The Cincinnati Reds return home tonight to open up a 4-game series against the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park. Cincinnati will send rookie Graham Ashcraft to the mound for his third start of the season. The Nationals will counter by sending rookie Joan Adon to the mound. First pitch is set for 6:40pm.
Starting Lineups
Here are the lineups for tonight’s showdown:
Washington Nationals
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| Cesar Hernandez – 2B | Nick Senzel – CF |
| Keibert Ruiz – C | Brandon Drury – 3B |
| Juan Soto – RF | Tommy Pham – LF |
| Nelson Cruz – DH | Joey Votto – DH |
| Josh Bell – 1B | Kyle Farmer – SS |
| Yadiel Hernandez – LF | Mike Moustakas – 1B |
| Maikel Franco – 3B | Albert Almora Jr. – RF |
| Luis Garcia – SS | Aramis Garcia – C |
| Victor Robles – CF | Matt Reynolds – 2B |
| Joan Adon – SP | Graham Ashcraft – SP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Graham Ashcraft | 10.2 | 1.69 | 1.13 | 4 | 4 |
| Joan Adon | 47.1 | 6.08 | 1.67 | 29 | 38 |
| Links: Graham Ashcraft’s Stats | Joan Adon’s Stats |
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Graham Ashcraft
After leading all of minor league baseball in ground ball rate before being called up, Ashcraft has been a ground ball machine in his two starts since joining the Reds, too. He hasn’t missed too many bats in his two starts, but keeping the ball on the ground and not allowing extra-base hits goes a long way (he’s allowed just two extra-base hits this season between Triple-A and MLB).
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 23 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | .263 | .391 | .316 |
| LHH | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .143 | .182 | .143 |
Pitch Usage
| 2-Seam | Cutter | Slider | |
| Velo | 96.9 | 97.5 | 84.0 |
| Usage | 29.8% | 43.5% | 26.8% |
Joan Adon
The Nationals rookie leads the league in both walks and wild pitches this season. He’s struggled against lefties in particular with the walks, handing out 18 free passes in just 110 times facing them this season. Lefties are also hitting for more power against him than righties are. Everyone is showing a good average and on-base percentage against Adon, but righties are showing a tad less power.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 114 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 19 | .271 | .381 | .406 |
| LHH | 110 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 19 | .264 | .382 | .462 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Slider | Change | Curve | |
| Velo | 94.8 | 94.8 | 81.2 | 87.1 | 79.3 |
| Usage | 64.7% | 5.1% | 1.4% | 6.8% | 22.0% |
When and Where
- Game time: 6:40pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 74°, sunny, 1% chance of rain
News and Notes
Injury Updates
Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer provided updates on Nick Lodolo and Tyler Naquin today
Nick Lodolo threw 30-35 pitches in a bullpen session yesterday. “Definitely a positive step,” he said. He’ll throw another bullpen on Saturday.
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) June 2, 2022
Tyler Naquin, on the IL with a quad strain, had a PRP injection today. David Bell said the rough estimate is he’ll be sidelined for a month.
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) June 2, 2022
Baseball America’s New Top 100 Prospects
The crew at Baseball America (disclosure: I write a monthly Reds column for Baseball America, but I am not involved in any way with their prospect rankings) updated their Top 100 Prospects list ($$). Cincinnati has five players on the list: Jose Barrero, Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Elly De La Cruz, and Matt McLain.
It is worth noting that both Jose Barrero and Hunter Greene are no longer considered prospect list eligible by some other publications that use service time instead of at-bats or innings pitched. Neither has crossed the latter thresholds, but both have surpassed the service time in the big league threshold.
Moose on a streak.
2-31.
Looking forward to Ashcraft pitch and more bullpen looks at Diaz and Santillan. Naquin out a month means Aquino and Almora and Senzel and Friedl should get plenty of reps. Weather in Cincy is amazing this weekend. Go Reds.
Oh come on , lets give him 5 more at bats and 4 for last 36. He stinks. – 0.5 WAR so far. No matter what Bob does , he is paying Moose. Nobody in the right mind is taking his contract. That shipped sailed and the more you play him the more good GMs know he is done. Man up and DFA him and play another guy with a small contract. Either way your paying Moose and Drury. Play Drury and give them a chance to win.
I’m not sure why you’d DFA moose when there really isnt a clearly better replacement. Why simply “young” is all people want seems just shortsighted and really easy to say without a specific answer instead. Bench him if anything.
I read small contract as young, so maybe not the point youre making. Either way, Drury may still be play when India gets back. Until then I’m not sure why you’d sap your very shallow depth just because his contract is large.
Its frustrating to watch Moose
He can hang around and DH and play first some and 3rd some and hit 7 th and feast on some GABP homers against the ne’erdwells of mlb
The real question is the off-season
Ill try and focus on the positive and future and that means Barrero and McClain . Thats my left side of the infield in a perfect world Opening Day 2023
Barrero at shortstop, Farmer moves to third. The point of playing young players is this: the Reds are becoming interesting and entertaining, but they don’t have the players to be serious contenders this season, particularly after starting 3-22. So play young guys with an eye toward next year and beyond.
Tonight is going to be pitching the underrated Graham Ashcraft, hopefully he’ll continue showing his strong stuff and forcing ground balls a lot…
Tommy Pham is still in the lineup at this moment apparently…
Go Reds!
Time to see what Thrall deal is as me and Mike enter our blackout for all the Washington National fans down here (spoiler alert, they arent any). Better than living in Charlotte, which is evidently in the Reds Blackout area
Is it just me or does it appear that Senzel gets at 1 bad strike call a at bat.
thats actually every hitter in the MLB
#roboumpsplease
@2020ball, could be
But But But… i didn’t see it but I heard it…. there we go
I forgot they were playing. I just watched the video of his dinger.
That bomb by Votto might be all that Ashcraft needs.
Votto with a 3 run bomb.. He has played well since off the dl.
@Kevin he is certainly warming up.
Naquin a month? Wow. He’s another one they just can’t count on. Always pulling something. Maybe they could call up Shrock and run some kind of a platoon with Aquino with AAJ in RF?
Meanwhile another knock for AAJ. He hits and Senzel does not hit.
had to figure out who AAj was for a minute. Teams got so many AA’s that they quit drinking lol
AA doesn’t hit either. Schrock has had 142 ab’s in the big leagues. He isn’t proven and I don’t understand the infatuation with Schrock.
Yes, Almora Jr needs to be in the lineup everyday.
5-5 off Marcus Stroman with a HR. Did you see that one? A guy the Cubs are paying $23 mil/year. Shrock has a nice swing if you’ve watched him. Problem is that he’s had leg issues too like half the roster
Naquin has had injury problems in the past before coming to the Reds from what I understand. That may be a good reason not to sign him.
Senzel is still struggling. I wonder if/when the Reds get India and Barrero back, might they consider trying Drury in the outfield? If Pham is still part of the mix, put Drury in left, Almora in center, and Pham in right, with Senzel and Aquino backing up. This might be the Reds their best hitting outfield. On the infield that leaves Votto-India-Barrero-Farmer and Reynolds.
Of course, as soon as I type this, Senzel gets a hit. Which is good. If Senzel hits, then the best lineup would be probably be leaving Drury at third base.
I find it hard to believe that was only Garcia’s 3rd dp ball? Feels like 6-7 atleast.
Still though….57 total at-bats and 3 dp’s means he’d hit into 30 dp’s if he was a starter. Either hit-n-run with him, or bunt, or find someone else. Preferably the latter
Good hit Joey! After 40 games, he’s back.
Keep it up, and getting India back we can start giving the pitchers some help which helps their confidence.
Senzel with another hit, batting 250 the last week. He is warming up
I actually like the way Senzel has been hitting the other way lately. It will pay off eventually if he’s able to stay on the field.
@Melvin He is a very talented no doubt. His problem has always been staying on the field.
Sure would have been nice to have TS come up with the bases loaded.
@Melvin I watched him play in Boston the last 2 nights. He needed a night off. His bat speed was very slow especially on inside fastballs.
Maybe he’s tired. I’d still take my chances with him at the DH. For a catcher that’s an easy day off.
@melvin sometimes it’s not just playing in the field. His bat really looked slow the last couple days in Boston. Hopefully giving him a day off will get him going again.
@ Jim t
That may be very true but wouldn’t you agree that he’s by far and away our best hitter and has been given more days off by David Bell than any other “regular”. I know he’s a catcher but unless he’s extremely fragile, which is highly doubtful since he IS a catcher, he should be in the DH slot most days when not catching. We cannot afford to have him out with the offense that we have. Even a less than 100% Tyler Stephenson is better than most in our lineup.
@Melvin I have no issue giving him a day off. Catching is a grind and he has been injured and had a concussion.
Color me getting old, but I read the schedule wrong and thought it was an off day. No video feed for me anyway because Nats or Orioles and Raleigh (where NONE of those games get carried anyway.
Good to see Joey bang one.
Wondered where you were lol
The Reds don’t have an off day until Thursday, June 16.
3 off days total in June. The 2 other off days are both on Monday, June 20 and June 27.
Mark, nice of you to join us lol
And I have video feed … I turned on my Norton Secure VPN and … PRESTO!!! It doesn’t know where I am, so I’m in.
Not on my big screen, but this will work.
2nd dp tonight. I have to think we’re one of the worst in mlb with double plays. Just go with the pitch and try to spray it the other way there? Low situational iq for Farmer there
@Indy he was looking to drive the ball. Have no problem with his approach with 3-0 lead.
Yeah but Adon has been pitching everyone middle away. He either can’t or won’t throw an inside strike. So take what hes giving and if you hit a hard 4-6-3 then so be it.
Ashcraft showing he belongs. Has great stuff but doesn’t try to strike everyone out. Very efficient.
And now of course Ashcraft struggling to find the zone consistently this inning after I typed that.
Moose being Moose I see
Checked team hitting stats. Reds tied for 3rd worst in GIDP (42) with the Cubs & A’s.
Philly with 43 and these Nats far and away the worst with 52
Makes one wonder why they don’t try more hit and runs. From that stat they are putting ball in play.
Ashcraft looking pretty sharp there after getting into some trouble (not all of his own making). I really like what I see from him.
I love the idea of letting Luis Castillo lead a staff with Greene and Ashcraft following him at 2 and 3. Between Lodolo, Williamson, Abbott, Bonnin, etc, the rest will sort out. But get three elite starters to anchor this thing, perhaps more, and things could get very interesting.
WOW, a high strike call on Senzel
Not as high as ball 4 🙂
LOL
I know I said earlier about AA not hitting, however I do think he, Almora Jr, and Senzel should be the starting 3. with Friedl as back up. I myself am over Pham.
Kevin
Im with you
Pham isnt a fit in the immediate term the medium term the long term
Any term
Nope, and with Barrero coming back they have to find a spot for him.
Future is bright with Ashcraft, Lodolo, and Greene!!!
Ashcraft now at a 1.08 era.
Ashcroft giving no reason to think he is being sent down
Why? In my eyes he is the best pitcher on the staff.
Thats what I mean
Ashcraft would be the pitcher I would give a big contract to.
Ashcraft: 12 groundouts. 1 Flyout.
That’s the way to pitch in GASP.
For sure. Perfect fit.
Making Josh Bell work a bit tonight
ugh I miss Tucker Barnhart. He was perfect fit to Stephenson.
Yeah Garcia’s outs are always routine or doubleplays. I’d say .220 should be the minimum for a backup catcher with some kind of offensive attribute added in like taking walks or decent power
I thought we would be alright coming out of spring training. Garcia was hitting the long ball in ST games. Another guy who blew up ST and came back to earth when the real games started.
I agree Kevin.
Wrist flick, GABP, Bell HR. Figured he’d do that at some point.
356 ft homer. I wonder if they could move the fences back some. I mean Reds hit the cheap homers too. I am not a fan
Matt Reynolds says I got that cheap homer covered
Ownership in cost-cutting mode and moving fences? Not likely.
Very efficient and solid 7 innings from Ashcraft. Got to love that. Perhaps others should pay attention and take some notes.
I do wish one pitcher would pitch his change up abit more. I think it could help him.
Hopefully Diaz and Santillan can each throw a inning and close it out. Unless we can play add on and save them for later in series
Reynolds says, “But I like the 3-run lead. Hold my beer.”
Reynolds with a cheap one too. lol…
That accounted for 20% of his total HR production in MLB.
Amazing.
He has been a find for sure.
Big thing about him is he can play all around the diamond and even OF if needed. Very versatile player. I’d say he’s a more valuable bench player than several others once India comes back.
I would agree 100%
That accounted for 20% of his total HR production in MLB.
Amazing.
Good job, Tommy. That’s what we needed from you.
Ok we have a 4 run lead. Who are we bringing in to pitch??
Kuhnel
7 run lead is Detwiler territory for the last two innings
I typed Kuhnel, before Farmer’s homer. lol
He pitched last night. Warren hasn’t pitched since Sunday
All that and then Moose being Moose 😮
Warren. He needs the work because the Reds are going to need him. Can’t bring Diaz out for every game.
Farmer!!!!! Leads the team in RBI’s
Farmer being Farmer,
Hit not 1 but 2 same game parlays with the Reds tonight! Been on a little downslide so enjoying this! $60 into $372
Reds win, Almora hit, Farmer rbi
Reds win race to 4, Drury hit, Joey rbi
The first one explains why I was more then a little irritated when Farmer rolled over earlier with bases loaded 1 out. Rbi there wins both parlays at once basically
Can you bet that Moose will go hitless?
Yes you can and you’ll get plus odds. Or homerless. I was adding Joey not to HR vs every lefty starter in April and never got burned
Bring up Barrero and shift Farmer to 3rd. Offer Mouse to the highest bidder
Pretty sure all you will hear is crickets. No team is dumb enough to take him.
You never know. Package him with Pham. Give them a twofer. Accept a low level minors pick.
You’d think watching Reynolds go yard would be a bit of motivation for the man.
There won’t be any bidders and Barrera still needs a few more at bats after missing spring training
“Rookie” Chevalier for Moose and Pham?
I’d jump on it.
We agree again, LDS. Is the sky falling?
Well, I’ll be covering my head when I go outside – that’s for sure.
Josiah Gray, another member of the trade that brought Farmer to the Reds, now in the Nationals rotation.
Jeter Downs as well in that trade that brought farmer over
Downs still only 23. Not beating a path to the MLB but there’s still time.
For better or worse, the Bailey contract dump was far more interesting than the Suarez one.
More interesting so far. Might not stay that way.
He got in last year. 5.31 last year and 5.08 this year, but he’s got promise. I think I’d take him over Mahle long term
Pham! Whoa!
Crazy!
Ok do we bring Warren back to throw another inning which will mean he won’ t be available tomorrow.
I use Kuhnel.
Ashcraft! Wow! I’m sure he’ll have his rough spots like all rookies, but he’s got that rare ability which can’t be taught which is just let it rip and the movement (or cut?) won’t allow them to square it up. You don’t need A+ secondary pitches when you have that. Hunter Greene might get up to 102 but he doesn’t have that. Its like a Kevin Brown or Lance Lynn when he was rolling.
Kuhnel Ks Soto on three pitches. That’s got to be a confidence builder for the young man.
And due to the loss column, we are now out of the cellar in the national league as well, both the Nats and Royals are worse then us…. keep moving upward
Inching up on the Cubs. Need the Card’s to step it up tonite.
Out for my doctor-requested evening walk after the Farmer jack. Looks like I didn’t miss anything (my wife was watching and would have caught me up.
Nice win to start this homestand. We’re in a position where we should really take 3 of 4 or sweep the Nats. First win is a good place to start.
Catch y’all tomorrow.
This team has some nice arms. We also have some in the minors. If ownership will invest in some position players we could become contenders. I really hope this year and next is about developing the youngsters both on the major league level and walking a few up the ladder in the minors. With a bunch of salary coming off the books if they will invest in a position player or two it could be a fun team to root for. I love how hard they play for Bell.
Agree.