads are spinning here in my living room at this rapid turn of events over just a couple batters.
To emotions right there dp, and then double scores a run
Tom (or anybody else) … I asked above if the Rogers Centre seems to play “big” despite only 400′ to CF. Any thoughts? Was thinking that with Friedl’s snag in the 1st.
That homer by Bichette did not appear to be a bad pitch. Middle of the plate, but at the bottom of the zone. Sometimes you just have to give credit to a good hitter for good hitting.
I had to step away and heard my wife yelling about the HR. Did Hunter groove that one? I mean, Bichette is a stud, so …
See immediately above. 😉
+100 and thanks
Shut out over; No-hitter over; Now to get back to scoring and win this one.
Just focus on getting one here, guys … hard to double up Tilapia.
If we could just give these young pitchers some breathing room? They have to bear down on every hitter. They know one mistake might cost them the game.
I know. Working with even a 1-run lead helps. 2-run leads seem to be pretty rare these days for us.
OK. That works. Now just focus on Springer.
Just.Like.That!!!
Very nice to bear down and avoid damage.
Alas, I got to the point where i was being spoiled into a no-hitter attempt or bust. We are still in a good position for this game. Hunter is doing very well lately
He is at that. We just need the boys to back him up with some crooked number action.
Good mound management by Greene there.
Oops … Moose had to rush that throw a bit after a not-so-clean field and transfer.
To paraphrase the late, great P. J. O’Rourke, letting Moose play defense is like “giving a teenager a bottle of whiskey and the keys to the car.”
His right foot hit the ground 4 times before he threw the ball. Ridiculous.
I know what everyone is going to say about Moose playing defense. I agree.
He’s clearly best suited as DH. When Dick Williams signed him, he said that was how they projected him in the latter years of the contract.
I agree with Moose as a DH if the Reds weren’t so decimated by injuries and talent exodus. At this point, there are a lot of guys competing for the DH role through their defensive performance.
Yep. I was going to cut him some slack right up until that one.
He needs to focus. Can’t let sloppy play lead to another run when you have the tools to get a guy out.
NICE!!
NICE!
(echo echo echo) 😉
+250
Greene may have gotten help on strike 2 but the K was all his
Just a little help, but he did earn it anyway.
Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice Pitch
Bam
That was all Mr. Greene buckling down on Chapman. Nice poise and result.
I’ll see your NICE! and raise you a FILTHY!! 🙂
🙂
Ump checks Greene’s hands for…traces of dynamite?
+500
That was huge. A few weeks back, that situation would have opened the door to a flood of runs. Not today. That’s probably it for Greene, but a heck of a job!
Does Bell bring him back?
Cessa is warming, so I say he doesn’t (or at least shouldn’t). Not today, especially if we stake him to a lead.
I think not.
He can pull all day long with that result.
My wife says now somebody needs to back him up … 🙂
And Mr. Moose does his job.
Gotta get the runner home
My cynical wife is saying “just like that” after Moran’s K.
Lopez tried … good job by the Jays to get that out.
Cesa in the game. I have no issue with this move. Greene pitched heck of a game last two times out, plus this game and got out of the base loaded jam last inning.
Great game for Hunter Greene!!
I don’t bet on any of this, but I could have made a lot of money if someone had been willing to bet Moran would drive that run in.
I have to turn my attention to getting ready to cook dinner in a bit. We’re doing pizza on the “big grill”, which is basically a charcoal or wood-fired convection oven. My dear wife is beginning to work on the dough and sauce. Sorry none of you can join me around 7 when it should be all ready to consume … 🙂
How bout delivery? 🙂
I have soured again on Moran, we did over extend greene last start so I gotta agree with the early pull as well
+250
I’m in that camp as well for Greene today
I agree on Moran,.. ugh
So much for the lead off double. Horrible at bat by Moran. Can’t take a first pitch strike in that situation.
And the QS string (and these really are with only 1 or 2 runs) continues.
Completely buckled his knees on that filthy thing
Manoa was chosen 2 picks after Lodolo in the draft.
Cool, two pitchers with all the potential in the world. I look forward to seeing both development into good pitchers.
OK Props to Bell for pulling Greene. He had another great outing and why ruin it by keeping him in too long? I like this move at this point in the season and in Greenes career
Let’s see if this stands … Friedl actually overran that just a bit.
Good. 2 outs really helps here. Then again … Bichette is up.
Nice throw by Pham.
Got him!
Replay confirms he’s out
And so did Bichette … 3-1 seems insurmountable with this team.
Nice try by Friedl, though thought he should have had it. Great backup and throw by Pham
Yep. Ultimately it probably doesn’t matter since you still face Bichette.
Bi-chette happens 🙁
+100
SMH….. well this one is over
And that pretty much closes the door on today for our guys. Bichette is just a stud. Kind of like Crash Davis saying, “If he starts me with curve, I’m taking him downtown.”
Exactlly…he was sitting on Uncle Charlie
Rally Caps!!! Lets Go
I think we can safely say that Bichette got all of that one.
One of these teams can hit HRs and the other one can’t. In a well pitched game, that is often the difference.
I really ought to start betting on these games. I would have made a lot of money if anyone had been willing to bet the Blue Jays wouldn’t score with a guy on third and two outs.
Yet another game where the Reds hitters are overly aggressive early and the opposing starter gets to go late into the game with a very low pitch count. We need a few grinders in the lineup who don’t hit the first or second pitch every single AB.
If the team had real leadership, that would happen. But it has David Bell.
These are ML pitchers. They didn’t get to the major leagues by walking hitters. Do you have any idea what the league is hitting behind in the count versus ahead or even?
@jim
The pitcher we faced yesterday and last game of Cleveland series are both guys notorious for nibbling. No reason to be overly aggressive with a below average offense.
I think it would come as a surprise to a lot of Reds fans to learn that major league pitchers don’t have trouble throwing strikes or they wouldn’t be in the majors.
@larkin I’m not opposed to taking pitches that are balls but I like hitters to swing at strikes not get in counts that gives pitches a advantage. It is a fine line.
That’s why we have one of the best hitters in baseball batting 5th gentlemen. You just don’t understand. He’s right in the middle and balances everything out.:)
That’s their style, or the style of todays game. I feel gone are the hitters who as you say are grinders. I agree I wish that would happen as well
And yet, most Reds pitchers seem to have a lot of trouble lasting 6 innings because their pitch counts are so high. It seems like not everyone approaches the game the way they do.
Lecure commented on this. His take was that Manoa was throwing strikes. If you take pitches, you probably get behind in the count and Manoa can just toy with you. He’s good. I’d completely agree with you if the pitcher had shaky control.
They need a new line up period.
Yeah, the Reds line up is pretty anemic as currently constituted. India’s return will give it a little boost, but I’m not convinced the return of Barrero, Senzel and the like is going to matter all that much.
The Reds really need a RH power hitter in the middle of their line-up. This team really misses Nick Castellanos.
Yes, backed up by their former all-star left fielder, but I realize he had to be sacrificed to deal with the Suarez situation.
So, that’s 4 hits and 2 ER’s in 13 innings for young Jedi Greene. Just think of what he could do if he gets some run support … 😮
Maybe Bell should have used Warren. LMBO!!!
Oh do NOT go there!!! I’ll fish out all my negative points for that.
🙂
Lol!!
Manoa furious that he’s getting pulled after only 83 pitches.
Maybe Toronto will get popped by the “closer rules” book.
We can only hope
Textbook perfect throw by TySteve to nail him.
That throw was as good as it gets.
That error by Moustakas ended up costing Hunter Greene 15 pitches. Hunter was at 69 pitches when the error occurred and he ended up at 84 pitches to get the last out of the 6th. That error enabled the Blue Jays to get to our bullpen sooner. Greene might have got us through Bichette whereas Cessa didn’t.
Excellent point. You would have liked to see him have a chance. I think the error rattled him just a tiny bit. Without that, he could keep on cruising through 7 and we don’t see Bichette until later.
Thought the same thing…those 15 pitches cost him another inning.
Excellent article about Joey Votto and his hometown. Truly a great person.. The article is in the Cincinnati Enquirer.. Very Humble
He’s a completely stand-up guy by all accounts. It’s hard to see him battling Father Time.
Really terrible at bat by Pham
Pham had a bad game at the plate. He looks like he did to start the season. He’s not seeing the ball and he’s pulling off of everything.
Tommy Pham has been bad the past 3 years. I have no idea why Nick Krall signed him. There is a reason why he was still available in April. So much for the “revenge tour”.
Can someone issue an APB for the Reds offense! I believe the 2022 Reds are 1-7 in games this year in which they have score only one (1) run!
That’s a VERY telling stat. Plus it illustrates they’ve scored only 1 run in 8 games. Add to that the shut-outs and the 2-run games, and that’s a mess. a BIG mess.
I need to star prepping to cook.
The salient point is, as you mention, that they’ve scored one run in eight games. I bet few teams have good records when they score one run, though. I hope your pizza meets expectations.
and a losing series finally gets us again…. oh well.
Good night all … tomorrow is another day …
This is just not a very good baseball team. They have at least the making of core of good young starters, but the bullpen is shaky and the offense is non-existent.
Gonna have to start calling them The One Run Reds!
They may have some nice players down the line that can hit but they are all 2 or 3 years away, if all goes right.
Drury has been missed in these two one-run losses.
Game wrapup story now live. You may be interested to learn how extensively Greene uses his changeup. https://www.redlegnation.com/2022/05/21/another-hunter-greene-gem-unrewarded-blue-jays-3-reds-1/