The Cincinnati Reds will look to get back in the win column this evening as they face the St. Louis Cardinals for game three of their 4-game set at Great American Ball Park. Each team has picked up a win so far, with the Reds getting the victory on Monday and the Cardinals grabbing a win last night. First pitch tonight is set for 6:40pm ET.
Starting Lineups
St. Louis Cardinals
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| Lars Nootbaar – CF | Jonathan India – 2B |
| Paul Goldschmidt – DH | Matt McLain – SS |
| Nolan Gorman – 2B | Spencer Steer – 1B |
| Nolan Arenado – 3B | Tyler Stephenson – C |
| Willson Contreras – C | Nick Senzel – LF |
| Brendan Donovan – 1B | Stuart Fairchild – RF |
| Tommy Edman – SS | Kevin Newman – 3B |
| Alec Burleson – LF | Luke Maile – DH |
| Oscar Mercado – RF | Jose Barrero – CF |
| Steven Matz – LHP | Ben Lively – RHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Ben Lively | 11.0 | 2.45 | 0.73 | 1 | 10 |
| Steven Matz | 46.1 | 5.05 | 1.62 | 18 | 43 |
| Links: Ben Lively’s Stats | Steven Matz’s Stats |
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Ben Lively
Since being called up earlier this month, Ben Lively’s gotten the job done and then some. His first two outings came out of the Reds bullpen, but he made a start his last time out and struck out eight batters and gave up just two runs in 5.2 innings against the Yankees.
This season between the big leagues and Triple-A, Ben Lively has been really good against left-handed hitters, holding them to a .154 average and a .250 slugging percentage. Right-handed hitters have had more success, but not a lot of it. They are hitting .226 against him with a .357 slugging percentage. They are walking at a solid rate and making contact often, but to this point they haven’t done a lot with that contact.
Splits (AAA & MLB)
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 95 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 17 | .226 | .305 | .357 |
| LHH | 55 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 | .154 | .185 | .250 |
Pitch Usage (AAA & MLB)
| 4-seam | 2-Seam | Cutter | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 91.3 | 91.3 | 88.8 | 75.8 | 80.6 | 84.6 |
| Usage | 33% | 18% | 11% | 11% | 20% | 7% |
Steven Matz
It’s been a tough stretch for Steven Matz since joining the Cardinals in 2022. He has posted a 5.15 ERA in 19 starts and five relief appearances after having a breakout season in 2021 with the Blue Jays.
This year he’s been very good against left-handed hitters, holding them to a .189 average and a sub .300 slugging percentage. Right-handed hitters have had plenty of good at-bats against him this year. They are hitting .331 with a .530 slugging percentage against him.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 167 | 50 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 32 | .331 | .389 | .530 |
| LHH | 41 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 11 | .189 | .268 | .297 |
Pitch Usage
| 2-Seam | Slider | Curve | Change | |
| Velo | 93.9 | 88.8 | 78.8 | 83.9 |
| Usage | 57% | 2% | 17% | 24% |
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: 81°, partly cloudy, 2% chance of rain
News and Notes
Eduardo Salazar is called up
Cincinnati’s got a new reliever in the bullpen, calling up right-hander Eduardo Salazar. The first year reliever has been dominant this season between Double-A and Triple-A with a 0.51 ERA. He’s also been a big time groundball machine so far this season. You can read more about him here if you’d like. Silvino Bracho was designated for assignment to make room for Salazar on the roster (both the 26-man and the 40-man).
Elly De La Cruz named the top prospect in baseball
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniels updated his Top 50 prospects in baseball today and put Elly De La Cruz at #1 on the list. Not surprising to many, but it’s still nice to see. De La Cruz was just one of three Reds prospects inside the Top 50. You can see who else made the list here.
Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Brewers | 26 | 22 | 0.0 | 58.9% |
| Pirates | 25 | 23 | 1.0 | 12.6% |
| Cubs | 21 | 26 | 4.5 | 16.0% |
| Cardinals | 22 | 28 | 5.0 | 43.8% |
| Reds | 20 | 28 | 6.0 | 0.9% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
So it’s more important to have Newman and Fairchild in the lineup against a lefty forcing the move of Senzel to LF thus decreasing the defense, than it is to just let Fraley hit? Even when you want to support Bell, you just can’t. This is just mind-boggling. Let’s just sit the two best hitters on the team. I guess Friedl is a little tired or sore, right?
Bell creating a team of players in his own image – mediocre journeymen. Guys like Newman are naturals in this system.
LMAO. Mediocre recognizes mediocre!
@LT, it’s like the old Larry Ellison joke, with Bell instead of Ellison.
LDS, this is with all due respect, because I like our interactions on here. But you do yourself a disservice by continuing to repeat such a nonsense, outright lie.
Criticize his decisions, yes. But stop with the personal attacks.
You sound like a plant for the opposing teams.
@Wkuchad, not a personal attack – an observation of behavior. Two entirely different things.
Dude its like one off day for Fraley, and that’s the best role on this team for Newman and Fairchild. Newman probably isnt a downgrade defensively, and Senzel might be an upgrade defensively, so no idea what you mean there. Sounds like you nailed it for Friedl, I want him healthy all season not for this one single game.
Small fish as usual. Who cares?
It truly is mind-numbingly stupid. Amazing how often he does things to get noticed as the smartest guy in the room… ridiculous. I also noticed Friedl is not playing, so I guess this Cardinals game just isn’t that important as two of the Red’s best offensive players are sitting because they hit lefty. Oh that’s right, I forgot…we’ve got the stellar 6 – 9
hitters in the lineup along with Stephenskn at 4 that’ll make up for it…wow.
Jeebus, y’all should know by now he’s gonna stack RH versus LHP.
Oblique injuries are scary and he came back very quickly, he’s too important to this team to risk that for one day in frickin May.
I truly dont get it, all this over the tiniest lineup choices.
@2020ball: All of what? The same whining and complaining you are doing now? It’s all good! I enjoy reading everyone’s thoughts and opinions on here…even those I don’t agree with, those that are negative, and those that are whiny; including your comment here. It is helpful for some people to be able to voice their frustrations on here with fellow Reds fans. I hope at the end of the day we can all unite on our appreciation and enjoyment of the game of baseball and our favorite team, the Reds. Keep the thoughts and opinions coming!
Haha, this might be the nicest thing anyones ever responded to me on here.
My style is to be the antithesis to the majority opinions around here, and challenge anyone to defend their easy-to-say claims about bad management etc. I’m abrasive and troll, deal with it with good arguments.
I’m whining about the whiners, and I’m not hiding it.
2020ball, haha! Perfect!
2020 – So you’re arguing just to be arguing are you? 🙂 What about #LetStephensonCatch? Can’t argue about that? 🙂
Is it really mind-boggling to sit a player with a career OPS of .445 against LHP?
Chris, I posted this on another article, but I’ll repeat it.
Before the game started, Newman is our fourth best hitter vs lefties this year. The other three are McLain (only 3 at bats vs lefties) and Maile (backup catcher) and Senzel. No one else is close except Ramos, and he’s on the IL. After his first at-bat tonight, Newman may be higher on the list.
Also, he was even better vs lefties all last year. So this isn’t a small sample size thing.
The Reds have sucked against lefties this year. He absolutely should be starting tonight.
Me no understand why Friedl in not in the lineup. He’s hitting .300/ .333/.400 vs. LH pitching. Is he still injured? Oh well. Let’s win.
Charlie Goldsmith made note that since no rehab…they are taking it slow so likely Friedl is an everyday guy but they are bringing him back prudently. Fraley never plays against lefties so judge his handedness replacements accordingly.
It’s a coin toss every game whether Bell wants to follow analytics or not.
At this point the the most important accomplishments this rest of this year are that David Bell is not the manager for one day next year and that the studs down in Triple A get enough experience to be up with the Reds ready to go from day one in Spring 2024.
Only way Friedl doesn’t play is if he ask to rest. He just sat out 11 days, right? I doubt he ask for a day off.if he did, he came back too quick.
It is a big deal. You sit 2 of your best hitters and move your 3b to lf so we can have all right handed hiters. It is totally absurd. If Votto was healthy he woud be in the lineup so why not put your best hitters in the lineup. Bell is pitiful.
“I know, let’s keep batting Stephenson 4th! And let’s take our best player out of the lineup! Cause I know better than literally everyone else in baseball!”
–Reds “Manager to be (un)named later”
Facing another Cy Young candidate in the Cardinal’s Matz tonight! An ERA of 5+ with an 0-5 record! With that impressive Reds batting lineup tonight we’re sure to score at least 2 runs! Hope I’m wrong! Need to win this game AND the getaway game tomorrow to escape the NL Central cellar!
If Senzel is injured tonight after being injury free and hitting up to snuff at third base, the brains behind that should be fired immediately.
He got injured at 3rd before…on a non-contact play.
I don’t understand your point
Goldschmidt just continues to feast on Reds pitching! Geez!
Solid 2 run single by Ty!!
Reds came to play today
Newman scorches a 2 RBI double!!
LDS what did you say about Newman? I think 1/2 the people on here end up ending crow on most nights.
But we are right the other half ?
They like to bash our team’s players but never a complaint about the other team. Trolls 4 Life.
Right @Beaufort, Newman should be the new starter 3B and Senzel in LF. Bell is clearly a baseball savant. Congratulations on being one of th3 few here to recognize that.
No LDS, but he should start against lefty starters based on our current team. It’s ridiculous you keep arguing against that.
No @wkuchad, two different objectives. You looking for wins. I’m looking for the rebuild and future contributors from the young guys. If I was looking for wins this season, yes, I’d start Newman against LHers. But, I’m not. And playing Newman doesn’t advance the team’s rebuild.
He’s starting tonight instead of Myers (with Senzel in the OF). Is Myers part of the next great Reds team LDS?
Nope, had I been Krall, I would have passed on Myers. As I’ve posted several times, Fairchild would be starting regularly instead of Myers.
Fairchild did start tonight
Beat the cardinals!
I rarely comment on the lineups since many others cover that ground. It is instructive to note however that on the previous night Wainwright was judged as neutral on handedness while today we have the typical lefty situation. As a result, only one player (McClain) bats in the same place as yesterday.
I suppose he is not “with the program” yet and will eventually have to learn to be a very versatile but mediocre sideman answering to the waltz of David Bell.
I agree with the constant tinkering at bat and in the field. I would love to see how are guys compare to others around the league but only one or two ( India, may be Fraley/Friedl)have enough time in one position to even make the composite ranking. There were 20 players for each position last I checked so our play everybody anywhere is not the norm. Our defensive numbers suffer too. 11
Problem is we won’t know how successful McLain can be if he’s not in the lineup on a regular day-to-day basis!
Whoa! What happened? Went out to hook up the garden hose to drain some of the 5+ inches of rain from my inground pool we’ve gotten here in Central Florida the past 2 days and Voila! the Reds scored 4 runs! Good start! Maybe Lively will relax and attack the strike zone!
Newman happened!!
With some help from a few others of course.
Guess not! The last thing you want to do is walk the leadoff hitter in a game where your team just handed you a 4-run lead!
Gonna be a short night for Lively if he doesn’t bear down this inning! And, why, when it’s obvious one of the Reds young pitchers is struggling, doesn’t Bell or the pitching coach pay a visit to the mound?
A big difference I see between the Reds young pitchers and veteran pitchers on the opponent’s side is pitch count! Very seldom is the pitch count in the 12 to 15 pitches per inning! Usually 20+ pitches per inning! Result? Outings of 5 innings (sometimes less) are the norm so far this season with the exception of Greene’s last start where he went 7 innings with a pitch count >100. Walks obviously contribute to pitch count and so far tonight Lively has walked 2 batters! I guess we should be thankful for the 4-0 lead for now!
Lively is 31 years old and made his MLB debut in 2017. He’s not one of the Red’s “young pitchers.”
https://www.mlb.com/player/ben-lively-594902
When you are 70 like I am, 31 IS young!
Touche!
@Dennis I think we need a profile picture update if your 70. But yes I am 47 and I call anyone under 30 young already.
Just checking in now. I was at a neighborhood meeting. Saw we put up that 4-spot in the 1st. Here’s hoping that holds up and we pile on more.
Interesting article on FANSIDED about Newman.
https://blogredmachine.com/posts/reds-why-kevin-newman-still-on-roster?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email&sc=c3a8b03aa4675c74ec4c35e25be58c93e3c61b5ef7e6fc8f70a8923b59647687
This article is beyond dumb. Newman isn’t a starter and definitely shouldn’t be released. Once all these young prospects are brought up, we still need a bench. Newman is the perfect bench player. You want bench players to have big splits. He does, and hits lefties great. And plays solid defense across the infield. If we trade Newman, great. But simply dropping him for nothing is, as said above, “beyond dumb”
+1000
truth
Agree!
Optioning him to AAA would be better.
I keep saying Newman should be a part of this team as a backup absolutely! But he should not start more than maybe 2 games a week.
Another 20-pitch inning for Lively but no damage done! Hope he can make it thru 5 or possibly in to the 6th!
If Senzel doesn’t end up hitting right handed pitching, he can make a career of a utility player that crushes lefties.
I know most on here want Newman gone. All I can say is Barrero needs to be sent down to learn another position or traded.
I actually like Barrero as a utility player. He can backup SS and CF, playing above average defense and has potential to improve offensively.
What’s he gonna learn being on the bench most nights?
If they send Barrero down, it doesn’t mean they are giving up on him. He can work hard and earn his way back up.
I don’t want him gone. I was pleased when he was brought to Cincinnati. He’s better with the bat and his defense is strong. Fine utility player and if he keeps his average above .260 , he will be starting more.
Newman 2-2 and 3 rbi’s. Barrero 0-2
Newman now batting 262. Barrero now batting 226
One game Kevin, Fairchild has 3 hits and Steer 4. It means nothing. Enjoy what should be a win but that’s it
But it’s not one game LDS. It’s a large sample size for Newman against lefty starters. You just keep choosing to ignore it.
See above. Not ignoring. Simply irrelevant to the rebuild
Despite giving up the solo HR, much better inning by Lively in the 4th!
I have been impressed with Lively, small sample size though.
What a great ab by Senzel. Not sure why some want him traded.
Love taking chances. Make the defense make the play. Much better than station to station baseball.
Bell needs to have a short leash with Lively! Need to win this game and keep the participation trophies in storage!
6 innings from the SP and the lead … hope begins to take some root 😛
Great outing by Lively.
Isn’t Lively someone who was not on the roster in 2022 but was signed by the GM for 2023? Good move so far, Mr. Krall, though time will tell.
And the four almost automatic outs collected 6 hits in 19 ABs for a .316 in game average, along with 4 rbi.
Not a bad night guys, keep it up.
Getting contributions from the entire team….whole offense, defense, and good starting pitching. Now just need the bullpen for the superfecta.
Agreed, these are the most fun games to watch
I have a feeling Myers is on his way out as how much longer can they keep De La Cruz, CES, and even Hopkins down in triple A.
Somebody’s got to go. Several somebody’s actually.
I do agree some decisions need to be made. Hopefully soon as this division is within reach going into June.
In a perfect world Myers’s out, Casali out and Barrero down. EDLC, CES and Hopkins or Abbot come in up!!!!!
That’s four coming up and three going down/out. Hard decisions to make huh? It can be done though. Have a question. If the Reds do indeed put EDLC at 3B the rest of the year who would you rather have as a utility guy Newman or Senzel if it came down to making that choice?
Senzel as he is better than Newman.
And I am a fan of Senzel. LOL
Why not both? Trade or get rid of Myers.
That’s kind of my point. Newman may be a decent utility guy but he may have to go anyway like him or not. There’s just too many guys coming up. I’m impatient for Krall to start making the trades he’s going to make. lol
I don’t believe that Newman, Barrero, McLain, Senzel and EDLC will all be on the roster at the same time.
I said Hopkins or Abbot
Yeah I know but all four are coming or should be.
Pitching pitching and more pitching
I’m a McLain fan for sure.
…..and a Steer fan. 🙂
Steer may be the most underrated of all the young stars.
Agree with this 100%
Steer is good, but where to play him once CES, and EDLC are up? We really do have a logjam of infield talent. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Steer will play where needed, just like he had done thus far. He was playing 2B, SS, and 3B with the Twins when the Reds acquired him–versatility is not new to him.
Steer is better than CES at first , defensively.
I’m a huge Steer fan and McClain is quickly warming up to me. Steer just has quality ab’s almost every night.
Herget is a huge piece of this bullpen.
This falls squarely on David Bell and his lineup decisions.
Cardinals starting pitching is not good. Brewers starters are not as good this year as in the past. Burnes giving up the long ball this year. It’s an interesting division that’s for sure. Reds need some consistency from the other four starters. Lively so far has pitched well and has the hitters definitely off balance .
Reds young position players are doing well.
Barring a spectacular collapse, Barrero won’t get another chance to join the hit parade. Everyone else has at least one. All but Maile have multiple. Steer, Stewie, India, and Senzel were on-base machines.
Newman as well.
Did you miss Kevin Newman’s awesome stolen base, too? Plus his BB. Then his stellar defense? I know you missed his double, single, and three rbi’s.
Steve, I replied to you on the other thread. Good game for Newman but you may want to educate yourself on his career. Negative WAR this season offensively and defensively. Nice game so I’ll give him a pat on the back. Never want to see him at 3B ever again (barring injury). He is a backup SS/2B. Steer/Senzel can play 3B and EDLC/CES can as well whenever the team decides to eat some contracts and open roster spots for them.
Mario, per your suggestion I looked at Kevin Newman’s career and his WAR is 2.3 and that is “solid starter” category. Keep him in the Reds lineup and his season WAR will adjust upwards to his career WAR.
This is an excelent comeback from yesterday… lets take the series tomorow
I saw where Cruz struggled today in his outing. Hopefully thought he is back soon. Reds could use him in bullpen
Yes, Cruz is spotty right now. Would really love to get him back to his awesome performance late last year and early this year. The pitching road back is a slow and difficult one for his injury.
I know we are up 10-3 (was 10-2) by WHY are Reds relief pitchers compelled to walk at least one (1) batter every time they take the mound? More often than not, the batter who is walked scores! Just annoying to me! Call me Old & Grumpy!
David Ross: “thank goodness this a shi…y division”
That applies to Reds too – even the Barrero/Newman/Fairchild backers who can’t win a regular starting job on a bad team. And a couple more (Senzel, Myers) who would not be regular starters on a good team.
So says the former popular Red’s catcher,
We really needed that one. I’ll have the game up on one of my screens through my afternoon meetings tomorrow.
Kudos to Bell and Johnson. They got through two games using 4 relief pitchers and Diaz, Young, Farmer, Sims, and Gibaut are now rested.
Second that!
Great job by Lively tonight! And again, only one (1) run given up by the Reds bullpen in 3 innings! I’ll take that!
I’ve been asking about Lively for atleast 2 years now. Glad to see he’s seizing his chance so far!
I’d give Bell a B- so far. Big 3 have been generally beat up and they’ve played almost 1/3 of the season and Stephenson is batting .247 at cleanup w 19 rbis. Not good. If they gave McLain (and Lively) to Bell a month ago like they should’ve then we’d be on the cusp of .500