The Cincinnati Reds will be looking to avoid being swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon after dropping the first three games of the series. They’ll turn to Nick Lodolo to try and pick up a victory and avoid being forced to walk the plank. The Pirates will hand the ball to Roansy Contreras to try and complete their series in Cincinnati. First pitch is set for 12:35pm.
Starting Lineups
Here are the lineups for the series finale:
Pittsburgh Pirates
|
Cincinnati Reds
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| Ke’Bryan Hayes – 3B | TJ Friedl – LF |
| Bryan Reynolds – CF | Jonathan India – 2B |
| Rodolfo Castro – DH | Kyle Farmer – 3B |
| Michael Chavis – 1B | Donovan Solano – 1B |
| Kevin Newman – 2B | Aristides Aquino – RF |
| Diego Castillo – RF | Nick Senzel – CF |
| Oneil Cruz – SS | Spencer Steer – DH |
| Greg Allen – LF | Jose Barrero – SS |
| Tyler Heineman – C | Austin Romine – C |
| Roansy Contreras – SP | Nick Lodolo – SP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Nick Lodolo | 81.0 | 3.78 | 1.30 | 30 | 102 |
| Roansy Contreras | 79.1 | 3.29 | 1.30 | 35 | 71 |
| Links: Nick Lodolo’s Stats | Roansy Contreras’s Stats |
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Nick Lodolo
In nine starts in the second half of the season, Nick Lodolo’s been dominant. He’s posted a 2.80 ERA and held hitters to a .208/.300/.323 line. He’s also pitched very well in Cincinnati this year with an ERA of 2.57 in nine starts (5.63 on the road in six starts).
Left-handed hitters have been essentially useless against Lodolo this season and he’s faced zero lefties in four different starts as managers have tried their best to avoid such a match up. Right-handed hitters have found a little more success against him, but much of that success came early on in his season.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 307 | 70 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 26 | 88 | .259 | .349 | .415 |
| LHH | 41 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 14 | .147 | .293 | .177 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Slider | Splitter | |
| Velo | 94.5 | 94.2 | 88.3 | 81.8 |
| Usage | 26.5% | 32.0% | 11.8% | 29.6% |
Roansy Contreras
A rookie, like Lodolo, Roansy Contreras is having himself a strong season with the Pirates. In his only start against the Reds this season, back on July 7th, he allowed one run on a solo homer in 6.0 innings while striking out seven batters. Since that day he’s posted a 2.29 ERA in six starts and has been on a roll.
This season he’s had reverse splits in a way. Lefties are hitting worse across the board, but they do walk more and make a lot more contact – they just don’t turn that additional contact into hits or power. Righties aren’t exactly doing a lot against Contreras, but they have hit better and shown a little bit more power during the season.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 195 | 41 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 20 | 45 | .236 | .318 | .414 |
| LHH | 147 | 27 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 26 | .206 | .293 | .359 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | Slider | Change | Curve | |
| Velo | 95.8 | 84.2 | 90.0 | 79.1 |
| Usage | 49.9% | 32.4% | 2.9% | 14.8% |
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: 70°, sunny, 0% chance of rain
News and Notes
Hunter Greene to return Saturday
After completing his rehab assignment in Triple-A with Louisville, Hunter Greene will return on Saturday to pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in one of the games of the doubleheader.
Justin Dunn returns
Reds pitching roster moves: Justin Dunn was activated from the IL. Raynel Espinal was optioned to Triple-A. T.J. Zeuch was released.
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) September 14, 2022
Doug did the reds complete the trade for Pham today?
https://www.redsminorleagues.com/2022/09/14/cincinnati-reds-acquire-nick-northcut-to-complete-the-tommy-pham-trade/
Thanks BK. I hadn’t checked reds minor leagues since this morning. As always Doug is right on top of things.
Have basically the ‘A’ lineup out there today but the largely “grow our own” players in the 5-9 spots need a lot more growing to do to compete on a regular basis. This is a very important game if for nothing other than morale. I am reminded of the 2019 season where the Buccos owned the Reds but at least the games were fiery and interesting to watch. Can’t believe they could be swept by this team now.
In previews before, Lodolo is showing 3 pitches Sinker, curve and changeup, now this preview is showing 4 pitches such as 4-seamer, 2-seamer, slider and splitter…
You think the Reds would give away tickets just so they can make money on concessions. The 14 people who showed up today just isn’t doing it.
I think is not a good signal after 1-hit game the top three batters of the first inning were retired on just 6 pitches
Lodolo might get 20 k’s today.
Aquino may have discovered an effective appoach to hitting. These aren’t Texas Leaguer-type hits. Fingers crossed – we’ll see…
Agree.
Barrero would have walked on 5 pitches if he didn’t swing. All off speed off the plate.
They should probably just keep playing him until he starts hitting. Another high upside guy, the Reds are loaded with them, 5-tool players: Aquino, Barrero, de la Cruz, Marte, Allen, Hines, Collier. One guy who can just flat hit, has power but limited speed and little else is Encarnacion-Strand. The Reds have to develop these guys, too much talent to waste – exceptional talent. We should be playoff bound in 2025 at the latest and competing in 2024.
Cowboy’s comment was that he’ll keep seeing breaking stuff until he learns to lay off it, learns to foul it off, or learns to hit it.
And I really don’t think time in the cage with the “slider machine” will help all that much. From where I sit (and I know nothing), this is a mental block he needs to overcome.
I know nothing as well Mark but you would think using a slider machine wouldn’t help because he knows it’s a slider. I don’t know why teams don’t hire 2 or 3 pitchers to just throw live batting practice every day. Seems like it would help more than a machine that throws the same pitch. But what do I know.
Barrero saw 5 sliders in a row 3 swinging strikes and 1 foul , 2 balls. I think the pitchers are throwing to him 90% sliders of the total pitches but Barrero has not made the adjustment yet after 120+ PAs… He should be optioned to work on it…
Probably not enough AAA season left to work on it there. Plus, I’d guess he won’t see nearly as many breaking balls that severe at that level. It is painful to watch, but I’m still thinking this is where he needs to work it out (if he indeed can). I have no idea if Zinter is helping much or not.
Lodolo has lost his groove.
I’ve been watching, not commenting until now.
Looks like The Lettuce Guy is calling a great game, but Lodolo isn’t executing on some of them. He missed Romine’s spot 2x in a row and then threw a cookie that got milked to the max.
The Pie-rats have NEVER swept a series at GABP. I know I’m speaking doom-and-gloom, but it appears they may break that “curse” today.
I’m not sure the Reds can score 3 runs.
Yeah … I hear you.
Cruz is completely overmatched by Lodolo.
I believe the toe tap helped India last year and it’s helped Aquino this past month. Maybe Senzel and Barrero should try it.
Settle down Sadak. Ballboy made a mistake. Mr.Drama at it again. He will talk about it now for an inning. Surprise he doesn’t have a statistic on it.
And a double was all Solano was getting anyway, so no real harm done.
As I’m sitting here commiserating with all of you and hoping we score enough to take a win, I decided to change my avatar photo. If it comes through like it should, it will be my Davey Concepcion bobblehead that sits on the window sill in front of me.
Nice. My favorite BRM.
It is exactly that
I got it at GABP in 2006. I had “walk around” admission that day. We beat the WLB’s on a David Ross walk-off homer to LF.
The Reds will win today.
This comment didn’t age well, but you win the optimistic person of the year award!
Mark who hit that homer?
The Lettuce Guy
That’s a little hope back in my pocket. Nice swing by The Lettuce Guy.
Totally agree with Lecure. Put Steer in the same position every day and let him be comfortable. I like him calling out India’s defense as well. Sadak wouldn’t do that.
Sadak and Larkin are reduced to FO mouthpieces for the most part. Sam will call things out. Heaven knows Cowboy will do that.
Don’t run out of gas yet, Nick! Time to hold’em after getting a run back.
He is at 98 pitches after 6 innings, Who wants him to go 1 more?
I’m raising my hand here in NY. Can you see it?
Yeah, I see ya!!! All the way here in Western Ky
We only got 4 more pitches JB!
What was at the team breakfast/lunch table today? Limp noodle soup?
It’s either weak hits that go nowhere or broken bats that go … nowhere. At least it seems that way of late.
Why is Senzel playing over Fairchild or Lopez? Fairchild has shown some crazy power in what little time he’s played. If Nick wasn’t a big bonus baby then he would’ve been gone 3 years ago. He is what he is….a often/mostly injured weak hitter
Lopez is hitting .311 but still can’t crack this lineup for some reason
It must be the guy making out the game lineup.
I like having Lodolo face Cruz and then head out. He’s lived rent-free in Cruz’ head all day, so why not throw a going away party?
Well Lopez has the same issue they used to downgrade Jose Iglesias when he would hit .280 here. No power and doesn’t walk enough. Still though….he’s pesky and short enough to foul off pitches and draw some walks. His obp is .371! No reason he couldn’t bat 8th or 9th if the guys “ahead” of him are scrubs like Senzel.
I always liked Jose. Wasn’t a superstar but played great for us and got some big hits when needed.
And that slight glimmer of hope begins to fade once again
Mark always hope but that’s why I wanted 1 more inning out of Nick with top of order coming up. I know he had a game with 107 pitches before
Time for a rally – Reds hitting can’t continue to be this anemic. Can it?
Cowboy reciting the new pitcher’s stats (they aren’t good) and then commenting about first-pitch swings. I’ll echo that +500 when you’ve NEVER even faced the guy.
Yes. your not giving him a chance to make a mistake pitch and it seems he does make them with that earn run average. So I agree also! Also why I didn’t like the pace of yesterday’s game.
Sweeps at home are very hard to take. Sweeps at home to the Pie-rats border on unbearable. Then again, the Pie-rats are the better team at the moment. The “hope candle” is burning low here in the greater Raleigh area. I have a back yard to mow starting very soon.
With a four game sweep looming at home to the Pirates, the Cowboy should be named the Red’s interim manager for the remaining two and a half weeks of this deflating season.
Well, you have Friedl’s weak throw to the plate that gives no chance to cut the runner down but did you notice that the ump never gave the safe call because the runner totally missed the plate? Romine never turned around to notice and the runner scampered back to his feet to touch the plate. He was out if but for a little effort from Romine. Sad.
Yep. Cruz was VERY happy to not face Lodolo that time.
Swept by the Pie-rats in our own house. I do think we’ve reached a new low water mark. Even that mistake pitch by Lodolo doesn’t matter at this point. They played add-on and we scattered 7 hits.
Even given how horrible the season stated getting swept at home by the Pirates has to be the low point.
Fly ball to the fan wearing a glove in the 7th row. He waits patiently and hauls it in for another home run for the Buccos!
Swept by the Pirates, heading into St. Louis. I am so impressed by the Reds and their management team. Right now, Lodolo, Diaz, and maybe Cruz are about all the pitching the Reds have. The rest are struggling. As for Lodolo, he again walked no one. I guess he’ll be getting some private lessons from DJ.
Let me guess … Sadak has that blast as the start of a comeback.
Is it just me, or is the narrative starting to look like, “Hey! Remember that season where we lost 100 games, blew off September (again), and got swept by the Pie-rats at GABP for the FIRST TIME EVER??!!??”
I’m not sure I can can even bear to watch this weekend’s festivities against the WLB’s.
I wonder if Phil C. has the stones to show up for Redsfest this year?
Only with a complete security detail surrounding him. It would be safer to attend via a video appearance from a secure, undisclosed location.
He’ll likely make it. Why does he care? He’s got his. The fans don’t matter. Haven’t in decades. The sad fact is these guys make Marge Schott look like owner of the year.
+500,000
Marge was a complete Peach by comparison
The guy is oblivious.
And thinking about that 5-game series coming against STL this weekend including another DH… Could we project a 56-91 record after sunday?
It’s within our grasp, that much is sure.
Bigger question is, which of our pitchers will get the honor of teeing up #700 for Prince Albert?
Minor is my favorite candidate and the second is Cessa. I hope Greene won’t be…
@LDS-Got to be in the top 30 management teams out there. If you get my humor! It’s sad and needs to change. But Guys, I travel to a lot of minor league reds games for at least the past 12 years and the coaching is just as bad at the minor level as it is at the major level. When they get a great coach he is usually out the door fast. Another area that has to be improved especially with the young talent coming up within the system.
I agree with you. As I’ve suggested a number of times, the Reds have a system issue and new ownership is needed. However, start at the ML level and fire some folks. Pretend to care at least.
Re: Donnie Ecker. Baseball America’s Coach of the Year in 2021. Remember that guy – I bet Aristides Aquino does….
Ecker has been gone awhile. But the Reds hitting and pitching strategy are questionable. The evidence is clear.
Whatever, the guy is competent. He kind of stuck out during the Bell-era.
By the way, he was basicall exchanged for Alan Zinter, make of it what you will but I think the Giants got the better end of that deal.
And it is now time to mow the yard, folks. Nothing more to see in this debacle.
Meet y’all in St. Louis 😀
Mowing or Reds baseball, at this point about the same thing. Have fun Mark
All you Bell fans out there, explain why, if he actually wants to win, that he leaves Farrell in once it’s clear that he doesn’t have it.
They usually don’t comment until after the game’s over. Ever go back and read old threads? Funny how that works
Sadly true. It’s the roster don’t you know.
I’ve heard that about a thousand times somewhere! Probably on the last thread. I’m sure I’ll heard it again
I doubt there are any Bell fans just people who aren’t ignorant and understand the real issue
And the real issue? Leaving Farrell in to be hammered isn’t a roster problem. It’s a management problem. It doesn’t matter if one thinks the roster is bad. Misusing it is the issue.
Eh. The team just played 4 games in 3 days and is about to play 5 more in the next 4 days. You leave Farrell in there to just not use another guy in a game you were almost assuredly going to lose.
Having the worst roster in mlb is the issue
Again 11 of the 28 guys are minor leaguers or cast offs and aging Votto and Moose
A catcher and ss who can’t hit
The weak roster is the issue and all on ownership
DG, it’s a pattern regardless of the number of games in the coming weekend.
@LSD- Remember who Luke Farrell’s father is? John, who use to work for the Reds. But hey maybe we can go sweep the Cards. Nice chatting with all the other Reds fan today…I’m out at home
Sorry LDS not LSD! –MY Bad
This has been one of the worst series of the Reds this season…Horrible, embarrassing , atrocious…
Do you think management doesn’t want the young players to be good because when arbitration time they could ask for more money and win?