The Cincinnati Reds have lost the first two games of their 4-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers. Tonight they will send Graham Ashcraft to the mound in his first start back off of the injured list. It will be a tough match up as the Reds offense will have to face off against one of the best pitchers in the game in Corbin Burnes as Milwaukee looks to guarantee a series win with a victory tonight. First pitch is set for 6:40pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Here’s the lineup for tonight’s game:
Milwaukee Brewers
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| Christian Yelich – LF | TJ Friedl – DH |
| Willy Adames – SS | Spencer Steer – 3B |
| Rowdy Tellez – 1B | Kyle Farmer – SS |
| Hunter Renfroe – RF | Stuart Fairchild – LF |
| Kolten Wong – 2B | Alejo Lopez – 2B |
| Andrew McCutchen – DH | Aristides Aquino – RF |
| Luis Urias – 3B | Matt Reynolds – 1B |
| Omar Narvaez – C | Michael Siani – CF |
| Tyrone Taylor – CF | Chuckie Robinson – C |
| Corbin Burnes – SP | Graham Ashcraft – SP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Graham Ashcraft | 93.0 | 3.97 | 1.33 | 23 | 64 |
| Corbin Burnes | 184.2 | 3.12 | 1.00 | 48 | 223 |
| Links: Graham Ashcraft’s Stats | Brandon Woodruff’s Stats |
|||||
Graham Ashcraft
Fresh off of the injured list, Graham Ashcraft takes the mound tonight hoping to do better than he did in his final rehab start where he allowed 11 hits in 2.2 innings in Triple-A.
This season Graham Ashcraft has been pretty dominant against left-handed hitters, holding them to just four extra-base hits in 195 plate appearances. Managers still try to stack their lineup with lefties against him for some reason. Right-handed hitters, though, are doing the dominating on the season against Ashcraft. They are hitting .320 and slugging .500 against him, showing significantly more power than lefties have this season despite making a little bit more contact.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 209 | 62 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 31 | .320 | .359 | .500 |
| LHH | 195 | 39 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 33 | .219 | .282 | .253 |
Pitch Usage
| 2-Seam | Cutter | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 97.0 | 97.2 | 85.7 | 89.8 |
| Usage | 19.8% | 51.0% | 28.4% | 0.8% |
Corbin Burnes
Last year’s Cy Young Award winner isn’t having quite the same kind of season he had in 2021, but he’s been outstanding. He’s pitched better on the road than at home (2.83 ERA on the road) and held hitters to a .605 OPS when away from Milwaukee.
When it comes to his splits against lefties and righties there’s not much of a difference. Righties are hitting .196 with a .617 OPS against him. Lefties are hitting a fraction better at .207 with a .632 OPS against him. Lefties walk a little more but strike out a little more, too. No matter how you slice it there’s not really any advantage from a handedness perspective against Burnes.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 356 | 64 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 20 | 108 | .196 | .261 | .356 |
| LHH | 381 | 72 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 28 | 115 | .207 | .273 | .359 |
Pitch Usage
| 2-Seam | Cutter | Slider | Change | Curve | |
| Velo | 95.9 | 96.3 | 95.1 | 90.3 | 81.7 |
| Usage | 6.8% | 56.2% | 8.6% | 9.9% | 18.5% |
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: 72°, sunny, 0% chance of rain
News and Notes
Luis Castillo signed an extension with Seattle
Cincinnati traded Luis Castillo to Seattle six weeks ago. Now he’ll be a Seattle Mariner for the next six seasons after signing a long-term extension for $108M for five years, with an optionable 6th season. I wrote about what that could potentially mean about the Reds and where they are as a franchise if you want to wallow in misery.
Dauri Moreta optioned to Triple-A
Graham Ashcraft was activated from the injured list today so he could make the start for Cincinnati. To clear a spot for him ont he 28-man roster the Reds optioned reliever Dauri Moreta to Triple-A Louisville.
Moreta has pitched well the last few months. Not sure why Strickland is still with team. Moreta is the future Strickland isn’t
I don’t get it either, Moreta is a better option for today and the future.
Puzzling. Maybe it was out of convenience in some way due to options. I have to believe Strickland gets a DFA ticket to make room on the 40 as soon as this is over.
Good to see Ashcraft back. Got through his first inning in decent shape, so that helps.
Now let’s back him up with some crooked numbers.
What about Fraley? Is he hurt?
Even if Burnes is only half on tonight, that kind of Chumpiring will do us in.
I just love seeing a 12-year-old succeed at this level.
Gonna push Burnes to 30 pitches this inning!
Fairchild and Lopez…. both should be on reds team next year.
I’ve done a 180 on Fairchild and I agree 100% with your statement. With that said I’m fully ready for both of them to start in AAA for Moustakas and Aquino next season
Don’t go there … I’ll have to award negative points. Then positive ones because you are probably right, at least where 3M is concerned.
The change of Aquino’s stance lost his effect in last days… He came back to get a lot of Ks… As a hitter is a good defensive player…Lol
Apparently fairy dust isn’t permanent in the real world either 😀
2 good months in 4 seasons
I said it last night. I’ll say it again. Just plunk Wong and get it over with. Same result anyway.
Hahahaha
OK, Ashcraft through 3 without any real damage. How many do y’all think he’s good for tonight?
6 innings
I’d take that all day every day, especially at this point.
FYI for Kevin (and other regulars) … I took my 2nd walk before the game, so nobody will need to hold my place in line tonight 😀
C’mon guys! Crooked Numbers!!!
Whew that is alot of pressure… holding your spot. Lmao
Welcome back, Graham. Please make a note about throwing cement mixer cookies to guys like Renfro … or to anyone for that matter.
May want to just plunk Wong now.
Better dig in here, Ashcraft. I really wasn’t planning on pulling a Clete this early (if at all).
So MLBTR stated that Minor is seriously thinking about retiring after this season.
From MLBTR:
Reds lefty Mike Minor told Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer that he is considering retirement at the conclusion of the 2022 season. “I’d have to feel good, and I’d have to want to play and want to be away from my family again,” Minor said. Three years removed from an All-Star nod with the Rangers, Minor battled injuries for the first two months of 2022. In total, he has thrown 98 innings to the tune of a 6.06 ERA for a non-competitive Reds team. Minor will face free agency this offseason should he elect to return to the big-leagues for a 12th year.
He might be skipping town…after stealing 10 million from the Reds
+5,000 on that VaRedsFan
Minor looked like he was thinking that every time he was on the mound.
Also saw that Art Warren is having some non-TJ surgery.
Didn’t realize Pujols got to 700 last night. Knew Judge is still stuck on 60. My limited number of Yankee friends are hesitant to admit they won’t have Judge’s services next season. He’d have already signed an extension if that were his intent.
The Yankees will make him an offer he can’t refuse
I believe they’ve already tried that. I think he’s sniffing bigger West Coast money.
After the 4 runs scored by Brewers this game is likely over…
I hope the Reds definitely DFA’d Aquino, I’m tired of wait…
After 6 runs through almost 5, I’m betting we’re cooked for the night.
We need to score here. Even 2 runs would help put some dirt back in this hole we dug. If we come up with a goose egg again, I’m probably going to turn my attention to something else that will hold my attention more. Maybe a rerun of Gilligan’s Island … 😮
Time to switch over to the small screen with no sound. Maybe I’ll turn on yet another college football game.
This is embarrassing and depressing … completely embarrapressing.
We push Burnes to over 30 pitches in the first inning and then he gets through the next 5 with about 10 per (assuming the 6th ends like it started). Zero in-game adjustments for our guys. 2023 could really be painful to watch.
i have lost so much energy for this, that I cannot even attack Miami valley gaming commercials
Awesome!
No india or solano
Tanking
But burnes and brewers play in NL central so judge accordingly
Perhaps krall is exposing some
With 6 you get eggroll …
With 8 that’s a full Clete for me …
Catch you all for the give-away-game tomorrow afternoon
It’s like they aren’t even trying to win these days. I recommend a double switch and Strickland to finish the game.
When Aquino, Senzel, and Barrero have a decent game, we see the puff pieces about Zinter working with them. When they revert to their old habits, where’s the “sports journalism “? The Cincinnati paper typically is the biggest offender. I guess Bob’s folks tell them what the line is for any given day. Oh well, the season is nearly over. 100 losses are getting closer and 102 is still in reach. If you’re going to fail, fail spectacularly and be remembered.
Probably time to shut down Ashcraft for the year. He has given up 11 runs in last 17 innings in 3 starts.
Might be shot and ready for a long rest.
The details of the Castillo deal that I’ve seen are really interesting–the vesting option if he has Tommy John after a certain year, the vesting option if he pitches a certain number of innings in the last year, the no trade clause through certain years, etc. These seem to balance the financial risks and certainties for both player and team, and show what kind of imagination is needed to sign top-tier talent when you don’t have bottomless pockets. Happy that LC got this and is staying somewhere interesting; only wish the Reds of course had been willing to commit to him.
Unfortunately the Reds have the worst ownership in mlb possibly in all 4 major sports.Next year it won’t be any better maybe even worse
So you would trade ownership with Detroit Lions, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Phoenix Coyotes, or Los Angeles Clippers?