Home sweet home, or at least that’s what the Cincinnati Reds are hoping for. The Reds are 1-9 on the road, but they are 6-6 at home. Tonight they’ll welcome in the 14-7 Texas Rangers with the hopes that they can get back to winning some ballgames after being swept by the now first place Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend. Tonight’s first pitch is set for 6:40pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Texas Rangers
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| Marcus Semien – 2B | Jonathan India – 2B |
| Robbie Grossman – RF | TJ Friedl – LF |
| Nathaniel Lowe – 1B | Spencer Steer – 3B |
| Adolis Garcia – DH | Tyler Stephenson – C |
| Josh Jung – 3B | Jake Fraley – RF |
| Ezequiel Duran – SS | Wil Myers – 1B |
| Leody Taveras – CF | Henry Ramos – DH |
| Sandy Leon – C | Nick Senzel – CF |
| Bubba Thompson – LF | Jose Barrero – SS |
| Nathan Eovaldi – LHP | Nick Lodolo – LHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Nick Losolo | 21.2 | 4.98 | 1.71 | 7 | 31 |
| Nathan Eovaldi | 21.2 | 5.40 | 1.48 | 4 | 24 |
| Links: Nick Lodolo’s Stats | Nathan Eovaldi’s Stats |
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Nick Lodolo
After a strong start to the season, Nick Lodolo had the worst start of his career the last time out as he allowed 12 hits, hit three batters, and walked a batter while being charged with eight runs in 4.2 innings against Tampa Bay. He’ll look to put that behind him this evening against the Rangers.
The splits are heavily weighted by his last outing when he was shelled, but the story is generally the same as it’s always been: Lefties don’t find nearly as much success against him as righties, and they also don’t get many chances to even try.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 87 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 24 | .342 | .407 | .526 |
| LHH | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | .250 | .294 | .438 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Change | Slider | |
| Velo | 93.6 | 93.8 | 87.5 | 79.7 |
| Usage | 39% | 11% | 12% | 38% |
Nathan Eovaldi
It’s been a bit of a tough start to the season for Nathan Eovaldi as he’s given up 28 hits in 21.2 innings and has an ERA of 5.40. Much of that came in one start on April 12th when he gave up 10 hits in 5.0 innings and was charged with six runs against Kansas City. That was the only start he allowed a home run in. In his next start, also against the Royals, he held them to two runs in 6.0 innings.
This season the splits for Eovaldi favor right-handed hitters in a big way, but the sample size is still rather small. They’ve crushed him thus far, though. Over the past two seasons righties have still outperformed lefties, but the difference was much smaller and they hadn’t exactly crushed him, either.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 43 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 13 | .366 | .395 | .561 |
| LHH | 50 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 11 | .277 | .300 | .447 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | Cutter | Curve | Slider | |
| Velo | 96.0 | 91.6 | 77.0 | 84.9 |
| Usage | 36% | 22% | 13% | 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: 51°, cloudy, 0% chance of rain
News and Notes
Jason Vosler out, Henry Ramos in
Around 2pm this afternoon the Cincinnati Reds announced that they had designated Jason Vosler for assignment and called up outfielder Henry Ramos. After just 11 games in Triple-A where he was hitting .314, Ramos joins the big league club after Vosler’s hot start turned into a long cold stretch at the plate. You can read more about both moves here if you’d like.
Matt McLain is impressing in Louisville
We led off the week here at Redleg Nation by looking down on the farm and at the impressive start that shortstop/second baseman Matt McLain has had for the Bats this season. He’s got a .996 OPS through 20 games with Louisville so far and has stood out for his production among the team’s top prospects.
A stronger bullpen
Over the last 11 games the Reds bullpen has posted a 2.42 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 44.2 innings.
Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Pirates | 16 | 7 | 0.0 | 19.4% |
| Brewers | 15 | 7 | 0.5 | 68.2% |
| Cubs | 12 | 9 | 3.0 | 24.3% |
| Cardinals | 9 | 13 | 6.5 | 48.2% |
| Reds | 7 | 15 | 8.5 | 0.2% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
Facing another potential Cy Young winner in the Rangers LHP Eovaldi currently boasting a 5.40 ERA. He should be able to reduce his ERA significantly if the Reds don’t break out of their current hitting slump!
Have low expectations tonight so I’m not terribly disappointed if the Reds get shut out or score 2 or fewer runs!
I’m sure the SRO crowd tonight will be cheering on their last place hometown Reds!
Eovaldi isn’t a left hander
Sorry, was using what Doug had shown in his starting lineup above! You are correct, Eovaldi is a RHP but that matters little the way the Reds are hitting!
Stephenson is catching again which I’m all for. I haven’t checked but it seems like he’s catching at least half of the time which is much more than David Bell said he would. If that is truly the case then what in the world do we need three catchers for? Whatever I guess. We still lost the DH recently even with three catchers and guess what…it didn’t kill us. We survived. Maybe it’s not as big of deal as some are making it out to be. Two backups or three Robinson should be one of them. The way he’s hitting he could even help in the DH spot.
Again:
What does Barrero have to do to move up in the lineup???
He’s been one of the Reds’ better hitters over the last few weeks (not saying much, I know…), why not move him up so he gets more ABs?
Especially since batting in the 8/9 slot, surrounded by the lesser hitters, he’s still managed to be tied for 2nd in RBIs, not that that is much on the Reds.
Stop it! You’re thinking logically and using statistics in your analysis! Both of these approaches are foreign to the current Reds manager!
As someone said recently, “A new manager”.
Just out of curiosity, how long should we wait for all these 27 year old outfielders to breakout?
Looking for a bounce back performance by Lodolo. And beyond that would like to see some of the younger guys start to develop.
OK, friends, I’m calling it … we break our streak tonight and 1) hit a HR 2) win the game.
Call me a foolish fan if you must, but it ends tonight.
I am with you….!
I’m on board….Shouldn’t we be kicking something?
Swine … we shall Boot Swine tonight. Lodolo has given us that start.
Larkin with a beard….nice
There are dozens in attendance.
Packed! You could go to the bathroom anytime and not stand in line.
You could pee in the stands and nobody would catch you 😀
Camera would be on me with my luck
Wow! A clean 1st inning with 3 K’s. And some nasty stuff from Lodolo to lock them up.
More, please.
Lodolo strikes out the side in the first.
That’s more like it!
A good omen. Nick is on tonight.
The sun was our friend there. 🙂
Don’t make me regret my commitment to breaking the streak, guys.
Can we please score a runner from 3rd with less than 2 outs! Squeeze bunt, sac fly, hit anything!
Yikes, that’s 5 strikeouts in a row for Steer now, going back to last game.
Put the bat on the ball gentlemen! Please?
54 inning streak is over. That’s the first step.
And then Myers being Myers … frustrating to watch.
tysteve with the cluch forcing the error
Texas looks like the Reds of the past. Bloopers galore.
Wait….do we have the lead?
Wow, the Reds had two very fortunate errors go their way for once to score a run.
Maybe a good omen.
Thank god that Ty Steve is not on his scheduled, pre-planned day off!
Sadak said Stephenson with the hit. Lol home cookin.
Sun double…wild pitch…E5… scores a run
The offense is in high gear.
Hey, if it takes the other team playing like the Bad News Bears for the Reds to end their scoreless streak, I’ll still take it.
Rangers out Reds the Reds in B1 and locals end up with a lead!
For Kevin who is usually on Gameday only … it was ugly, but it worked for a run.
In case no one noticed, ALL 3 of the Reds outs in the first inning were via strikeouts! Time to fire the hitting coach?
Hung that just a little bit. Thought we were on pace for a pizza night in the 4th inning.
And the Reds lead is gone before they even figured out what it was!
The lead lasted 1 out…
….for future historic references.
OK, what’s happening here?
Well, that rare Reds lead didn’t last long! Guess it’s going to take more than one (1) run to win tonight! God help us!
Tough team to watch, Just sticking around to see Ramos’s 1st AB with the club.
+1000
Me too doing other things around the house kept my eye on the PC screen for a 1 pitch popout!
Me 10 minutes ago: “The Reds have the lead!”
Me now: “The Reds had the lead!”
+500
Once again, it appears that Lodolo doesn’t have “it”!
3-1 and the three game sweep is on….in front of a crowd that could possibly fit in my back yard
Well THAT was brutal.
Send him back down 😀
Lodolo seems to lack consistency. Im not sure anyone knows where his pitches are going to go at times. He’s certainly got tons of potential but the fire and ice from 1 start to the next and 1 inning to the next is frustrating.
This ump is all over the place.
Yes, there are some serious issues with the ability to at least put the ball in play. Three strikeouts after lead off (sun caused) double, wild pitch, run scored on error, weak infield single. And the strikeouts continue into the second. Maybe they can rally for the 1500 fans in attendance. Doubtful. Lodolo’s extension talks have been put on hold.
Well at least Ramos put the ball in play which is more than can be said of the Reds other 5 out makers in the 1st two innings
+500
This team desperately needs professional left handed hitters. Fraley is in free fall and Freidl might be overachieving and coming back to earth and Votto is done.
The Reds hitters look absolutely lost at the plate, they can’t be as bad as they appear to be. If they are this team will lose over 110 games. Well, at least that might be enough to get of Bell and his coaches.
The team still looks deflated. They need a shot in the arm somehow. Changes need to be made.
That’s easy as most of us know. If Krall won’t or isn’t allowed to do so, then it’s likely another 100 losses.
Could be a lot more than 100
Anyone got an early look at the 2024 MLB mock Draft?
Would love to have Bruce Bochy in our dugout. Always liked him.
I thought that one had a shot at the Toyota truck!
He costs to much. David Bell is right in line with Bobs budget.
This is looking like ugly on an ape … a lot more of it and it just keeps coming.
I may take a break for my walk tonight and listen to music instead of the game.
Uh! Maybe should pitch more carefully to Jung going forward!
Yikes! …and Lodolo is one of the best pitchers we got. He looks deflated too.
The down side of of following the game on the internet is you miss John Sadak’s tremendous insight.
My word, this is ugly……come august/sept, they might as well open up the gates and let anyone wonder into the games.
“wander into games”
You are going to have to pay people to watch this. And it isn’t going to be cheap either.
I wonder if anybody will care.
I’m pretty sure people will be wondering what they heck they’re watching if this keeps up.
Hard to believe we’re watching this after he mowed down the first 4 batters. Just a total reversal.
Over/under on the number of games the Reds will win before May 1st (next Monday):
0.5
What are you taking?
I wonder how long it will be before they get their 10th win?
Is Lodolo tipping his pitches or something? Back to back rough starts.
And a web-gem double-play!
Outstanding focus by Barrero.
Awesome play be Barrero.
But his defense is terrible. Lol
McLain has played outfield. Call him up tomorrow and put him in Center. Senzel will be 28 this summer. How long are we going to wait for him to show up? Let’s start playing guys who are going to be here next year.
Thumbs up on that one.
I deemed his last season as sink or swim.
They didn’t use my free scouting advice.
That helps … helps a bunch.
Nice drive by Steer….
Should have been caught….we will take it!!
Good ground ball contact by TS to get the run in. 🙂
Ty Steve with 2 RBIs so far tonight! Again, glad it wasn’t his pre-programmed “Day of Rest!”
No RBI for the error
Steer and India look like core righty bats. India is the best hitter. Steer has some nice power.
Great arm by Barrero there.
News Flash! Leadoff batters who are walked by Reds pitchers almost always score!
What’s up with Lodolo?
Noooooooo. You’re kidding.
On that news flash Dennis.
Larkin: “A switch-hitter from both sides.”
It hurts my head just thinking about that.
hahaha
Love Lark but he is really not a good announcer.
Leave it to “Rally Killer” Senzel to ground into a double play.
Nice line from Lodolo tonight. 4 innings 9 hits 6 earned runs, 2 bombs.
Quick RLN survey. Name the Reds top 5 lefty bats in the organizational depth chart that are or project to be Good mlb lefty hitters.
1.) EDLC(switch hitter)-his weakest tool is the hit tool though. Power arm and speed 1/2/3.
2.) Friedl- 4 weeks decent but advance metrics suggest overachieving.
3.) fraley- Terrible 2021 first half, great 2021 second, fire and ice and trending ice 2022.
4.) ???
5.) ????
I long for the days of Joey Votto,Jesse Winker, Jay Bruce, Adam Dunn, Hal Morris, Paul O’Neill, Joe Morgan. This team has no lefty hitters. Heck give me Scooter.
2022/2023 on fraley
I long for the days of Gookie Dawkins
I don’t think Nick Senzel even likes playing baseball.
I know I don’t like watching him play baseball
Lol @ JB
Back from my walk. Need to call down some thunder.
Thor Concepcion
8-game streak for TJ
For those not listening to the WLW feed, Cowboy was frank and brutal on Lodolo. If he’s calling his own pitches, he needs to stop immediately.
Hello? Is this microphone on?
Did all of RLN quit at once? Lol
I’m here V4L … just took a break for my evening walk.
Glad you are back!
Freidl with a stolen base. I thought they couldn’t do that.
He’ll get benched for sure.
No, he will get a scheduled, pre-planned day off for being bad.
Not quite enough … nice wood on that for TySteve.
Stephenson almost got him. He’s slowly getting his strength/power back.
Yeah, the Reds gave up too soon on Suarez’s bum shoulder. Hopefully, they will be more patient with Tyler.
Good Evening all,
Listening on the radio and Brantley was giving great explanation’s about Lodolo and pitching. Honest assessment in my opinion.
It definitely was honest … brutally honest … and accurate. Something has to change or we’ll see this Jekyll and Hyde stuff continue.
Agree 110% It wasn’t in a rude way either just to the point about what he is seeing and pitching
Oddly enough Lodolo has had two outings since Greene contract and looked awful and uninspired in both. I hope it’s just a coincidence.
Wasted opportunities, especially as the game winds on.
Buck Farmer has bounced back nicely this month. Really 1 bad outing for him. Lodolo will be fine as its growing pains of a young pitcher.
Senzel I don’t see him bat, however curious how is body language is as in does he look frustrated? Lost?
A combination of lost and behind the curve is what I see. I’m beginning to think he’s a candidate for a change of scenery.
Senzel just does’t look good.
The Reds don’t need him. If some team would take his salary…..
Would definitely keep Fairchild over him. He may go somewhere else and hit. Who knows?
Senzel isn’t expensive. I think he needs to play 3B for somebody.
I don’t know why, but I really thought today would be the day that Bell would become desperate enough to try a hit-and-run. But I suppose that’s just asking a little too much of these guys. Better to let them repeatedly ground into double plays, which is less stressful and nobody’s feelings get hurt by being told what to do.
He’s had some chances … but he just can’t find the formula in his little book of secret baseball knowledge.
Key Word “little” lol
I’m sure it has something to do with the pitcher needing to pitch with a certain hand and the hitter needing to hit from a certain side of the plate and the runner needing to take a lead with a certain foot and the umpire needing to be a certain height. Then he’ll try it.
Like I said, J, “formula” … a secret formula.
The weather/temperature has to be just right too.
Senzel with another ” struck out looking”. Can’t get a hit if you don’t swing the bat. If you go by WAR Brandon Larson has a better career than Senzel.
He looked so promising his rookie year but man it’s been rough 2020-2023. RLN would still love him if he would break out of this funk and become a .275 hitter.
Sims not looking too bad.
Stephenson due for a homerun
Fraley due for a homerun
So is everyone else. 🙂
LOL@Melvin
Those not awesome commercials are why we are losing lol
Now we pitch run for Stepheson. I just dont get his managerial style
Yep, logged back in just in time for that. Bell the rally killer. And dollars to donuts, if Barrero comes up in the 9th, Bell will pinch hit , but not for Senzel.
I don’t get it anymore. We all get his roster is limited. It is just the things he does that makes one go what is going on lol
This way he gets to use those catchers
You don’t? Bell is a big fan of The Twilight Zone! Honestly, I stopped trying to figure Bell’s “baseball strategy”!
Well, I hope we don’t go extras and need the bat of Stephenson because Bell just took him out.
I get the move, but why wait a batter?
Good point Mark
The computer was down temporarily.
Big stage for Ramos, or will DTBell make a switch.
Patient AB to force in a run. Maybe it’s GABP.
We need more Ramos!!
And maybe a little cowbell
Nice job Ramos!
I think he went there. lol
He did 😀
woohooo Senzel!! lol
all 57 fans in attendance are going NUTS!!!
Small crowd? Your best guess or have they announced
He’s just playin with ya. There are actually 118 fans in attendance. It’s just the 27 are in the restroom.
Very small crowd again. I’d guess somewhere around 5% of the prime seats behind the plate are occupied tonight.
By the looks of it not much higher than 7500
Just like Little League. If you can’t hit and they can’t pitch just wait and walk in some runs. 🙂
High drama inning. Glad I’ve stayed tuned in. I suppose Cowboy is way to smart to be a pitching coach for somebody. Can’t say as I blame him.
Successful game
Alexis diaz gets to pitch.
Wow, Bell let Barrero hit. All he needed was a single or maybe a double to take over the team lead in RBIs. That says a lot about the Reds thus far. What happened to the ST of putting the ball in play, aggressiveness on the base paths, a stolen base here or there? No, let’s swing for the fences, strikeout often, and hope for a walk.
Thought that was gone. lol
Cold night, no carry. Bullet dodged.
Maddox visits in the middle of a hitter … that’s a desperate move.
let’s see if a lead-off walk by the opponent at GABP has the same disastrous result.
Looking at the game logs thus far, except for the game where Bell left him in for 30+ pitches, Diaz has given up no hits and one walk. Pulling him earlier, after it was clear he didn’t have it, may have prevented that loss.
Probably rushing him, but call up CES. Lol
CES didn’t get a hit tonight……of course the Bats didn’t play either. 🙂
So when does Freidl regress?
@JB
Sorry
I read a Steve Mancuso manifesto today
My bad
Trying to drag bunt for a hit. Not what we needed.
Reds win!!
WALK OFF!!!!
No dinger but the streak is SNAPPED. Way to go TJ.
Wait….we won? clap….clap…clap 🙂
What???
Handedness fetish ???
Friedl wins a game without being pinch hit for against a lefty
That’s INSANE! 🙂 It was stressful though. May be due for another day off. 🙂
Never a doubt! As soon as Bell’s strategy was no longer in effect thanks to two bunt attempt strikes, I knew this game was over.
The Rangers BP acted like the Reds and walked too many batters. The Reds win as a result.
Or glass half full says Reds battled and stayed patient and end result a win. Bullpen pitched well again for Reds and end result a win. You could look at it that way. ?
They got in Leclerc’s head and wouldn’t pay any rent. Sending him out for the 9th was a bad move.
I like the half full version
I’d like to buy the half full interpretation but it feels like a stretch. And they need to solve the Lodolo problem and quickly
Reds needed that win. If they sweep rangers they could get a win streak going. As A’s are bad, very bad
Box score says attendance of 8,810 … I’m thinking that’s a generous estimate.
Still sad, however good for fans. Reds have tore it down. What do you expect Upper Management. LOL
Don’t want the guy reporting the attendance doing my taxes!
Someone said Friedl’s metrics suggest he is overachieving. Not tonight!
Sometimes the metrics don’t know what a guy looks like when he’s playing. Friedl doesn’t look like he’s just getting lucky.
Lets clear this up now
I stupidly read Steve Mancuso and his article about the offensive analytics of the Reds and once again… paid the price.
Why I come here and not there.
Wxoba says friedl lucky