After taking the opener of the series on Friday night, the Cincinnati Reds will send Vladimir Gutierrez to the mound to try and make it two in a row over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday afternoon. Former Red Alex Wood will toe the rubber for the Giants. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Here are the lineups for this afternoon’s contest:
San Francisco Giants
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| Tommy La Stella – DH | Nick Senzel – CF |
| Mike Yastrzemski – CF | Brandon Drury – 3B |
| Darin Ruf – 1B | Tyler Stephenson – C |
| Joc Pederson – LF | Joey Votto – 1B |
| Brandon Crawford – SS | Kyle Farmer – SS |
| Evan Longoria – 3B | Aristides Aquino – RF |
| Luis Gonzalez – RF | Albert Almora Jr. – LF |
| Donovan Walton – 2B | Alejo Lopez – DH |
| Curt Casali – C | Matt Reynolds – 2B |
| Alex Wood – SP | Vladimir Gutierrez – SP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Vladimir Gutierrez | 30.0 | 8.70 | 1.90 | 21 | 24 |
| Alex Wood | 37.1 | 4.82 | 1.55 | 12 | 39 |
| Links: Vladimir Gutierrez’s Stats | Alex Wood’s Stats |
|||||
Vladimir Gutierrez
The plan was to ship Vladimir Gutierrez to the bullpen after struggles to begin the season, but injuries have led to that plan being scrapped. Gutierrez has walked 21 batters and hit six more, meaning he’s handed out more free passes to first base than he’s recorded strikeouts this season. That’s not a good way to be successful as a pitcher.
The splits with Gutierrez have been extreme this year. Right-handed hitters are finding a lot of success against him, but lefties are hitting him like they’re all 1927 Babe Ruth (he hit .356/.486/.772 that year).
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 70 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | .276 | .386 | .483 |
| LHH | 76 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 14 | .339 | .474 | .763 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | Slider | Change | Curve | |
| Velo | 92.5 | 82.3 | 82.6 | 78.1 |
| Usage | 50.5% | 20.4% | 16.1% | 13.0% |
Alex Wood
Teams haven’t sent too many lefties to the plate this year against Alex Wood, but when they have it hasn’t worked out so well as they’ve hit just .184 with three walks and two extra-base hits. Righties aren’t hitting for much power, but they are hitting .342 against Wood this season.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 126 | 39 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 26 | .342 | .400 | .483 |
| LHH | 42 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13 | .184 | .238 | .290 |
Pitch Usage
| 2-Seam | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 92.6 | 85.1 | 86.3 |
| Usage | 51.9% | 30.7% | 17.4% |
When and Where
- Game time: 4:10pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 71°, partly cloudy, 1% chance of rain
News and Notes
Tommy Pham suspended for 3 games
In a story that gets dumber with every new tidbit we get from it, Tommy Pham has been suspended for three games for slapping Joc Pederson during batting practice on Friday. His suspension began yesterday. We’ve written about it all here, and there’s video of the incident, as well as interviews with both Pham and Pederson about what happened if you’re interested in the drama.
Max Schrock to Triple-A to begin rehab
The Reds have sent Max Schrock to join the Triple-A Louisville Bats to begin a rehab assignment. Schrock has missed the entire regular season with a strained left calf muscle.
Alright, here it goes. Vlad is pitching so the over is a solid pick. For player bets, taking Lopez, Ty Steve. Still think Reynolds is a safe bet too. Giants are the safe bet but the reds have been rolling. Not horribly put off by pham’s absence.
+1000. I like TySteve and am fading Vlad and taking the left handers on the Giants.
went risky with a Kyle Farmer 6 total bases 2 hits and Reds win parley 10 bucks gets 330
If Votto is playing, I’d swap him and him & Stephenson – much stronger cover than Farmer. Wood’s splits against LH’er isn’t favorable to a guy that doesn’t hit LH’ers. JV is hitting .162 with a .515 OPS this year again LH’ers, striking out 17 times in 37 ABs (45.9%), no HRs. Not a favorable matchup for JV. And with Gutierrez pitching, the Reds really need to get to Wood early.
Basically the lineup from last night, swapping Joey in for Moose.
Headed out in a bit. I’ll check in periodically.
Let’s take the series today.
After today’s game, does Gutierrez go to the pen or Louisville?
I prefer that he go to Louisville and remain as a starter. He has lost his spot with the Reds barring injury or trade. Minor takes the 5th spot and Lodolo is also ahead of him. He, along with Sanmartin, must continue to work as starters in Louisville and prepare for when starting spots open if injuries occur or when Castillo and Mahle are traded. Minor may also be on the block with a good June and July. They should be challenged by Lodolo, Overton and hopefully Williamson and Abbott.
100% agree, we’ll need Gutierrez or Sanmartin again, they need to work out what ever is wrong in their game down in AAA.
I agree on Gutierrez. I was at a start of his mid summer last year and he was a strike throwing machine commanding all his pitches. CW is he ran out of gas but tough start this year. I hope his August 2021-May 2022 isnt sticky stuff.
I dont know about Sanmartin. I am increasingly of the opinion he just doesnt have the stuff to be a major league starter. He could be a change of pace arm in the bullpen.
Thats what this year is for though- figure those things out.
Is there anyone who knows anything about lodolos status? Are we going g to see him again in 2022??
Vlad making my 1st inning HRE over 2.5 look like a bad investment, good Job
I took runs in the first too. Figured Yaz or Joc would run into one honestly.
Farmer cleared my HRE for the first. First bet down
Had farmer hitting a HR today. Small bet though.
3-1 and 3-2 curveballs with a runner on third. I like that call for Vlad there.
Buckled his knees just a bit. Nice inning.
Senzel 102 mph, 393 feet and an out.
Thats gotta be the baseball. That was a home run at GABP in years past.
2 inches on the bat and it’s a gap shot.
I like his choice to swing at it.
THere you go Farmer… MAKE ME MY MONEY!!!!! all i need is a double or more from him
Rooting for you!
Farmer takes his friend deep
GONE!!!
First blood feels good. Farmer batting 1.000 against Wood.
Already up 17 dollars. Need Stephenson to either get a hit or score or get an RBI. Need Farmer to get 2 more total bases, and the reds to win. Need 8 More runs in the game
Outfield defense is light years better.
Gutierrez competing
Way to bow up Vlad…big hold there. Bad ump call for walk then a nub hit.
Senzel and AA with strong throws to keep runners in check
6 runs remaining…. lets get them all this inning cinci
Looks like Vlad is following his normal blueprint of giving up absolute missiles the second time through the order.
He and Sanmartin are both bullpen guys at best in my opinion.
Who doesn’t love Farmer’s granny?
Things like that are what I love about the game. I love Farmer too, but I hope Barrero is at short by August assuming he hits in AAA.
Barrero needs to play SS. Kyle can plays 3 other positions on the infield too. Love Farmer too.
I believe Farmer is most likely traded.
Votto nearly unplayable against the soft-tossing lefties. Think he can still square up the hard throwers but doesn’t seem to be able to see the off-speed pitches from that side.
Wood is a real tough lefty as well.
Yep. Strong splits from Wood. Probably could have dropped Joey lower in the order against him.
speaking of the fall of greatness… the White Sox DFA’ed Dallas Kutchel today
Granny: “We love Alex, but I told Kyle ‘Just knock him out of the park'”
Granny keepin’ it simple.
It’s a shame the Reds didn’t get a healthy Alex Wood in the Dodger trade. He is very effective lefty that would have really helped.
Lets see if Bell gets someone in soon enough? Vlad has been on the ledge every inning. He just doesn’t have the stuff to get thru a lineup twice. Those guys are called relievers and its not the end of the world but someone in management needs to be able to quickly figure it out
Vlad battling through 4 which I wasn’t sure he would make it that far based on what he has done recently.Maybe he goes 5 or 6 and leaves with the lead.
Granny needed the sensor button….lol
Get someone up yesterday
Lefty would be nice with 2 coming up
Not sure he should give Joc anything to hit here
Grinded thru it.
5 innings is enough, time to go to the pen. However not thrilled is Cessa comes in he has been horrible lately.
Vlad gets us to the 6th which for me is a win win for him.Take that every day of the week from him.Good job.Need some more runs please.
What I see with Gutierrez is that he opens up that front side and his left shoulder dips, which makes his arm delivery to the plate open and visible to the hitter.
He could do a better job of keeping that front shoulder in, keep it closed as he comes to the plate, in order to hide the ball better. While his delivery is not very deceptive, his stuff is plenty good enough.
He does it a lot more from the windup as he rushes to the plate before getting his balances and driving to the plate. I don’t remember his windup being that rapid last year.
Barring injury, at some point in the next week or two Senzel is going to go on a tear! Lots of hits and doubles.
Still need another hit from Stephenson and a double or better from farmer but its looking good. Vlad proved me a liar today, and I seem to be losing the over
Unfortunately the Reds bullpen can always help cover for Vlad lol
Hope Cessa brings his A game today.
Cess-a pool lately
Think it might be time for a DL stint for Cessa. That seems to be the pattern with Reds’ pitchers the last few years.
Nope,Cessa has not been good.Sad
Giants are a good team. Need to manufacture some runs and play add-on.
Reds have a chance at 4 wins in a row and winning 3-2 needing 9 more outs.
Ill take it.
No more Cessa.
Interesting the Mariners are in the midst of their own Red style tailspin 7 of the last 28.
Baseball is so full of ups and downs.
Yes and the best stay away from the long losing streaks and still lose 4 out of 10.
I think it was Aquino’s ball to lose. Good he made the catch and glad everyone is ok.
Nice catch but Senzel just can’t stop getting hurt. That elbow is going to hurt tomorrow. He will be out.
Looked more like just a strawberry, than anything else.
Quite the welt as well. Im hoping he plays. I like his aggressiveness.
Diaz and Drury pretty darn solid.
Who predicted that? Take a bow.
Great catch by Aquino. The ball was hit in a place where the collision just couldn’t be avoided. No contact to the head, and Aquino got both legs airborne, so the knees weren’t planted.
Not healthy to run into Aquino. Extreme caution advised. 🙂
Big Man with Ball
Barrero HR today…Max Schrock 2 hits
Diaz has been so solid. I was just looking at his stats and found it funny that the Reds have won 8 straight games that he has pitched in. Some of that is how he is used of course, but for a team that is quite a bit under .500, it’s still amazing. Hope they can make it 9 in a row today.
Diaz is filthy. Can he go another inning?
Just heard Detweiler is warming.
Diaz has great stuff.I like that Bell brought him in to face the top of the order.
Santillan up in the bullpen
Detwiler nice job. Brutal miss on strike 3 by the ump.
This is what this year is about.
See what Santillan has in high leverage situations. Let’s go Tony.
Diaz is killing it .
If they get Tony and Cessa turned around , this bullpen will be good.
And that’s what happens when the ump misses the obvious strike and inning over.
I hope the home plate umpire tomorrow calls a better game than what we’ve seen from the guys who have worked the first two games in this series. (Which quite frankly shouldn’t be too hard to do.)
Other than that 1 pitch, I thought this ump has done a pretty good job today on balls/strikes. He missed a strike 3 on Ty Steve earlier I remember.
Agree.
He’s missed the calls on more than those 2 pitches.
TONY!!
Very nice play by Farmer to end that inning. That ball hit the mound, had a lot of spin on it and almost handcuffed Farmer. Nice play.
I will ride the young guys train all year if need be.High leverage and Tony gets it done.Nothing but a confidence builder.Lets add on right now.Its fun when the young guys are doing what they are doing.This team is becoming exciting to watch and will only get better cause more help is on the way.
Alas, now going to lose my ty steve bet, farmer bet, and the over bet. Just get these three outs and I wont care
Same. I’ll still be up on the game and Reds win. Best case scenario.
Strickland was up yesterday for the 9th and not used. Today? Is he Bells closer? He has had a great month. Hope Tony comes out.
9th inning cardiac warning …
Back home to watch what I hope are the final 2 outs for the series win. That would be a major monkey off our backs.
One more! Let’s go!
Tony at 27 pitches needing just ONE more …
Punisher punishes basepaths. cant get any closer then that
Aquinoooooo
You can tell the word is out: be careful trying to run on AA.
Do NOT run on the cannon arm that is AA!!
I came home at the right time. Out by about 20 feet.
Hope TySteve is OK after that somersault.
Do you get Farmer for the HR or AA for that game-saving missile?
Gutierrez for giving his team the chance. Only giving up 1 run.
Possibly. He played within himself and his current struggles from what I can see. Result is the “W” he earned today.
Regardless of what is said about Farmer, this guy is a trooper.
All got to say AA has trouble hitting.
Defense still matters baby.
Nothing quite like a strong, accurate arm in right field.
If you had reds beating giants 2 straight. Raise your hand lol
Uh … nope …
Especially 2 very good lefties….not me
This one belongs to the Reds.
Aquino has high value one way or another.
It’s why he got such a long rope early in the season. Elite power, elite arm, above average runner. Just needs to find a way to make a little more contact.
Reds beat the Cubs 4-3 because of the play of Senzel in the 9th and again today because of Aquino in the ninth.Please just let the young guys play.Defense speed hustle all matter in close games.
Pitching has come a loooong way since the early season. Haven’t looked it up but I know the Reds’ starters were trending toward the worst ERA all-time at one point. Gutty job by Gutierrez. Not sure he’s a long-term solution for the rotation but kept them in it today.
It’s Farmer … and the first ask is about AA’s throw. 🙂
Remember tomorrow’s game is 11 a.m. have a great evening everyone
11:35 first pitch
Thanks more time for coffee lol
Apparently Granny gets the bulk of the credit for Farmer’s surge.
So, perhaps a “delayed church service” might be in order tomorrow … 😮
I’ve always assumed “The Punisher” was a nickname related to his hitting, but maybe it ought to be his fielding.
Just dawned on me that today is extra sweet with a defensive save vs. what happened in 2015 in that fateful series right here in the same park.
Just let him play or at least platoon in the outfield or DH.I still like Naquin a lot as well.Its not about this year as a fan this about sorting through all this young talent on the mound or in the field.Goodness I know there is 20 + mil tied up in Pham and Moose and its not my money but do we really want to see them get 450 at bats
Just saw the game ending replay. What was the 3b coach thinking? Good for Bart for not destroying either himself, or TySteve, or both, trying something foolish – very professional on his part.
I wonder if an non-catcher would have handled it differently?
Not thinking at all. It didn’t need to be a perfect throw. A pretty-darned-good one would have done it. The great one-bounce throw made just had the added benefit of making the 3B coach look a little foolish (but very aggressive).
The outfield defense today was very good. I would platoon Aquino with Naquin. An outfield of Almora, Senzel, Aquino/Naquin suits me just fine. I also like the infield defense quite a bit substitute India for Reynolds and you have a pretty solid defense over all. Somewhere though, they need to add more offense. Maybe they do that at the DH position or Left Field. I hope they don’t give up too much defense though.
This team is better than say Philadelphia. I don’t think it’s impossible for the Reds to compete in 2024. They need more offense though.