After having Thursday off, the Cincinnati Reds will open up a new home series against the Colorado Rockies tonight. The Reds are sending Luis Cessa to the mound for his third straight start. Colorado will be sending Kyle Freeland out to face down Spencer Steer in his big league debut. Joey Votto will be joining the television broadcast on Bally Sports Ohio again tonight. First pitch is set for 6:40pm.
Starting Lineups
Here are the lineups for tonight’s series opener:
Colorado Rockies
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| Ryan McMahon – 3B | Jonathan India – 2B |
| Brendan Rodgers – 2B | Nick Senzel – CF |
| Charlie Blackmon – DH | Kyle Farmer – DH |
| C.J. Cron – 1B | Donovan Solano – 1B |
| Jose Iglesias – SS | Stuart Fairchild – LF |
| Randal Grichuk – CF | Aristides Aquino – RF |
| Michael Toglia – RF | Spencer Steer – 3B |
| Elias Diaz – C | Jose Barrero – SS |
| Sean Bouchard – LF | Chuckie Robinson – C |
| Kyle Freeland – SP | Luis Cessa – SP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Luis Cessa | 43.2 | 5.36 | 1.44 | 16 | 32 |
| Kyle Freeland | 142.0 | 4.88 | 1.40 | 44 | 101 |
| Links: Luis Cessa’s Stats | Kyle Freeland’s Stats |
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Luis Cessa
After lasting just two innings in his first return to the rotation since 2018, Luis Cessa gave up one run in 4.0 innings last week against Washington in his second start.
With so few innings pitched this year, the splits for Luis Cessa can swing a bit with each start moving forward. For now it’s been right-handed hitters that have been teeing off on Cessa this year while walking plenty. Lefties aren’t hitting for much power and aren’t walking much, but they are hitting for a solid average.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 106 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 15 | .290 | .368 | .538 |
| LHH | 80 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 17 | .267 | .313 | .400 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 93.9 | 94.0 | 83.0 | 88.3 |
| Usage | 13.4% | 24.9% | 42.0% | 19.8% |
Kyle Freeland
The home and road splits for Kyle Freeland are pretty big, which isn’t surprising given that he’s a pitcher for the Rockies. On the road he’s posted a 3.62 ERA and hitters have a .244/.317/.382 line against him.
When it comes to how he handles lefties and righties, the splits are pretty extreme, too. Lefties are hitting very well against him, slugging .561 and hitting .311 against him. They don’t walk a lot, but they make contact and make it count. Right-handed hitters are solid across the board, but nothing stands out in how they perform against him.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 475 | 114 | 30 | 4 | 10 | 35 | 73 | .268 | .331 | .428 |
| LHH | 150 | 41 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 28 | .311 | .380 | .561 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Slider | Change | Curve | |
| Velo | 90.3 | 89.6 | 85.5 | 84.7 | 80.8 |
| Usage | 23.3% | 22.1% | 21.9% | 14.5% | 18.2% |
When and Where
- Game time: 6:40pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv (out of market)
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 82°, cloudy, 5% chance of rain
News and Notes
Hunter Greene’s Rehab Start
Last night Hunter Greene made his 1st rehab start in Triple-A with the Louisville Bats. He allowed one hit and struck out four batters in 2.0 shutout innings. We wrote a little more about it and have some video from the start if you want to check that out.
Spencer Steer gets the nod
Tonight will be the big league debut for Spencer Steer. He’s played around the infield quite a bit in his minor league career, but he’s had more experience at third base than any other position and that’s where he’ll find himself tonight for the Reds. This season he’s spent time in Double-A Wichita (Twins), Triple-A St. Paul (Twins), and Triple-A Louisville (Reds) and has hit a combined .274/.364/.515 with 30 doubles, 2 triples, 23 home runs, 51 walks, and 89 strikeouts in 106 games played. Here’s some video of his last Triple-A home run.
Almost time to Kick that Beer-sponsored Pig!!
Line-up looks more youngish than other nights. Let’s see how that all plays out.
Here’s hoping Steer delivers. I’d like to see the Reds score 12-13 today
To see one of the prospects acquired in trades recently reach the majors makes it a little more interesting.
Agree
Annie’s back doing the pre-game … 😀
Some great articles up by C Trent and Charlie goldsmith on Spencer Steer. Reds view him as a centerpiece for the rebuild…as they should for trading Tyler mahle.
Steer went through the pandemic and made some adjustments to get more power and it has paid off. Friedle and Moran played against him and gave glowing reviews as did twins manager Rocco Baldelli.
It sounds as if Bell is going to rotate him around positionally but he will be playing every day.
Steer says he puts the bat on the ball, hits it hard and gets on base.
Music to my ears.
C Trent has some quotes from his college coach that says he’s an elite 3b
Welcome Spencer Steer.
+500
Joey votto is announcing again.
He’s got his sling off 😀
I broke my elbow at like age 8 and in a cast and I remember getting my cast off after like 6 weeks and my forearm felt like it wasnt part of me and had shriveled up and couldn’t do anything. Votto’s L arm looks half the size of his R arm. Godspeed joey. You got plenty of time though.
Yay! Definitely a reason to watch this game! Hope he’s in the booth the remainder of the season….
Votto is announcing where?
Tv with Sadak and Larkin
Votto clearly loves being a Red and involved in baseball every day.
Decided to put up with Sadak for now so I can hear Joey. We’ll see how long that lasts. Sadak’s excessive use of words is already annoying me 😮
votto is amazing in the booth. Steer fires his first 5-3 to 1b
Steer’s MLB fielding percentage 1.000
India raking..Farmer amazing opposite field hit.
Great hit by Farmer. Just an easy grounder to the hole the shift created right where the second basemen would have been playing. Love it. 🙂
Yes, in your face defense. Just poke it in the hole, quit trying to hit it out of park
nice try at the delayed steal… doesnt work everytime
I don’t know. It looked pretty awkward. I know it doesn’t work every time and at least we tried something. But in the end, he made the 3rd out at 3rd base …
Steer on the bench is probably asking what the hay was going on. Somebody tells him, “oh that’s just our planned TOOTBLAN play”.
That looked more like Keystone Kops action than some type of sneaky double steal …
I can’t stand that play….It worked 1 time I remember. Such a high rate of failure, that no ways is it worth it. Send it back to little league, and never see it again please
It worked when the manager Billy Haywood called it in Little Big League. 🙂
Gameday says Senzel caught stealing home. What happened….
the incompetence continues in order to be able to score… A lot of outs at home plate lately , never seen…
Is the HP Chumpire going to squeeze both pitchers tonight … again?
Asking for a friend …
Oldest play in the book..Senzel too aggressive on the Farmer intentional get caught in the rundown….Senzel needs to make 2b pause and worry more about getting Farmer out. Senzel just ran home and never made Rogers think or make a decision or hesitate.. You dont run home on that play until the infielder commits to getting the runner at first out and you beat him home. Not a lot of confidence in Fairchild the hitter.
Nice grab by Solano and fantastic coverage by Cessa.
What do y’all think the Friday version of AA will look like. He didn’t whiff on that first AB at least.
Cautiously optimistic.
One of Steer’s fan club in the stands has a St. Paul Saints jersey on.
Nice AB so far. Hope he can work a hit, but love that he’s running up Freeland’s pitch count.
And it’s a walk!
well at least aquino put it in play… and we will have to wait for his first AB again… or is it plate appearance that doesn’t count during a walk
Steer is 0 for 0 right now
Great AB by Steer. If he keeps that up I will like him a lot.
So far, I’m seeing the HP Chumpire is consistent … consistently terrible for the pitchers.
Nice AB for Barrero.
Steer great at bat…barrero singles.
I’m liking this.
Man, if Chuckie can turn this over to India and run the pitch count up over 40, it will have been a VERY good inning.
Almost …
With the Larkin–Votto banter going on, no room for Sadak to talk. Heavenly!
Larkin is much better when Votto is in there.
+1,000
I said as much on FB. We’ll see how the Sadak-lovers react to me there 😀
+1,000
RoY’s foster dog got adopted.
Cessa with a look what i got here…. Joey Votto adopted??
On the 2nd pitch. Great way to keep your pitch count down.
Yes, RoY’s foster Joey Votto has a forever home.
I’d like for them to ask Joey if he approaches rookies or other youngsters…what advice he might give them.
GABP home run..Pop up to LF and hits 3rd row.
Fix the stadium Bob.
+500,000
It’s not like they need the seats for ticket revenue.
Just like eliminate the garbage home runs.. Its not like a major transformation. Orioles changed dimensions. It can be done.
On that note…Cessa is done too
Ugh
You’re asking cheapo weapo Big Bob to spend money? 🙂
First, we’d just ask Big Bob to sell the team … then maybe the next owner would do the right thing about it 😀
Then you would take the fence scrapers the Reds hit. They seem to hit alot more than visiting team.
Band box Home run?
Yepper.
Good habits add up over time … great advice by Joey.
He’s praising AA’s play in RF.
Well, tonight’s version of Cessa appears to have a 2-inning limit. Unfortunate he’s pitching in the 3rd inning.
I think RF could use about 15 feet of added length. LF is a whole lot harder, and will not be moved.
Raise the wall 5-8 feet. You loose some seats, but it effectively increases the distance.
I like it.. Maybe even take out a row or two across the fence line.. Anything helps as tired of seeing routine fly ball outs carry for homeruns.
Barrero India 6-4-3 easy.
Cessa gave a decent 4 innings.
Sample size yes, however Cesa in rotation next season?
Maybe. Appears he is progressing.
thats a great question Kevin.
Why are the reds giving Cessa starts? Maybe he and Derek Johnson are working together as a starter next year. Reds could use a cheap SP
Derek Johnson is doing a good job. Im backing off criticism.
Greene/Lodolo/and Ashcraft developing.
If anything Cessa might be long relief.
Votto clearly better color commentator then play by play, but something to work with
+500
Votto on play by play now….Not a fan of that.
Now, after the Rockies scored 2 runs, Freeland got converted into Kyle Sandy Koufax Freeland
Bomb-rookie
Steer with the first ML hit being a homer
So awesome, and we told them several weeks ago to bring him up. Management gets paid a lot, but no so good.
How great is that!! Steer leaves the surly bonds of the earth (R. Fitch)
SS and 3b 3-3 with hr and walk.
Ty Steve in the booth tomorrow.
WLW or TV? My wife says she didn’t hear him while I was out.
Do we really need to overthink this?
India lead off 2b
Stephenson 3 hole hitter( ok for C tentatively)
Steer 3b 5 hole hitter.
Barrero 9 hole hitter SS
Find some lefties.
This is a big night for Reds development. Cruz dominant inning.
‘
Cessa Sp, Cruz, Steer and Barrero playing like legit big leaguers.
You won’t find a better story than that of Fernando Cruz’s journey to MLB. And goes 1-2-3 to top it off. Congrats Mr. Cruz
+50,000
sneaky bunt there
Back from my walk. My wife says I missed Steer’s first MLB HR.
swinging bunt by aquino, a productive out at least
Fairchild seems legit.. Jim W keeps telling us .. lol
Is Bell gonna pitch hit? Time will tell
If what we’re seeing is him making the necessary adjustments, I agree. He could give some guys a run for their money come Spring.
I’ve just said given what Fairchild has done in AAA and his age relative to the other OF guys (the youngest on the active roster) that he deserves as much or more of a shot as any of them. 😉
Now I remember the second worse thing about the Bally TV feed … AWESOME commercials.
Steer still batting 1.000
This inning is an absolute treat to watch.
Except for that … still feels like the game is in play for us.
Agree.. I have been critical of Barrero, however he will be fine…
Tremendous patience by Steer against a very tough righty.
2 men on, and the moment wasn’t too big. Didn’t go up there trying to be superman.
Cruz throws 12 pitches and done. Great job!!
My wife wondered why he didn’t come out to pitch the next inning. I told her we really don’t do that around here … 😮
Hahahaha
Congratulations to Fernando Cruz on his ML debut at age 32 after spending 16 years in the minor leagues. That’s determination and grit.
A deeper RF wouldn’t hinder that one. Rake Fraley sends one into low orbit.
Add Jake Fraley
That was a bomb.
@Kevin, I like the idea of Cessa as a starter in 23. I’ve joined the group saying bring back Cueto as our 5th, but Cessa seems like he could handle that job.
Seems like he is decent starting. To me something to look into
I think he deserves consideration. I’m not sure he makes the cut over the long haul of the season. If he goes out and earns it, then more power to him. Pencil him in as a maybe, but don’t use ink.
Fraley causing national security issues cause he just launched a nuke
WHAT???? Is the man BLIND???
And a lead-off BB courtesy of tonight’s HP Chumpire. I’m so over these guys screwing everybody over.
Yep
Should of been a strikeout. Yet, mlb will do nothing!
Zero accountability. None at all. And if you gripe about it, you’ll get ejected.
I am a 60 year baseball traditionalist! But, it is time for robo umps to call balls & strikes!
Amen and +25,000
This guy is beyond terrible.
OK, Buck. You need to focus here. The Chumpire isn’t giving you anything.
Nice way to use your team. Another missile launch by AA.
Aquino providing the argument to be here
Is David Bell going back to doing his double switch thing even with the DH?
Baseball these days has statistics for everything! Just wondering how many games this season and last did the Reds have at least 10 hit but 2 or fewer runs? They seem to excel at failing to advance runners, hitting behind the runner(s) or just put the ball in play, i.e. not strike out or simply hit a sac fly when needed.
It is really a shame that Aquino is only a pretty good defensive player…
+1,000
Put Steer in the Reds HOF right now.
He can’t lay down a bunt (against a difficult pitcher, admittedly) and then reverts on that last swing.
Up to Rake Fraley here.
squeeze
OK, RoY … you have ONE job here.
My wife is yelling for the guys not to injure RoY 😀
Nicely done, guys. I know it was the Rocks, but still … winning is much better. Steers having an incredible first game makes it even more much better.
Night, all.
Steer earning the Jim Day interview. Got to love that.
So, Steer sits tomorrow, right? Just asking for a friend.
Was thinking the same thing. lol
Yes, tomorrow is the Alejo Lopez´s day
What a great game, as the future comes thru
Bad pun of the night! The Reds were Steer(ed) to a 9th inning win!
+1,000 anyway, sir