In game one the Cincinnati Reds saw their 5-game winning streak come to an end. The game was close until St. Louis had a 5-run inning to put the game away as the Cardinals evened up the series. They are back on the field this evening for game two of the day and game three of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 pm ET.
Starting Lineups
St. Louis Cardinals | Cincinnati Reds |
| Lars Nootbaar – DH | TJ Friedl – CF |
| Masyn Winn – SS | Matt McLain – DH |
| Brendan Donovan – 2B | Elly De La Cruz – SS |
| Willson Contreras – 1B | Noelvi Marte – 3B |
| Alec Burleson – LF | Spencer Steer – 1B |
| Nolan Gorman – 3B | Santiago Espinal – 2B |
| Jordan Walker – RF | Gavin Lux – LF |
| Pedro Pages – C | Austin Wynns – C |
| Victor Scott II – CF | Blake Dunn – RF |
| Steven Matz – LHP | Chase Petty – RHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Chase Petty (AAA) | 23.0 | 3.52 | 1.30 | 9 | 27 |
| Steven Matz | 20.0 | 1.80 | 0.90 | 3 | 14 |
| Links: Chase Petty’s Stats | Steven Matz’s Stats | |||||
Chase Petty
Tonight will be the big league debut for Chase Petty. That usually means that you never know what you are going to get. This season with Louisville he’s pitched well, but has been a bit more home run friendly than in the past – giving up four homers in five starts (three came two starts ago).
This season he’s pitched very well against right-handed hitters in Triple-A. Lefties, though, have hit well against him as they’ve had a high average, a good on-base percentage, and they’ve had four of their nine hits against him go for extra-base hits.
Splits (Triple-A this season)
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 63 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 15 | .207 | .270 | .379 |
| LHH | 37 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 12 | .281 | .361 | .500 |
Pitch Usage (Triple-A this season)
| 4-seam | 2-seam | Cutter | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 96.5 | 94.9 | 90.1 | 88.8 | 84.1 |
| Usage | 22% | 29% | 32% | 7% | 11% |
Steven Matz
This season has seen Steven Matz perform a bit of a hybrid role with the Cardinals. He’s only started one game, but in the first two games of the year he threw 4.0 and 3.0 innings, and he’s been a bit of a multi-inning reliever. He last pitched on April 26th, throwing 13 pitches against Milwaukee.
Matz has been dominant this year, holding both lefties and righties to a sub .520 OPS so far this year. The sample size is small, but he’s gotten the job done. He’s not walking anyone, but he’s also not exactly been striking out many hitters, either.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 52 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | .225 | .250 | .265 |
| LHH | 27 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .167 | .231 | .208 |
Pitch Usage
| 2-Seam | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 94.2 | 79.2 | 87.9 | 83.8 |
| Usage | 63% | 14% | 2% | 21% |
When and Where
- Game time: 6:40pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
- Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, MLB.tv,
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 75°, cloudy, 20% chance of rain
News and Notes
Reds dropped game one
In case you missed the game earlier and want to read up about what you missed, here’s your link.
Division Standings
(standings are as of the start of the day)
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Chicago | 18 | 12 | 0.0 | 70.3% |
| Cincinnati | 16 | 13 | 1.5 | 18.1% |
| Milwaukee | 15 | 15 | 3.0 | 25.7% |
| St. Louis | 12 | 17 | 5.5 | 9.3% |
| Pittsburgh | 11 | 19 | 7.0 | 3.8% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
Hope Petty has a terrific debut and the offense wakes up. Matz has good numbers but shouldn’t be in very long either way. Looking for a big game from Marte and Steer. Maybe a hint of a return for McLain? Go Reds!
To be honest, I don’t have a good feeling in this matchup and losing game one got worse. But, the Reds turn the things around at times. We can recall the 24-2 game against O’s when the team have to use a bullpen day including Randy Wynne facing a Reds killer Charlie Morton and so you know what happened…Hope the offense gets hot again quickly
Any decision on Hays? I liked that signing. Hope he gets 500 at bats. Lineup is interesting Go Reds
McLain has until the end of this series to put something together on offense or be bumped from the two-hole?
I would say whenever Hayes or tysteve comes back. That will allow one of them to hit behind elly and in front of Lux. Whoever is hitting better between marte and steer come that time should move to 2 hole.
And then there’s Espy, who was doing a good job there, but I guess there’s no place for him in the line-up?
Interesting last season after 30 games reds were 16-14. Same as this season.
This team is way better.
OK, one more order of BBQ Red Tweetie Bird … served completely roasted, please …
C’mon, boyz … let’s KICK THIS PIG!!!
Hopefully if Tito has a weak moment and decides to send Diaz back out to the mound someone at GABP will contact the air traffic controllers at Greater Cincinnati Airport to warn them of the likelihood of projectiles leaving the GABP and becoming possible hazards to aircraft in the area!
Given the direction of CVG and the orientation of the stadium, those would be foul balls, Dennis … 😉
Petty seems all fired up!!!
He’s got the strut going on too. Lol
On a positive note, if someone would have told me that the 2025 Reds would be 16-14 after their first 30 games, I would feel pretty good about that!
Kind of need Bike Helmets here
You said it.
Straight up Cement Mixer Cookie right there 😮
Of course, our rookie SP has to WALK the first batter he faces! Almost routine at this point!
Really a meat ball to Arenado… This is starting very bad
Contreras … Nolan isn’t playing tonight.
You meant Contreras?
Gonna be a long night I’m afraid! Apparently, no one told Petty that Contreras is a Reds killer!
Contreras was waiting on that fast ball. If he threw off speed he would have swung out of his shoes. Welcome to the big leagues.
Everybody knows that Contreras is a 1st ball fastball hitter….and that’s what he got. Some coach should have told him that. He can’t just go up there and throw all fastballs.
I thought the catcher calls the game, especially for rookies.
I think the rain out yesterday hurt the Reds to put them in a emergency situation today…bad luck just when the things were going well…unbelievabe
Nice bounce back. I like Pettys moxy.
At least Petty’s ERA is a nice round 27.00 after one inning!
Regardless of how tonight turns out for the Reds, I like that Petty is getting a spot start. It will show him what to work on and I think pay dividends later this season. Watching him the last couple years, he is a competitor and a worker.
1 inning, however I am impressed with his mound presence and demeanor.
A major problem for this team continues to be getting out-homered in their own ball park and so far this series is no different. Hayes being out and EDLC showing no power lately isn’t helping.
that one looked like a whiffle ball off the bat 😮
Okay, We’ve seen enough. Eleven pitches to one batter and it’s a homer.
He definitely ain’t ready ….hopefully Lowder not too far off
Game going pretty much as expected. Chase Burns would likely have been a better call up…
Burns just got to AA Chattanooga on the 26 th. So ,no it wouldn’t have.
Not advocating for calling him up, but I’d bet Burns is closer to ready than Petty
He breaks out a nice changeup to get the K of the #9 hitter.
Most of his pitches seem to be 90-96 mph….
More speed changing to keep them off balanced.
Not sure why Wynn’s didn’t call for it against Pages. Can’t throw the same 2 pitches to a hitter and he fouls off about 10 of them. You could see the homer coming.
I like what I see. I know it’s 4-0. Yet seems to know how to pitch. Just need better location
Dude just turned 22 not too long ago. I like his pitching so far. Yes, he has made mistakes, however in my opinion alot to like.
Here’s a novel idea! Let’s score some runs in support of our rookie SP!
What a concept lol…
Petty also needed to throw some pitches inside and up and in to get the hitter away from being comfortable.
The dream rotation of Noah Syndergaard,Matt Harvey,Jacob Degrom ,Zach Wheeler and Steven Matz was suppose to carry the Mets for years. Comparing them to the Braves rotation of the 90s. Things never work out like you think.
Meanwhile, in Memphis, Contrary to some reports I had seen, Stephenson is catching (again) tonight rather than DH.
And TS K’d in his 1st PA. If the numbers in front of me are correct, that is his 8th K in 21 AB.
When these guys are rehabbing, getting hits isn’t as important as how they are making contact. But when they are not even making contact, they can’t be close to being ready.
Need a clutch hit! Just one!
Apparently and suddenly the Reds is going back to their games when to score a run was almost impossible…
Bad location has been most of the Petty’s problem tonight…
This would be the perfect game to let Diaz pitch.
the Kid is getting hammered…Get somebody up in the Bullpen
It has now reached the “ridiculous” category.
Yes, the Reds are going to drop a double header to the Cardinals.
Let’s hope that Abbott is good tomorrow to allow them to split the four games.
Yikes, Petty is not ready for Prime Time. It’s going to be a very long night for the Reds.
1st pitch fastball to Contreras again.
I give up
Molina used to do the same thing.
Looking bleak.
Yikes! I’m beginning to question the choice of Petty to start Game 2 of this DH! What a disaster!
Not much else to say lol
Yeah, the Cardinals took up where they left off in the last one. More batting practice for them…
By pitching Dias and Petty it looks like the Reds have awoken the Cardinals Bats. Looks like a possible series where they lose 3 of 4. They will still be ahead of St, Louis by a game if that matters.
The Reds won the first game of the series, and they can still salvage a 2-2 split
I know I just don’t like where this series is going. 4 game series and the Cardinals won’t see the Reds top 2 starters, plus the offense has gone back into hiding. The rain out really hurt the Reds.
Losing games on home field was a major problem last year …. Don’t want to go down that road again …
Petty isn’t the first to fail in his first game. He will figure it out and be back.
Bad Day at Black Rock.
Clete. See you all tomorrow.
Well, I needed an excuse to bail early on tonight’s game! Gotta put the finishing touches on my 2024 IRS tax return! We poor folks in Florida were granted an extension to May 1st by those carpetbaggers over at the IRS due to Hurricanes Milton and Helene!
Those of us in Kentucky got an automatic extension until November 1st due to much of the state getting flooded this year. I did mine on time (by April 15th).
5 runs in so far in the third, and men on 1st and 2nd with one out.
At least Suter is now on the mound.
Can we employ the Run Rule? I’m gonna go play tax accountant now!
The only remaining question is whether we can score or are we back in our funk?
What you call “getting your teeth kicked in “
George Clinton has nothing on this funk.
We still get a chance to see if the Reds can hit the ball … It’s just the bottom of the 3rd.
Petty got shelled.
Long ride back to Louisville.
Maybe he and Diaz can split the Uber fare.
One more comment then I’m out! Where is the fight in this team! Bad enough to get shut out in Game 1 but if this offensive offense continues the Reds will get shut out in not ONE but TWO games on the same day! Disturbing!
Back to back singles in the second, that didn’t produce a run. I hope it’s not the dreaded hitting doldrums. Let’s see what happens.
Moving Marte into cleanup doesn’t look good so far … But Hays is on the IL, but Lux is moved down in the order ?
Sadly, this is another Clete for me tonight. Just can’t watch this kind of a thumping with any enthusiasm.
Really, really, REALLY don’t like the Dirty Birds.
We may lose our positive run differential if we bring Diaz in later tonight. Good to see they could bring me down to reality that we are not any where near being ready for contending against elite teams.
Reds losing this way against another NLC rival is hateful…Hope tomorrow the things could get on track again… I’m angry
Matz throwing a steady diet of Sinkers, Curves, and Changeups…
Espinal dbls for his second hit of the day…
Nothing across the plate for the Reds in the 4th… Suter goes back to the mound for the Cardinals 5th.
another 1-2-3 inning for Suter.
Maybe Richardson will be pitching a bulk of innings tonight
whoever needs some work, hunh ?
And here comes Richardson for the 7th…
Graceffo on the hill for Cards in the bottom of the 5th.
and the Reds go down in order…
Suter back out for the 6th ! He’s stemmed the Cardinal tide so far.
gotta chuckle about that – Suter gets ’em again. 1-2-3
The Reds offense has gone back into hiding. Hayes is a good player but his lack of availability so far has really hurt. Plus Mclain, Fraley, Steer, Candy slumping and Elly’s lack of power and it’s hard to believe they are over .500.
They are a good team Mark. It isn’t that hard
And once again, the Reds collapse against division rivals, finishing 1 game above .500. 5 over sounded a lot better. EDLC kept his streak alive. That’s about all that can be said about today’s games.
If Suter had started, we would likely still be in this one. One mistake in bringing up the kid from AAA is all it took. Baseball is all about taking chances, and capitalizing on them.
Back to putting up goose eggs, eh? All because one guy is missing from the line-up? And yet, this is what happened when Hays wasn’t in before.
Starting to see why Hayes only received a $5M contract. Being injured reduces the offense even more.
Give the Boys an ovation ! Espy drives in Elly for a run !
Got to have more Espy in the line-up. Still hitting over .300.
Espinal moves to Short and Callihan in at 2nd. Elly gets a rest.
Among the very few good things of this game , one could be Richardson throwing until the end so the core bullpen will be fresh for tomorrow overall…Richardson just threw 6 pitches in his first frame
I’m starting to be less worried about DFAing Austin Wynns… maybe they could outright him
I agree his hot spell is over. They need Stephenson and a healthy Hayes to give them some thump. I also don’t like Elly as a singles hitter.
Reds get nothing going in the bottom of the 7th… Should be Richardson back out for the Cardinals 8th.
And Richardson shuts down the Cards 1-2-3.
The pen, especially Richardson, and the bats of Elly and Espy are the high points so far.
Five straight fast balls to challenge Marte, ends in a ground out. Graceffo holds the Reds again…
I agree with Espy but Elly has to hit for power out of the 3 hole and lately that has not been the case.
Noelvi Marte is 0-8 on DH… What happened during the rain out?
How about Lyon in a closer role? Like Pagan, he gets guys out, no nonsense.
Maybe we should have started Richardson?
And we’re onto the Reds 9th, with Steer, Espinal, and Lux…
Graceffo strikes out the first two on three pitches each…
and Lux flies out on the first pitch to end it…
The Reds accepted 15 runs during this DH shared among just 3 pitchers but 14 runs are between Díaz and Petty… It’s wild…
Need a win tomorrow to avoid losing 2 games in the standings to St Louis by dropping 3 of 4. Cubs are winning now just a bad day.
Pathetic offense today….Really a nightmare has been lived during these couple of games
That took the wind out of our collective sails. Win 5 and then this?
Petty was a victim of two misplays by Lux that a competent left fielder would have made.This team can beat throwers but can’t beat pitchers.