The Cincinnati Reds will look to rebound in Tuesday’s day/night doubleheader after dropping the first game of their 4-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night. Cincinnati will send Luis Cessa to the mound in game one. The Pirates will counter by sending their own reliever who is starting to the mound in Johan Oviedo. First pitch is set for 12:35pm.
With the doubleheader being a day/night version instead of back-to-back games with a 30-minute in-between period, we’ll have two separate game previews and game recaps today.
Starting Lineups
Here are the lineups for the 1st of two games today:
Pittsburgh Pirates
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| Oneil Cruz – SS | TJ Friedl – DH |
| Bryan Reynolds – DH | Jonathan India – 2B |
| Rodolfo Castro – 2B | Kyle Farmer – 3B |
| Jack Suwinski – CF | Jake Fraley – LF |
| Ke’Bryan Hayes – 3B | Aristides Aquino – RF |
| Ben Gamel – LF | Nick Senzel – CF |
| Michael Chavis – 1B | Spencer Steer – 1B |
| Cal Mitchell – RF | Jose Barrero – SS |
| Tyler Heineman – C | Austin Romine – C |
| Johan Oviedo – SP | Luis Cessa – C |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Luis Cessa | 54.1 | 4.97 | 1.33 | 18 | 44 |
| Johan Oviedo | 30.0 | 3.90 | 1.47 | 15 | 32 |
| Links: Luis Cessa’s Stats | Johan Oviedo’s Stats |
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Luis Cessa
Things have gone well for Luis Cessa as a starting pitcher of late. In his last three starts he’s allowed five runs in 14.2 innings (3.07 ERA) with just two walks and he’s struck out 13 batters.
With his limited number of innings we’re dealing with a smaller sample size, but the splits this season for Luis Cessa have been big. While the difference in average is small between lefties and righties, the on-base gap is over 50 points and the slugging percentage gap favors righties by 144 points.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 131 | 31 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 24 | .272 | .351 | .526 |
| LHH | 94 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 20 | .258 | .298 | .382 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 93.9 | 94.0 | 83.0 | 88.3 |
| Usage | 16.0% | 23.9% | 42.3% | 17.8% |
Johan Oviedo
Splitting his season between St. Louis and Pittsburgh, Oviedo has made three starts this year and pitched out of the bullpen in another 13 appearances. His last two games have been as a starter, though he’s thrown just 4.2 combined innings in those outings while walking eight batters. Small sample size issues not withstanding, Oviedo has 11 walks in 9.2 innings as a starter but just four walks in 20.1 innings as a reliever this year.
While still dealing with the small sample size issues of just 30.0 innings this season, Oviedo has dominated left-handed hitters, who are just 4-43 against him with three doubles. Right-handed hitters, though, are crushing the ball against him with a .338 average and a .984 OPS.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 84 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 21 | .338 | .417 | .568 |
| LHH | 49 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 11 | .093 | .204 | .163 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | Slider | Change | Curve | |
| Velo | 95.8 | 85.3 | 88.5 | 77.7 |
| Usage | 42.9% | 41.1% | 5.2% | 10.8% |
When and Where
- Game time: 12:35pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 68°, partly cloudy, 5% chance of rain
News and Notes
Reds call up Kyle Dowdy, sort of
The #Reds today selected the contract of RHP Kyle Dowdy from Triple-A Louisville, optioned him to Louisville and appointed him as the 29th man for today's doubleheader. pic.twitter.com/ekUemzb5sg
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 13, 2022
Aristides Aquino remains hot
Punisher SZN ? pic.twitter.com/eWFnGXC0TZ
— Late Night Reds Talk LIVE (@LateReds) September 13, 2022
Listened in the car up until the 3rd inning started. Looks like Cessa needs to get dialed back in again. Also wondering why our guys are free-swinging against a pitcher the WLB’s cut because he has challenges throwing strikes.
And dial it back in he did. Limited the damage and the pitch count.
Lets go Reds. Get the win!!
The offense is not working at all facing Pirates mediocre pitching off …
India fell in a slump suddenly as TJ Friedl isn’t hitting well either… Barrero seems has not seen a slider never in his life…
Regressing to at least this season’s mean. Could be a race to the basement.
Fraley JUUUST missed that one.
Through 4, Oviedo (WLB castoff) throwing a no-no.
Fun times
So, the Reds are being no-hit by the AAA Pie-Rats! If they drop this double header at home I may be forced to Clete the remainder of this season, unless Bell gets fired.
I owe you a apology for last night in regards to the Bengals. I been a fan as well for along time. I shouldn’t of jumped on your comment. Again My apologies Dennis.
No problem Kevin! Apology accepted but not necessary! Just as passionate about the Bengals as I am the Reds! Grew up in Northern KY, went to Notre Dame (that’s a story for another day-football that is!) and now living amongst the blue-hairs in sunny Central Florida!
Dennis,
Didn’t realize you were a ND fan. My wife grew up there (we were married in Elkhart) and she has since corrupted my DD#1 for all things college football. Finally took her to see the campus and Basilica in July for her 25th birthday. It goes without saying, the gnashing of teeth and howling on Saturday was off the charts.
Sadly, I fear DTBell’s job is as safe as any in the organization due to the family ties. And it isn’t that he’s a terrible manager, but rather that I don’t see his style and approach working well (the record is partial evidence). I think this team needs a more forceful leader rather than a “buddy”. But that’s just my opinion.
Let’s be honest, Barrero should be optioned right now… 8 sliders= 7 swinging strikes and 1 foul… My God…
Well, at least the Reds got a hit! Some runs would be nice! I’m at my wit’s end with Bell and, going forward, will use the acronym BLOB (Blame Loss On Bell) for any Reds losses during the remainder of this season!
Cessa is throwing a decent game, but we’re not providing any offense support to speak of. We look pretty flat. I get the DH games and this week-long grueling run are tough, but it’s looking more like we’re mailing this one in this afternoon.
OK, Cessa WAS throwing a decent game until pitch number 91 😮
He isn’t a starter. Not with 2 pitches and gives up homers left and right.
I think I am done for the day… peace out everyone
This team is so boring. I’m more excited to get my tooth pulled at 4 than watching this train wreck.
Best of luck to you. I’m still numb from an 11AM filling.
Is Senzel in danger of not being on the team next year? He’s almost under .300 slugging. Has no power at all anymore.
I see no use for him. Aquino has shown more life lately than Senzel.
Good old Bell, always removes a struggling pitcher one batter too late! Miss the days of Captain Hook, aka George (Sparky) Anderson!
So, has Friedl given up on bunting? I mean, I’ll take that GR2B, but …
Clean, strong hit and a TOOTBLAN.
Not sure why freidl didn’t score or what India was doing.
Looked to me like Friedl was “making sure” of something. That’s fine since he scored anyway. India wasn’t paying attention, assumed they were going to throw to try and get Friedl (who didn’t go home), was egged on my Deshields, or some combination of all that.
I’ll still chalk it up as a TOOTBLAN, though I’m thinking that was a GIDP anyway from Farmer.
Well that was unsatisfying. Again they begin to draw us in and leave us flat-footed.
I try to maintain a positive attitude and inject some humor in everything I do, including following this MLB version of the Bad News Bears! One thing’s for sure, the Reds put the FUN in DYSFUNCTIONAL!
+5,000
The only thing more boring than the Reds is the off season coming up.
Nah, it’s going to be a blast. They’re going to release Moose. Go big in the FA market acquiring some relief pitching as well as a quality starting OF. This season was just to lay the groundwork for next year’s division winning team. Votto is back and likely wins the Comeback Player award, as well as the Triple Crown and the MVP award. The Reds sweep the series winning for the first time since 1990. Bell is declared manager of the year. I can see it all now.
I remember back in my teenage years when all I could afford was used or retreads. When I finally had a decent job and could afford new tires, it was like a whole new world. The Reds can afford it, they just like retreads. And as I suggested last night, the gap between Aquino and Senzel’s batting averages continues to narrow. Embarrassing Nick, just embarrassing. Especially given DG’s preview on Oviedo. I guess that .338/.984 stat only applied to RH hitters that aren’t on the Reds.
Bell and Strickland. Bell and Doolittle. Bell and Hughes. Bell and … Always the same until the FO waives Bell’s chosen one.
I think you just broke your own record of number of Bell mentions in one post.
Why does it matter that Strickland pitched? I agree Strickland shouldn’t be in the game in a save situation (though is save % is higher than Diaz). But we were down by four. Seems like a perfect time to put him in to me. He’s been “better” than many of of the pitchers in the bullpen this year (that’s a sad statement with a 5+ ERA).
A sad statement to be sure. As for why it matters? The objective is to win. Down by 4, nbd, you try to win. Bell doesn’t or more likely doesn’t know how.
Thrall and Cowboy are down to talking movies and TV shows now. That pretty much sums it all up. In order to split, we need to come back and win tonight, then turn around for an early game tomorrow.
I won’t even mention the 5 games against the WLB’s. Talk about self-inflicted wounds and a brutal stretch.
BTW, with today’s victory, the Pirates have tied the season series with 5 games left. That is just sad.
I was beginning to worry about Strickland’s ERA dropping below 5.0. He assured us Reds fans that was not going to happen anytime soon! I’m surprised the FAA doesn’t issue flight restrictions over GABP when Strickland is on the mound!
+5,000
Watched yesterday a documentary in YouTube about why the Pirates have been so bad for so long, however the Reds have looked so lousy these two first games that it’s hard not to be concerned about the future.
Looking for a Golden Sombrero here on one low and away, yes?
Well, an out but he avoided the Golden Sombrero after all.
Later, friends.