The Cincinnati Reds (61-99) will look to finish the 2022 season with a winning streak. The Reds ended their 6-game losing streak with a 3-1 last night over the Chicago Cubs (73-87). The Reds have not won two consecutive games since their 3-game winning streak back on September 7-9. The Reds need to win both today and tomorrow to avoid their first 100 loss season in 40 years.
Starting Pitchers
Luis Cessa has pitched fairly well in his starting pitching role, and overall since he returned from the IL at the beginning of August. Cessa has a 3.43 ERA in 44.2 innings with an impressive 2.82 BB/9 mark. Cessa has a career 4.85 ERA against the Cubs in 13.0 IP. Cessa beat the Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 8th when he recorded his most strikeouts in game since 2017: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 8 K.
Javier Assad will look to finish his strong rookie season tonight. Assad was not a top prospect for the Cubs, but got the promotion after a breakout minor league season. One of his worst starts of the season actually came against the Reds at Wrigley Field on September 7th: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 HR, 1 BB, 6 K.
Starting Lineups
Jake Fraley has been the Reds best hitter in the 2nd half, hitting .291/.374/.533 with 11 HR and 146 wRC+. Fraley homered off Cubs starter Javier Assad earlier this month. It was kind of surprising to see Aristides Aquino out of the lineup, as he homered off Assad on 9/7 also.
Roster Move
-Aramis Garcia made his return to the Reds roster for the first time since July 7th. He had finger and elbow injuries that kept him sidelined. It will be interesting to see if he gets the start in the finale over Austin Romine. TJ Friedl‘s season is officially over after his injury last night. Friedl had a 139 wRC+ in the second half of the season.
The #Reds today announced the following transactions. pic.twitter.com/iXDNTnRCvl
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) October 4, 2022
MLB Draft Lottery
The Reds and Pirates remain tied for the third worst record in MLB. The Reds are guaranteed to finish with at least the fourth worst record in MLB.
For the 2023 draft, MLB will be implementing a draft lottery to determine the order. The Reds would have the highest odds should they fall into the worst three records in MLB. The Reds do however “lose” the tie-breaker to the Pirates because the Reds had a better record in 2021. The Pirates could “clinch” the number three spot in the draft odds with a loss tonight combined with a Reds win.
-How the odds work explained by Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline.
All 18 non-playoff clubs will enter a lottery for the top six picks. The percentage chances of each team getting the No. 1 choice, in reverse order of winning percentages: pic.twitter.com/lzWR3PeOqW
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) March 11, 2022
Conclusion
It was starting to look like the Reds might end the 2022 season losing 9 straight games with the way they had been playing. It was nice to see the Reds get a victory last night behind a brilliant season finale from Hunter Greene. It would be really nice to see the Reds end the season on a winning streak and avoid 100 losses. But if for some reason that doesn’t happen, maybe the Reds can sneak into the top 3 draft odds? Go Reds!
It would be nice to see Garcia get a little time behind the plate before the season ends.
Romine has been getting some good props from some Reds pitchers. Neither he nor Robinson have provided much with their bats beyond the occasional surprise.
A bit of mild jubilation that the Robert Dugger experiment is over. Don’t know what airlift he came in on, but it was a sign of extreme desperation and the results revealed just that.
I’d hate to go back and see what kind of platitudes Bell was offering up after Dugger’s pitching experiments.
Chop out the dead wood.
Time for Cessa to show he’s serious about 2023.
It’s not surprising Aquino is not in the lineup.
His Reds career is over.
We can only hope OS.
He may appear tomorrow but I agree about the future.
I think Romine is a good #2 catcher Ala Kurt Cassali…..I hope I never seen Aquino take another ab in Reds uniform his ab’s are like going to the dentist.
In about 24 hours, this miserable season will finally come to an end.
One can only hope, that a week from now everyone associated with the front office, the field manager, the coaching staff and player development staff will all be unemployed. That would only leave Bob and Little Phil remaining.
Ugh, a man can dream.
Well, while you are dreaming “the impossible dream” why not include Bob and Phil while you are at it?
So then I guess my at least possibly attainable dream would be there would be a mirror image of the announcement made by Big Bob and Dick Wiliams this time in 2020 but with DW saying his family had swapped shares and some $$$$ with Castellini, were now the owners of the managing partner super share and he was niow CEO.
Mike,
I would be so happy if the Castellinis would announce they would be selling the team.
I know some worry it would mean the Reds leaving Cincinnati. I don’t think that would happen, but I am willing to take that risk.
I haven’t always felt this way. In fact, I was generally supportive of this ownership group until recently. In fact, as recently as 2000, I thought this team was headed in the right direction.
The past two seasons have convinced me that the Reds will never win again, as long as the Castellinis own the team.
Votto with some more gems tonight.
No reason why Cessa can’t be the 5th starter next year. Nice job tonight so far.
Current injury notwithstanding.
Yikes.
Don’t know. A key need for our back of the rotation starter will be innings. Like the role Minor was expected to provide this year. That doesn’t seem like Cessa strength. Maybe Lodolo, Greene, Ashcraft, and Co. provide us a lot more innings next year that we don’t need the Minor role. And then Cessa would be a better fit. I haven’t ruled out Santillan, Antone, Overton, or a vet providing a role here either.
Judge hits 62
The PED-free record.
Votto offers to buy the Toyota truck for the fan for ANY homer this inning.
Pretty low risk offer for JV.
From centerfield to right. 404 to 330.
Waiting on the One Run Reds to score their only run of the night! Good to see the Cards are tanking again against the Pirates!
You’re going to need a little more patience, apparently.
chuckie robinson realizing there is another catcher up there
You know, he might not be in MLB for awhile, so it’s great that have 1 more big league moment.
Chuckie seems like a good guy. Happy for him to have this moment.
Chuckie Robinson gives off a winning attitude on the diamond.
End of the world… Barrero walked and Robinson homered !
What a night to be alive!!
So Robinson has homered, India & Cessa are both injured, and avoiding 100 losses is still possible. Happily, only one more game and the off season begins. And hopefully, it will be more fun than the season has been.
What happened to India?
I saw a report that he fouled on off the foot. I’m not watching so I can’t confirm. Cessa was a knee, I think.
It was a foul ball
no shirt october it seems
Steer has a good October moment. Hopefully many more to come.