Last night saw the Cincinnati Reds jump out to a big lead but barely hang out in a 7-6 win. Tonight they’ll look for an easier win against the New York Mets, but it’ll be tough as they face off against a future Hall of Famer with Justin Verlander making his second start of the season. The Reds will counter with Hunter Greene. First pitch tonight is set for 6:40pm ET.
Starting Lineups
New York Mets
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| Brandon Nimmo – CF | Jonathan India – 2B |
| Francisco Lindor – SS | TJ Friedl – CF |
| Jeff McNeil – LF | Spencer Steer – 1B |
| Pete Alonso – 1B | Jake Fraley – LF |
| Brett Baty – 3B | Tyler Stephenson – C |
| Starling Marte – RF | Nick Senzel – 3B |
| Daniel Vogelbach – DH | Wil Myers – RF |
| Luis Guillorme – 2B | Henry Ramos – DH |
| Francisco Alvarez – C | Jose Barrero – SS |
| Justin Verlander – RHP | Hunter Greene – RHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Hunter Greene | 33.2 | 3.74 | 1.43 | 12 | 47 |
| Justin Verlander | 5.0 | 3.60 | 0.67 | 1 | 5 |
| Links: Hunter Greene’s Stats | Justin Verlander’s Stats |
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Hunter Greene
The last time out, Hunter Greene had his worst start of the season. He allowed seven hits, a walk, and two home runs that led to five runs in 5.2 innings against Chicago. The home runs were the first since Opening Day.
This season has seen right-handed hitters torch Hunter Greene. They are hitting .338 and slugging .535. Left-handed hitters, though, have found almost no success. They strike out more, hit for no average, and hit for very little power. Last season he also pitched better against lefties than righties, though the splits were not nearly as extreme (righties had an OPS that was 76 points higher).
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 78 | 24 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 21 | .338 | .397 | .535 |
| LHH | 72 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 26 | .185 | .264 | .292 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 99.3 | 89.1 | 91.8 |
| Usage | 55% | 40% | 4% |
Justin Verlander
After beginning the season on the injured list, Justin Verlander is back with the Mets and he’ll be making his second start of the season tonight. In his first outing he allowed two runs in 5.0 innings with a walk and five strikeouts.
Last season, and for just about his entire Hall of Fame career, no one has really hit Justin Verlander well. Right-handed hitters did find more success, but that’s only because left-handed hitters found no success.
Splits (2022)
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 329 | 65 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 82 | .208 | .240 | .313 |
| LHH | 337 | 51 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 103 | .164 | .214 | .228 |
Pitch Usage
In his 2023 debut, Verlander did not throw a change up. He threw it during spring training and he’s thrown in his entire career.
| 4-Seam | Slider | Curve | Change | |
| Velo | 95.6 | 88.6 | 80.5 | – |
| Usage | 47% | 43% | 10% | – |
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: 76°, sunny, 0% chance of rain
News and Notes
Elly De La Cruz is breaking records
Last night in Louisville the Reds top prospect did things that no other player in professional baseball has done that we’re aware of. No other team has done it as a group, either. Elly De La Cruz is just a different kind of guy. And you can read (and watch the video) all about it here.
Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Pirates | 21 | 16 | 0.0 | 18.9% |
| Brewers | 20 | 16 | 0.5 | 66.0% |
| Cubs | 17 | 19 | 3.5 | 20.5% |
| Reds | 15 | 20 | 5.0 | 1.3% |
| Cardinals | 13 | 24 | 8.0 | 24.9% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
Biggest matchup of the year it would seem
I think Hunter Greene rises to the occasion tonight.
Sounds good to me. Definitely did the first inning.
Again, Let’s give Verlander a proper Queen City welcome! Go Reds! Beat those Metropolitans!
Met dismissed!
Mets
Greene was dealing in the first!
Jon india is the best leadoff hitter in baseball
Fraley was 6” from a HR
Didn’t that little league crap fail enough last year that it was trash canned forever??? Bell fails there
I wish they would retire the stupid little league steal try crap
Reds are consistent! One of the worst baserunning teams this year and last year!
Yikes! Greene struck out the side! Only thing better would if he could have done it on 9 pitches!
The only Reds Killer in the Mets lineup is Pete Alonso! So, what does he do! Hits a HR! Thankfully it was a solo shot!
Mets announcers are saying Greene is telegraphing his slider.
Taking bets that either Barrero or Ramos will be switched out for the Teacher’s Pet, aka Newman, by the 7th inning by Tinker Bell!
HGs slider seems slow tonight… velocity is down so it doesn’t resemble a heater to the hitter. 98-99 heater and slider is 88. If he can get that hard slider up to 92 like Corbin Burnes then the Ks will really add up
It really doesn’t make sense that someone with as much talent and “stuff” as Greene has gets hit so easily by opposing teams.
He always seems to get ahead of hitters, then start nibbling. He’s a power pitcher! Power pitchers don’t nibble!
That tells me he doesn’t 100% trust his stuff. He really needs that changeup so he can have 3 reliable pitches to keep hitters off-balance.
Most all Reds pitchers nibble. It’s been a philosophy for all their pitchers under DJ. Thus, the high pitch counts, early exits.
And the King of Nibblers (Mahle) is gone but his legacy remains!
Plus, pitchers who constantly “nibble” when ahead in the count invariably end up with high pitch counts which precludes long (6 or more innings) outings!
It’s one thing to nibble just off the edges, but his misses are non-competitive pitches…nowhere close.
Been saying this has been his pattern all season. gets 1 – 2 or 0 – 2 and then starts throwing crap up there. FINISH THEM!!! Someone needs to play the Mortal Kombat theme song to Greene before each game.
He is not getting on top of his slider and dropping his arm. When he does that he is losing the velocity. And the ball is not dropping and it’s hanging. Not to mention he telegraphed that changeup to Nimmo.
Yes…send a text to the dugout.
Another perfect example of The Nibbler mentality! Greene walks Pete Alonso, probably not a bad thing, AFTER getting ahead 0-2 in the count!
Blah, blah, blah (negative comment about Reds player either here or on another team). Blah, blah, blah (pedantic nickname for Reds player or manager).
Go Reds!
It’s called Free Speech my friend! And I doubt if you have ever played the game, coached/managed or umpired! I have done all three! Love the Reds and have been a fervent fan since 1961! Seen and heard it all! Greene has been touted as a future Ace of the staff! I fully understand that he is young and has lots to learn pitching at the ML level! Just hoping he develops his curve and change-up so that he lives up to his potential.
Hurray for free speech! I have played and umpired baseball and softball. Not that it matters because how would you know if I was telling the truth?
Complain all you want. I will use MY free speech to point out the absurdity of someone who says something like “I fully understand that he is young and has lots to learn pitching at the ML level” and yet constantly bash him and other players.
I like Doug and this site a bunch and have been coming here for content for many years and I am just using my free speech to say I get tired of the name calling and sarcasm. I would just like to enjoy a game without it for once.
Just because you have been a fan for a long time doesn’t put you in some special category where you are above criticism.
@Brian, nobody said you had to read the comments you know? Sometimes if I don’t agree with a conversation I just skip down to the next part of the conversation. Heck sometimes I just skip reading the comments at all.
Misery loves company. But if you think this is bad, go spend some time in Boston … good grief those people are jumping off bridges into the Charles River if the Red Sox give up a hit in the 1st inning or if Celtics are by by 2 after the first quarter.
Lifelong Celtics fan and I agree. My first permanent duty station was in Newport Rhode Island and the only fans that act worse are Philly fans.
I was shocked at how they trashed all of their teams. Of course this was 30 years ago before all the winning started. It was just brutal.
I did get to see the Celtics with Larry bird play in the Garden begore he retired. Still one of my favorite sports memories.
That said, what a brutal loss last night.
+10000
Hung that slider right down the middle.
Greene really needs another pitch if he is going to have a long career as a starting pitcher.
He’s got a $50M+ career going already.
Yeah and Moose is being paid $18 million dollars this season.
Well like Keith Hernandez just said. He is a 23 year old kid who in all honesty should be in AAA crafting his stuff. He is learning on the fly.
@JB that attitude gets in the way of you finding a way to bash Hunter Greene my man. Get with the program. Don’t you know that with less than 350 pro innings (Majors and Minors combined) he should be in the running for the CY Young by now.
Young kid needs to trust his stuff. He was doing well and Alonso took him deep. He needs to let that go. He will figure it out.
Greene throws most of his pitches very straight. He will get it figured out about the end of his contract when he is looking to be a free agent. He should be a lot better than what he has shown this year.
Verlander misses by a foot and ump gives him strike 3 inches outside
Robo umps please
Why does Sadak scream when the mets catch a foul ball???!
The ball/strike challenge system I’ve seen in the minors this year looks great. One of the benefits, like replay IMO, is it removes whatever personal conflicts, issues or grudges between players, managers and umps.
For those paying attention, both the Pirates AND the Brewers lost again this afternoon! That presents another opportunity for the Reds to gain a game in the NL Central Division!
Need a crooked score inning or 2!
Why a pitch violation when he stepped off? He still had 5 seconds left.
I think they said you can’t disengage when bases empty??
McNeil…a 2nd Baseman…moved to the outfield….
HMMMMMM
5 and a third…. no help from the bats to be sure…. we will see
Pitch efficiency seems to always be the last thing to come for young pitchers. When Greene starts being efficient, he’s going to win Cy Youngs.
Not bad, only 2 runs. He didn’t have any pitch really today and battled through it. He leaves with his team down by one. Got to score to win.
Bell always does the most stupid challenges
i thought the side interference was warrented, but the runner was clearly safe at first
I am not sure why Bell challenged the call either. The runner didn’t interfere with the defense. It was a misplay by Jonathon India. He should have stepped in the bag. He may still have been safe at first, but that’s the only chance the Reds had for a double play.
Reds’ hitters continue to believe the best thing to do whenever they’re ahead in the count is to assume the next pitch is coming right down the middle and swing no matter what. It just drives me nuts to see guys swinging at ball three and ball four and ball five.
I see the Greene bashing was in full force this evening. Glad I missed it, and dude is 23 missed half a year with surgery, also didn’t pitch in 2020 and yet people suggesting he needs to be in triple A. or he nibbles good grief people.
I noticed though no one complains about Lodolo or Ashcraft as much as they do Greene
Who said he needs to be in AAA besides Keith Hernandez?
I was referring to Hernandez
As good as a hitter Hernandez was I would listen to him. He was complimenting his fastball and his youth.
Big V just completely dominating now. Atleast he won’t go 9. It’s too bad they’re forced to play Ramos and Barrero because they have no offense at AAA
Verlander is dealing now. Guys like him and Kershaw you have to get early before they get in rhythm. Reds had their chance in first couple of innings. Hopefully they can get to their bullpen.
Reds need a lefty thumper
Too many power righties for this lineup
Their lefthander thumpers were supposed to be Votto and Benson??
Holy Schnike!!!
Shocked how good the pen has been so far. Let’s run into one here, but 7-8-9 in the order doesn’t make it very likely
Been following on Gameday and radio feed (MLB.tv didn’t like my phone app for some stupid reason). Home now and have it on, so I just watched us miss the chance to nail Tommy Boy at 3rd.
Y’all know my thoughts on Handy DT Bell … but tonight I’m feeling more than a little empathy for him. Having to go out and remove Greene early in the 6th because he was pretty much inefficient again tonight … just SMH Very Hard. I’m beginning to wonder if we need a change of pitching coach first given what we keep seeing (or at least my eyes do).
Still in the game, but going to have to get to Ottavino right here, right now.
And yet, the pitching hasn’t been the problem today. It’s been guys approaching their at-bats in exactly the wrong way, and an absolutely idiotic baserunning blunder. They just don’t play the game the right way, and Bell obviously gives them no incentive to change.
Oh, I’m with you. I’m speaking generally about starters not going as deep in the games due to inefficiency.
I saw in the article I posted about Vida Blue’s passing that he threw over 300 innings one season. Completely unheard of in today’s game.
Well, you’ll get no argument from me about the way this starting staff pitches. They get to an 0-2 or 1-2 count and can’t seem to think of anything other than a strikeout, so the next two pitches probably won’t be close. And opposing hitters must know this by now. Everyone knows Reds starters (especially two of them) will throw a million pitches if you’re just willing to take a lot of them.
At this time I think it’s fair to say that Myers, Ramos and Barrero have no use.
why didn’t Bell pinch hit for Myers???
Could it be that Myers is a veteran?
Ramos 1-20 & Barrero 3-15 in May. That’s an easy fix a middle school kid could figure out? If they’re going to alternate Barrero then just cut the cord and play McClain.
Myers is horrible too.
McLain another homer tonight. I’m a Barrero fan but it’s time to switch those two.
It’s hilarious to me the number of folks here defending Greene “progress” after fewer than 200 IP and calling for patience with his development. Some are the folks calling for Barrero’s scalp. Both cases call for patience and far better coaching. DJ doesn’t appear to be much help for the Reds pitchers.
Reds have 2 hits against power righties…. Need another core lefty hitter
This wont get better
There are four guys in MLB with OPS over 1.000. Reds have three at Louisville. Don’t understand why they haven’t been brought up. As bad as this division is, those three guys could help big time. Imagine the crowds if they brought them up.
E6 … I agree that’s more on Barrero than India.
Always get 1 out
Shared error from india and barrero
This infield defense stinks.
I dont think Barrero has attention to detail to be an mlb SS
Terrible throw by India in the dirt. But Barrero has to make that play to get lead runner. You’re right. Should be double error.
In the field and at the plate, Barrero seems to be pressing…trying to do too much. I think this is why the Reds have metered his playing time so much.
The infield defense has been brutal tonight.
Barrero is making this a really easy decisions for the Reds, but they’ll probably still mess it up.
That was a nice turn by the boys. Really needed it, too.
How does india not swing at a single pitch?
I wondered the same thing.
The important thing is the Cubs are leading the Cards. The Reds lead is down to 3 games and really need the Cubs to step up.
well, there is the split tomorrow
With Ben Lively on the mound?
Night, all.
Anyone remember the RLN poster that would defend Jose Peraza to his dying breath? That guy was hilarious
Seat 101
Seat 101
Big difference between Peraza and Barrero. A poorly managed team with a number of younger players is going to lose a lot of games. Calling up more AAA players is unlikely to solve that problem. The bigger issue is the degree to which some of the players are regressing, e.g. the pitchers.
Yeah Peraza has 2K at-bats in the bigs and Barrero might not get 500. Looks like Tarzan plays like Jane
Peraza actually hit a little bit… for a minute
Yep, let’s declare some of the Louisville players ready and call them up. McLain has 125 ABs at AAA, CES 66, EDLC 77. Abbott has 15 AAA IP. Barrero has fewer than 400 PAs. Newman has nearly 1800 and as I noted earlier, Barrero tops him in nearly every statistical category. It’s way too early to make quick decisions on the young guys. Folks are too impatient.
Peraza did get 182 hits in 2018, 14hr 30+2b.
I don’t think that hit total has been topped since then, has it?
He hit .324 over 250 abs in 2016.
Then it all went south quickly.
Zero plate discipline was my read. The guy would swing at anything.
Reds usual offense was in full display tonight
Reds have too many righties who cant hit home runs. Going to be a long year watching reds righty bats not hit good righty pitchers
Mets bring up Baty because he was scorching hot. Reds brought up Reynolds for a bit.
Marlins bring up their 20 yr old phenom pitcher to face the reds.
Reds bring up Stoudt and Lively
The Reds do not have a tradition of bringing up young phenoms. They usually need more seasoning in the minors.
The first two batters in the ninth struck out by taking strike three and swinging at a pitch almost a foot outside. Because of course they did.
Verlander is a heck of a pitcher. Oh wait he is 40.. so much for the “old guy theory”
I though it took guys took a while to recover from injuries.
He went 19-4 and won a cy young
Bell will shuffle the lineup tomorrow in all likelihood. He has to show he’s doing something. The Reds need to refocus their pitching program, less emphasis on spin rates and power/SO and more on placement and selection.
Newman hits second?
Maybe cleanup.
Somebody said McLain’s HR today was a 99 mph heater from their hot prospect. What else does he have to do? Its not like the Reds have been hitting their fair share of HRs
McClain obviously needs more “seasoning” in the minors because some of his hits haven’t been home runs. By contrast, Barrero is obviously a major league shortstop because he’s got experience playing shortstop in the majors.
(McLain spells his name wrong in my opinion.)
In all fairness Barrero has been jerked around, but thats life. I had a man crush on Josh Van Meter for a short while. He hit something like 11 HRs at Lville in April that year and then came up to the Reds and had a solid May. I thought they ran into one, but reality raises its ugly head more often then not unfortunately
You can argue all you want about what might happen, but not bringing Mclain, EDLC and CES up is criminal.
At some point they are going to have to bring these guys up especially if the team continues to struggle with hitting at the major league level. I think some major changes are going to happen in July. I wish they would happen sooner.
Just saying it right now Joey Votto is done. Everything is too quiet about his situation. The topic is constantly ignored.
He’ll be back, starting everyday. Whether he produces is another thing. I can’t imagine him not returning in some form. I don’t think his mind is on retiring. Maybe it should be but I doubt it is.
The problem is if you brought theses 3 up and they did hit this team might and I mean might compete in this terrible division. Regardless I would like to find out.