The Cincinnati Reds will look to get back in the win column tonight after dropping the opener to the all of a sudden burning hot Chicago White Sox, who have won four of their last five after losing 10 games in a row. First pitch is set for 6:40pm ET at Great American Ball Park.
Starting Lineups
Chicago White Sox
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Cincinnati Reds
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| Tim Anderson – SS | Jonathan India– 2B |
| Andrew Vaughn – 1B | TJ Friedl – CF |
| Luis Robert Jr. – CF | Spencer Steer – 1B |
| Yasmani Grandal – DH | Tyler Stephenson – DH |
| Andrew Benintendi – LF | Henry Ramos – LF |
| Hanser Alberto – 3B | Nick Senzel – 3B |
| Elvis Andrus – 2B | Wil Myers – RF |
| Seby Zavala – C | Jose Barrero – SS |
| Adam Haseley – RF | Curt Casali – C |
| Mike Clevinger – RHP | Nick Lodolo – LHP |
Jake Fraley was in the original lineup, but at 6:09pm he was scratched with lower back stiffness. Henry Ramos will start the game in left field.
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Nick Lodolo | 30.2 | 6.16 | 1.73 | 9 | 44 |
| Mike Clevinger | 29.1 | 4.60 | 1.60 | 15 | 26 |
| Links: Nick Lodolo’s Stats | Mike Clevinger’s Stats |
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Nick Lodolo
While Nick Lodolo has pitched better since his April 18th 8-run, 4.2 inning performance against Tampa Bay, he hasn’t pitched much better. He’s allowed nine runs in 9.0 innings over two starts since then and he’s given up two home runs in each of those two starts.
Right-handed hitters have crushed the ball this season against Lodolo. They have an OPS of 1.050 with seven home runs. Righties don’t walk much, and they aren’t making a bunch of contact, but when they do make contact it’s been very good contact. Left-handed hitters aren’t doing a whole lot in the very limited action they get in the batters box against Lodolo.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 123 | 40 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 35 | .367 | .426 | .624 |
| LHH | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | .191 | .227 | .333 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 93.8 | 93.9 | 80.1 | 87.8 |
| Usage | 39% | 12% | 37% | 12% |
Mike Clevinger
It’s been a solid, but unspectacular start to the 2023 season for Mike Clevinger. He’s been inconsistent, but is coming off of a good start against Tampa Bay in his last outing where he walked one and struck out eight batters in 5.0 innings with two runs allowed.
Left-handed hitters have hit better against him this season. They are making way more contact, walking more, and hitting for more power. Right-handed hitters have been solid across the board against him, but don’t stand out in any given area. While it’s not shown below in his splits, he’s pitched much worse in his three road starts – posting a 5.87 ERA – than he has in his three starts at home – where his ERA is 3.21.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 74 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 17 | .277 | .351 | .415 |
| LHH | 61 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 9 | .275 | .377 | .529 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | Cutter | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 94.6 | 86.0 | 77.5 | 80.6 | 86.9 |
| Usage | 57% | 4% | 4% | 29% | 6% |
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: 75°, partly cloudy, 0% chance of rain
News and Notes
Eloy Jimenez hospitalized
Not a Reds note, but certainly a game note. Eloy Jimenez has been hospitalized in Cincinnati with abdominal pain. No updates beyond that.
Wil Myers activated, Matt Reynolds DFA’d
If you already looked at the lineup then you saw that Wil Myers was in it. The team activated him this afternoon and to create room on the roster for him they designated Matt Reynolds for assignment. You can read more about the moves here if you would like.
Elly De La Cruz is on top of the Statcast leaderboard
Last night Elly De La Cruz did something in Omaha that puts him on top of the Statcast leaderboard – and not just for Triple-A, either. He would be on top of the leaderboard in the big leagues, too.
Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Pirates | 20 | 13 | 0.0 | 25.5% |
| Brewers | 18 | 14 | 1.5 | 61.0% |
| Cubs | 16 | 16 | 3.5 | 23.8% |
| Reds | 13 | 19 | 6.5 | 0.9% |
| Cardinals | 10 | 23 | 10 | 21.7% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
First reaction after looking at the starting lineup was What? No Newman? Don’t worry RLN, Bell WILL find a way to switch someone out for Newman at the most inopportune and illogical point later in today’s game! Bet on it! NO, wait! Bet on the Kentucky Derby! Odds are better!
At least the Cards lost AGAIN this afternoon!
I like this lineup. Cards losing again is not insignificant. Castellini and krall and Bell need to fast forward this rebuild. NL central is open for business.
That was kinda my unspoken point about another pre-season favorite Cardinals loss Old-School. No one team is running away from the field in the NL Central. I also believe the Pirates will fall back to the pack! That’s why it’s important to win home games against teams like the ChiSox!
What is the long-term plan for Stephenson? He loses a lot of positional value playing somewhere other than catcher and he’s now made more starts at 1B/DH combined than catcher. If they had another catcher who could also hit, I would understand carrying 3 of them, but they don’t. Over the course of a season, I’d say Stephenson should catch 75% of the games with another 10% as DH to maximize value.
Realmuto is the only MLB catcher that caught 75 percent of his team’s games last season–100 to 110 games may be realistic next season.
To be fair (to Bell), last night’s loss was not the result of what Bell did or didn’t do! Last night’s loss was primarily on Greene for not keeping the ball within the confines of GABP. If he wants to be the Ace of this staff he needs to limit the long balls obviously but also realize ML batters CAN HIT fastballs, even those in the 99-100+ mph range. As Greene matures, he will need to develop and be confident in his other pitches!
Question for all,
It would cost money and more in likely will not happen, however if Reds brought up Hopkins, Cruz, Mclain, and CES and Abbot would you be happy, and or satisfied?
Allow the players to have their ups and downs, and or peaks and valleys. I ask as it seems some want to give up on a player so quickly. I have seen Steer’s name being mentioned now as well as Stephenson in regards to being sent down or traded or whatever else some say.
Barrero who I was a critic of has shown improvement in pitch collection. Although according to Brantley ss is still a hole in regards to defense.
Senzel is another player who some wanted to give up on and I admit too I was starting to get on the fence of well he may not, however he is healthy and hitting and playing very well.
Right or wrong my opinion is lets wait till end of year to access these players. Yes, this is a chat board and I do enjoy it, however sometimes the repetitiveness is tiresome. LOL
Kevin, I agree somewhat with NOT rushing minor league prospects to the Majors! The ML rosters are expanded in September so if the “Goal” is to ease the minor league players into the ML experience, then I favor waiting! The only exceptions are McLain and CES. And, the decisions to move these 2 guys up depends a lot on: 1) how Votto performs if and when he returns and 2) whether Myers can return to how he played at Tampa! Finally, I am NOT a fan of promoting AA/AAA players just to have them sit on the bench!
You will never hear Brantley say anything good about Barrero
@Kevin – I don’t see much negativity on Steer. As for me, I am not down on Steer but I don’t think he has a huge upside. I wonder why the organization gives him a long leash while CES stays in AAA.
I see some folks suggesting a trade for Barrero. I would be very much against that. Send him back to AAA and he returns when Newman is gone (as a utility player). Like most, I wanted Barrero to be the regular starter at SS but we don’t get to make that call.
@Doug,
I was curious as to how long it takes a catcher to development? Reds have two at one time highly thought of catching prospects. Nelson and Miller.
Nelson is in high A, and Miller low A, however Miller seems to be injured. My question is are these two guys highly regarded?
The Reds have one catcher who I would consider a top 25 prospect in the organization right now, and he’s 16-years-old and has not played a professional game yet.
WOW, okay thank you for the information.
@LDS
Who u got in the Derby?
I like Verifying across the board
Tapit Trice and Angel of Empire as an exacta box
@OS, never been a racing follower. And betting this year, with all the weirdness, seems risky
Homerun derby?
Steer going with the stache.
Grew up in Northern Kentucky about an hour from Churchill Downs. Never once went to any horse race there before moving to Florida 35 years ago! Not my kind of crowd! Too snobby! Rather go see the Reds or the Bats!
Senzel is way better defensively than Suarez. Suarez was a nightmare.
Wow, nice play by Nick!
But 30 pitches for Lodolo to get out of the inning. That ain’t good.
30 pitch 1st inning for Lodolo! NOT a good start if he wants to last at least until the 5th inning! Lately, Lodolo seems to get the first 2 outs in an inning and then loses focus issuing a walk or giving up a cheap infield single or a bloop hit!
Don’t know what the problem is but if we had a real ML pitching coach who’s not emulating the Manager by not paying attention, he should be able to diagnose and correct the problem.
11 pitch battle against Vaughn didn’t help but it happens
Steer is 1-1 with the stache.
I don’t care if he braids his back hair as long as he hits and drive in runs!
Hahaha
Was looking at CES minor league hitting average and honestly why isn’t he in the majors. He has hit literally at all levels. He maybe the most ready. With McLain close
He won’t play anyways once Votto comes back. You know how it works
Do we know if Votto is coming back?
Organizational mismanagement
Barrero with the Double.
Casali couldn’t have hit that pitch if he was left handed. Wth
11-pitch 2nd inning for Lodolo! Much better, except for the game-tying HR!
Yikes, Casali just had one of the worst strikeouts I have EVER seen in watching baseball.
Way outside and bouncing on the ground, and he swung at it.
Geez.
It’s called Plate Discipline, or lack thereof! Casali had an 0-2 count and was determined to swing at the 3rd pitch, regardless of where it was thrown!
Lodolo will be lucky if Bell lets him pitch beyond the 4th inning!
I just realized Fraley isn’t playing. Why is Ramos playing everyday?
Fraley- back spasms
Thank you
Uh oh, India might be feeling a little discomfort in his finger.
Sounds like Bell has an excuse to start Newman at 2B for the next week or so.
Lodolo has definitely hit a rough patch at this point in the season.
Lodolo looks like he’s throwing BP! Not fooling anybody right now!
Curious do we know who was Lodolo’s catcher when he was doing well this early season?
They say that EVERY game in a 162-game season counts! Case-in-point, the Reds wasted an opportunity to cut into the Pirates lead yesterday! And TODAY, the Reds look like they are wasting ANOTHER opportunity as Toronto is spanking the Pirates 7-0 in the 5th.
Plus the hapless Cardinals lost in 10 innings to the Tigers! Cards are 10-24 AND have lost 8 games in a row! Maybe they need to coax Neck Tat out of retirement!
Bell dips into the bullpen in the 4th inning! Yikes!
3.1 and can’t even get lefties out. India w/leadoff double and we can’t execute small ball either. How many professional sports organizations have been this bad in the last 20 years? Absolute garbage year after year
Well since 2020 the Reds are 24 out 30 teams in win %. The Rockies , Marlins and Tigers and closing fast
Excuse me 2000
If I had a nickel for every time the Reds failed to advance a runner with no or one out or failed to score a batter from 3rd with less than 2 outs during Bell’s reign of terror I would be a rich man!
Greene and Lodolo seem to be doing what so many other pitchers do in Cincy. Enjoy immediate success, but the longer they are with D. Johnson….the more they regress.
or…
could just be young pitcher growing pains?
If DJ can’t “fix” these guys with obvious arm talent, then it’s time to part ways.
My initial thought is year 2, however I tend to agree especially Lodolo as he has just “lost it” as of now. Greene goes well, however seems to have that 1 inning.
The common denominator with the pitching staff last few years is the Pitching Coach. While I understand he can’t pitch for them, he should be able to help them. Perhaps he is, only time will tell. LOL
The relief pitching seems to be doing ok with Derek Johnson (despite an obvious lack of talent). Players play and coaches coach. Derek Johnson can give advice but Lodolo has to throw the pitches.
Vamonos Ramos. You can tell your kids you were almost good for a week once
This team, with a few exceptions (Senzel, India & Ashcraft), is emulating the awesome drive of their manager! Completely feckless! Time to go change the cat litter box!
Kitties are fun animals to have around. 😛
They are! My kitten Spartacus loves the Reds!
We have two with Cincinnati sports themed names: “Winker” and “Shiesty” 🙂
I am a dog guy, but I have to admit, they can be very entertaining.
My cat just liked to lay on my lap, lol… He liked sports till I yelled at screen, he would run and look at me like wtf. LOL
I miss him as he departed feb of 2022
Aw man, sorry Kevin
It’s time to part ways with the entire coaching staff. After a decent 3 and 3 west coast trip this home stand has the makings of 1 and 5 or even 0 and 6. The best chance to win is tomorrow with Ashcraft pitching. Ramos has most likely had his day in the sun ,as so many older call ups do, then they crash.
Its 3-1 , plenty of time to score
Somehow their Island of misfit toys bullpen keeps them in the game? Close enough to lose by 1 normally
Need Reds over 3.5 and Freidl hit to cash tonight. 3 run hr would be timely
Freidl is legit
Someone let Bell know that Friedl’s L-R splits are a legit: .278 / .325
You got that right brother
Ask and ye might receive!!
I’m up $675 on Reds same game parlays
Who would have ever thought coming into the season that Freidl would be the teams best player, minus Ashcraft and maybe India. Bell needs to pay attention and either sit Stephenson for a few games or at least move him down in the order. He looks lost.
It’s time to play Freidl full-time. Bat him 9th if you want, but he can play!
Barrero with a little “French pastry” as Al McGuire would say.
With a little Brandon Phillips
Brantley says Barrero can’t play defense. Yeah stick to critiquing pitchers Cowboy.
I think Barrero has a lot of talent at SS. But he is still getting used to playing in the Majors, where a lot of hitters sting the ball and put funny spins on it. He has the basic tools, he just needs to get more experience. Newman has more experience, but he has limited talent.
And this just in……TJ Friedl WILL be running for President!! 😉
Brantley doesn’t like Barrero for some reason. He complained about him all last season. I thought it was because he just liked Kyle Farmer but maybe he just doesn’t like Jose.
Exactly. He never says anything good about him. Even when he makes a nice play he puts him down.
I think David Bell also doesn’t like Barrero for some personal reason, which is why he keeps getting yanked around like he has been.
Wonder of we’ll ever learn the story.
He does say it’s a hole still. The ss position, and I do miss watching for myself
TV broadcast is full of excuses as to why Meyers isn’t hitting.
I got one: Bat isn’t long enough.
Doesn’t “The Cowboy” have anything meaningful to say why Myers isn’t hitting?
Like maybe…he’s over the hill, hitting wise? Look at his last few seasons….maybe he DOESN’T bounce back in the friendly confines of GABP.
Cards’ free fall continues…
Friedl is legit
CES is batting 392. McLain 333 and Cruz 254. Robinson 432 and Hopkins 340.
Can they hit up at big league level. Who knows, however ……
McClain 2-2 w/ 2b and HR. Swap him w Ramos
How about Law and Gibaut
Bullpen ERA 4th in the National League
DJ must be doing something right. Mostly same bullpen as last season.
Well, except there’s no Strickland yet and Sims is back and doing surprisingly well. And then there’s Young. So a few rather significant changes from last year.
right…guys away from DJ
True @LDS, however you got Law, Farmer, Gibaut, Diaz, Cruz. Sims back I think helps a bunch
Fairchild enters a game, not as a pinch runner? Ramos injured? And Lodolo struggled again today? Someone needs to figure him out quickly. That’s 4 starts in a row with unexpectedly poor results. He’s better than he’s showing.
I see Newman made it in the game
Yes. Isn’t that kind of …..amazing? 😉
David Bell does not disappoint us.
I said that in my first post for this game. Bell loves Newman!
Pinch running for Stephenson is one of Bell’s most frustrating fetishes. Let’s see if Newman plays the 9th.
DH
That was actually a good move. TS isn’t hitting right now anyway, so you’re not really losing anything, and they were ahead by 2 in the 8th with a leadoff runner aboard. Would have been dumb not to pinch run in that situation.
Yes, if it wasn’t a pattern.
No pitcher has thrown Meyers a middle in fastball since the Phillies idiot pitcher in the 13-0 win. Results speak for themselves.
Great game all around. Lodolo struggling, however patience is a vulture.
Bullpen and India, and Friedl!!
I hope you meant “virtue”!
Opps lmao
Yes viture stupid auto correct. Lol
Sure hope Diaz is on the extension list. Lock him up while he’s affordable, because if he continues as he is, he won’t be in the future.
Good bounceback win for the boys tonight.
Had to step away for a few innings to let my blood pressure drop below stroke level!
Nice comeback win! Pie-Rats lost as well as the Cards!
Bullpen was simply awesome! 5.1 innings with NO runs allowed! Bell is a genius for one game at least!
I have been advising against rushing the prospects but they are really forcing Nick Krall’s hand. Looks like Marte will need to be promoted to Louisville soon as well.
It’s going to take some drama to make it happen.
Krall must have seen it in ST, even if Bell was in denial.
Getting the Young Turks up to MLB is going to require a big shakeup and I’m not seeing the collective cojones to do so at the moment.
“Getting the Young Turks up to MLB is going to require a big shakeup and I’m not seeing the collective cojones to do so at the moment.”
Wouldn’t it be fun though? 🙂
I was to, but the cycle night from McLain, and the 7 HR’s in 10 games by CES changed my mind. Those 2 are ready, and so is Hopkins.