Last night saw the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds struggle to score runs for the first nine innings. That changed in the 10th when the White Sox scored four runs and picked up a 5-1 win to open up their 3-game series. Tonight the two teams get back on the field for game two. First pitch is scheduled for 7:14pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Chicago White Sox | Cincinnati Reds |
| Chase Meidroth – SS | Gavin Lux – LF |
| Miguel Vargas – 3B | Santiago Espinal – 3B |
| Edgar Quero – C | Elly De La Cruz – SS |
| Luis Robert Jr. – CF | Austin Hays – DH |
| Andrew Vaughn – 1B | Spencer Steer – 1B |
| Lenyn Sosa – 2B | Jose Trevino – C |
| Tim Elko – DH | Will Benson – CF |
| Brooks Baldwin – LF | Matt McLain – 2B |
| Michael A. Taylor – RF | Rece Hinds – RF |
| Davis Martin – RHP | Nick Lodolo – LHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Nick Lodolo | 47.1 | 3.23 | 1.01 | 7 | 38 |
| Davis Martin | 42.2 | 4.01 | 1.41 | 12 | 28 |
| Links: Nick Lodolo’s Stats | Davis Martin’s Stats | |||||
Nick Lodolo
After struggling against the Washington Nationals to begin the month, Nick Lodolo rebounded in his last start in Atlanta where he allowed two runs over 6.0 innings and struck out seven batters.
The splits for Lodolo are strange. Teams are not sending many left-handed hitters out to face him, but the ones that go up against him are hitting a lot of singles. They aren’t walking and aren’t hitting for power, but they are hitting .378. Right-handed hitters aren’t hitting for average or power and they aren’t drawing any walks, either.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 155 | 27 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 32 | .189 | .242 | .336 |
| LHH | 42 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .378 | .405 | .460 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-seam | 2-seam | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 93.5 | 93.5 | 81.8 | 87.4 |
| Usage | 17% | 35% | 28% | 20% |
Davis Martin
Consistency has been an issue for Davis Martin this year. He’s been quite good in four of his starts, solid in another one, and then got hit around quite a bit in the other three. This month he gave up three runs to Houston in 5.0 innings and then four runs in 4.1 innings his last time out against Kansas City.
The platoon splits are pretty big for Martin, but they are also weird. Left-handed hitters are walking often and making plenty of contact against him, but they aren’t turning that into hits – though they are hitting for a good amount of power when they do get hits. Righties aren’t walking much, but they are making plenty of contact. And they are turning that contact into hits – plenty of them. They are are not hitting for as much power as lefties, but the big advantage in average carries over into a higher slugging percentage.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 112 | 33 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 17 | .324 | .366 | .480 |
| LHH | 72 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 11 | .231 | .306 | .431 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-sm | 2-sm | Cutter | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 93.8 | 92.4 | 89.8 | 78.2 | 85.1 | 90.4 |
| Usage | 29% | 7% | 15% | 3% | 21% | 26% |
When and Where
- Game time: 7:14pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park
- Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, MLB.tv
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 75°, cloudy, 5% chance of rain
News and Notes
TJ Friedl’s wrist
Friedl’s MRI today confirmed a bone bruise in his right wrist, Francona said. He will test it pregame to see if he might be available off the bench tonight.
— Mark Sheldon (@msheldon.bsky.social) May 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Division Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Chicago | 25 | 18 | 0.0 | 71.5% |
| St. Louis | 23 | 19 | 1.5 | 31.0% |
| Cincinnati | 20 | 23 | 5.0 | 5.9% |
| Milwaukee | 20 | 23 | 5.0 | 11.9% |
| Pittsburgh | 14 | 29 | 11.0 | 0.7% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
Standing room only tonight. Maybe that will help get the guys fired up.
Reds fans really are some of the best. I know it’s mainly to honor Pete Rose tonight but if the Reds had a consistent winner for a few years they’d really start having big crowds again I think, at least in the summer months.
If it doesn’t get them fired up then I don’t know what would. Foster looks like he could DH right now.
Someone should get Krall and ownership fired up. They need to add two hitters. Not retreads.
I wish they would revamp the extra inning methodology. I understand wanting to limit the length of games, but I don’t understanding stacking the deck in the tenth. My method for a tied game would be:
10th inning – played as usual. No modifications.
11th inning – ghost runner on first.
12th inning – ghost runners on first and second.
13th and subsequent innings – load the bases with ghost runners.
My logic is that one regular extra inning is not a big burden.
Starting with first and filing the bases sequentially always keeps the possibility of a force or double play alive.
It reduces the chances that the visitors will bunt the ghost to third, score with a fly ball, and win the game without actually generating a run aside from giving up two outs to score.
Anyway, for what it’s worth. I figured that Manfred would never listen to me, but then he listened to the people regarding removing the lifetime bans, so who who knows.
Like the way you think! I hate the current extra inning format!
Geez, extra innings do not need any methodology. Simply play the 10th and beyond like the first nine.
+10,000. Changing the game to appeal to the click-addled younger generations is a sad testament to the future.
Glad to see Hines getting the start. My quick check shows him not having an official AB since the first Houston game. Isn’t that what folks complained about with DB, bringing kids up and then letting them sit.
Our top batting average hitter has one atbat over the last 8 days while several of our 100’s hitters have been playing almost all of these games, is there a reason our 3rd catcher/best hitter in 2025 cannot dh? or play 1st base? or catch every third game in a rotation with Stephenson and Trevino and 1st base? What a waste of a roster spot not to mention hard to keep a hot hitter fresh on one atbat a week or less. If you are not gonna play him send him down and bring up an outfielder or some one you can use who will actually get in a game.
The Reds need to get busy! Busy winning! The Brewers have already won today while the Cardinals lost the first game of their day-night DH. The Cardinals are currently losing the second game to the Phillies! The Cubs are playing at home against Miami, looking to sweep the same team the Reds lost 2 out of 3 games not so long ago!
That being said, the Reds wasted another opportunity last night in extra innings while the Cubs scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th in their game! That’s how good teams perform!
It’s time for this team to refocus and take advantage of scoring opportunities that develop in every game! If that requires playing “small ball” then so be it!
Hopefully Nick emulates Abbott’s 6-inning outing last night and the Reds find their hitting shoes!
OK, I’m settled in to watch. Pig Kicking, etc., etc.
Nice grab by Hinds.
If Jobu is a Rose fan our bats should be on fire tonight.
Avoided a big inning there with some solid D
CHW show similar struggles to drive in runners at 3rd base with less than 2 outs as the Reds do…
Steer should have slid into 2b head first. The crowd would gone *******!
Some things never change! Left another runner on 2nd with less than 2 outs!
Our base runners have been awful lonely lately. STRANDED
If this keeps up, the Reds are going to need to hire a mental health counselor for abandoned runners!
They can all go the to same counseling class. 🙂 Group discussion. “I am a stranded base runner”. 🙂
I think it may be time for some sort of exorcism or other religious procedure. Its going to take Divine intervention to get this team hitting again. If we can’t hit White Sox pitching, we aren’t going to fare well when we start playing Division leaders and teams with winning records
A serving of what ever inspired the Cardinals(before today) might also help.
No offense to Jobu, but we need more than a sacrificed dead chicken.
Lodolo managed to get out of this jam unscathed
He wriggled off the hook but with a pitch count near 60 he’ll be lucky to last 5 innings!
I check the box score every inning to track the pitch count! The White Sox SP is at 25 pitches thru 2 innings! Lodolo is at 59 pitches thru 3 innings! Anybody else see a problem here?
And only one walk by Lodolo. Our pitchers don’t have an out pitch.
Lodolo living on the edge tonight. Thankfully stranded all 3 runners but can’t expect that inning after inning.
Hoping our bats wake up.
We escaped one there in the top of the third. I was thinking the dam was going to break…
Didn’t break but a lot of cracks showing!
At this point in the season, we need Nuke Laloosh, Willie Mays Hays, Dennis Quaid and a happy Jobu!
Poop. Almost got him….on a jam shot.
Awright, lead off single by McClain… Hinds hits it deep, but it’s just a long out.
Reds showing some life though.
Hinds batting a 415 ft flyout … incredible
It just plain died. Both Welsh and Thrall were thinking it was well on the berm.
He didn’t get all of it obviously.
Lodolo doesn’t have his best stuff but he’s battling for us and keeping us in the game.
time to break out of this funk ! Let’s go Redlegs!
not even a base runner, and that was the heart of the order.
Much better 4th inning for Nick! Should be good for 5 innings!
This team can’t get 2 hits in a inning to save their lives.
In 14 innings at home against the worst team in the AL, the Reds have just one run to show for it.
Some players’ body language just looks defeated. Understandable I suppose.
Reds need to use some of their pitching surplus in the minors and trade for some professional hitters who take quality at-bats and know how to work a pitcher. It will sting at first to get rid of some of the prospects, but that’s the only way they can acquire hitters.
Which hitters?
Lodolo starts things off in the 5th with a walk…
I don´t know but something should be done or happens to change that… really pathetic ChW looking better team actually than the Reds…
Sad, but right now they are a better team.
Well, that’s 2-0. That is most likely enough to seal the series for the White Sox.
Lodolo ain’t fooling anybody …. His stuff is getting ripped
Getting owned by one of the worst teams in MLB
These guys need to WAKE UP !
Awright, the Sox get one, but here we come !
Benson comes thru with Dbl ! one out.
Make the trade before they leave Cincy…
Incredible! The White Sox SP, who had a pregame ERA of 4+ has only thrown 47 pitches thru 4 innings and give up 3 hits and ZERO RUNS of course!
Ok Will Benson! Let’s get it going guys!
Benson having a day. Real nice over the shoulder catch, pretty nice sliding catch going forward too, bullet double to center.
Benson doing his part tonight all the way around.
Benson is a way better player when he puts it in play and doesn’t strike out.
Loading up a Stink. Fish. Pot!!!! here in my living room.
the Reds get close but nothing across in the 5th.
Martin has 5 IP on just 61 pitches …
This is what happens when the organization fails to address offensive deficiencies in the off season. While frustrating, what is happening shouldn’t come as a big surprise.
A droughts eventually end, right?
Need a steady spring rain. 🙂
This is embarrassing.
Embarrassing. Big night for Pete and this team falls flat on its face.
If 2 felt like a big gap, 3 feels like it’s insurmountable.
Just plain frustrating.
Box of chocolates Lodolo ….
Hot hit hard entire game …
Hit hard …
Pete would be ashamed of this team’s performance.
Probably would have activated himself.
I thought Foster should be activated
Take em both right now. Foster was the most feared hitter in baseball for a few years there.
That one hurt, and there’s only one out in the 6th. Sox up 3-0
Not fair we have to face Cy Young two nights in a row.
Yeah, these guys are TOUGH!!!! Let’s see how these tough guy White Sox do against the Cubs this weekend.
Least interesting, least fun Reds team in many years.
Wow, just wow.
Embarrassing effort
Well, I am taking a break from the Reds. This team just has no energy whatsoever. I’ll go enjoy a team trying to win the Blue Jays. I’ll check back in around a week or two from now.
Choke up on the bat try to get some hits. Homeruns will come later. Be more patient at the plate. Through 5 innings like 9 strikeouts already. That’s just terrible. With the White Sox the Reds should have at least won 2 of 3. I still say this team will get swept by the 2nd worst team in baseball.
I don’t know but it seems always the last hitter Tito gives to the Reds pitcher before remove him hits a homer or do damage
Now’s the time if it’s going to happen. Top of the order up for the Reds …
OK, there’s the leadoff dbl from Lux …
I just turned on the game….see the big crowd….thought it would be a celebration….but it’s more like a funeral thanks to this pathetic reds effort right…it’s just sad
The more I watch this team the more I am worried we may not have any players capable of elevating this organization to the next level. There is not immediate help in AA or AAA either. If Tito can not change our organization who can in the future?
You make a trade like the Brewers did for Adames or the Padres for Arraez. Give up some of your pitching prospects.
That’s just it though. Players like Davis and Larkin (Rose and Parker), had a veteran presence on teams to help them learn how, to play, how to win.
The young guys have nobody like that for 3 years.
Not sure anyone wants our pitchers or prospects? Also this team is not one or two players away from being elite.
The only thing that’s been interesting to watch tonight has been the interviews with Griffey Sr. And Eric Davis.
Visits to the booth by Griffey Sr. and Eric Davis have been a treat.
Larkin is a lot better when they have visitors.
As is Sadak
Oooh. I thought he was going to be out @ 2nd. Good hit.
This offense is nowhere near being playoff caliber. If Nick opts to stand pat when it comes to improving this offense, the Reds will be out of it by mid-late June.
Who should they get?
Is this team EVER gonna score a run?
They scored 1 yesterday.
I meant tonight!
Now you’re just being greedy.
What’s that now? 0-24 with RISP?
Hays is 3/4 of the way there tonight … and not a good “there” 😐
There is no where to hide… Espinal, De La Cruz, and Hays can’t bring him home… Reds come up empty in the 6th after a leadoff Dbl.
And now Barlow gives up a leadoff homerun … reds down 4-0 in the top of the 7th.
OMG! Another runner at 2nd, less than 2 outs and NOTHING! The college football season cannot start soon enough!
Wah, wah, wah (sad trombone).
Leadoff double by Lux, the top of the lineup, and he gets stranded at 3rd.
What a game! What a team!
Catch the fever! (I’m kinda sick right now)
They have prescription drugs for that!
The Reds are not a very good team. If they don’t show any progress by the end of 2026, it will be time for another rebuild.
It’s already looking like a dumpster fire, sadly.
That is all this organization does.
They lose. They make some personnel changes and recast a vision. They lose . They make some personnel changes and recast a vision. Rinse and repeat. And the beat goes on.
Honestly, until the Castellini’s decide to sell, this garbage will continue. GMs, players, coaches, and managers have come and gone, but ownership has been the constant through years and years of bad baseball.
Barlow is probably our weakest pitcher?
One of the most remarkable hole in the Reds lineup all season has been the 2nd hitter… When Espinal is on that spot does nothing… McLain we know…Steer either..
This team can’t hit back-to-back singles at this moment…That also happened when they were shutout three times in a row…
That’s what I said earlier. They can’t get 2 hits back to back to save their lives. They just aren’t very good.
I’ve seen enough of Barlow. They can let him go anytime
The Bar is Low
Good one!
Is there a game that Barlow pitches in which he doesn’t struggle?
He throws that same curve ball nearly every pitch.
Oh good I thought it was just me thinking he had only 1 pitch.
Michael Taylor getting deep it’s the world’s end literally
I was thinking the same…
The Reds have to be the weakest hitting team in baseball at the moment with no place to go but up. It’s the only good thing about hitting rock bottom.
Well, they could always dig a hole and get deeper.
With the drought the ground is too hard?
Eliminated by Memorial day a Reds tradition.
The standing room only crowd is not exactly getting a treat tonight.
They got a free jersey. The only way they can get a decent crowd is by giving away trinkets
At this point they should just let the pitcher hit. He has a better chance.
Steer, Trevino, and Benson to leadoff the Reds 7th ! Put some dirt on your hands, and hit the ball !
And Steer responds with a long ball ! Only one run, but a good one.
Why do you guys torture your eyes by watching?
I’m not watching the Reds I’m watching my 2nd favorite team the Blue Jays. Oh who are winning in a nice game. Oh they only have 6 strikeouts so far. in the 7th.
Watching the Reds right now is like watching a terminally ill patient! It’s a miracle they are only 5 games out of first in their division!
Doctor, I see a sign of life! Steer homers, Trevino singles…..not dead yet
Too little too late most likely, but Steer goes yard.
There’s one Mr. Steer says. 🙂
Ah there it is. Our token 1 run for the game.
And Trevino reaches on an infield single… one on for Benson.
Friedl on to run for Trevino… It’s not that close folks.
and now Leasure onto pitch to Hinds with two outs…
C’est la vie ! Reds get one back, but that’s all…
Larkin: The players are too good not to perform.
Barry, this offense has been down for weeks now. This isn’t just a two game issue. Sample size matters.
It’s a problem that is going to continue to rear its ugly head.
Ya’know, it’s Barry’s job to promote the team. But the bottom line is they are actually not that good. I know he can’t be the ultra – pessimist in the booth (I mean, he’s not Marty Brennamen), but as you say, it’s not just a slump of a few games. They are not producing.
Listening to Marty was like watching a game with a buddy who is also a fan. He says things your buddy would say and somehow you felt a bit better afterwards. I miss him.
Yea , Larkin doesn’t add much and Sadak can’t shut up . Hall of fame player , not even close to hall of fame broadcaster ….
Will never be another Marty and Joe …
The crowd is hungry for anything boy.
Just under that a bit is what I saw on the replay.
Nick Krall has to own this … SELL THE TEAM Bob please ! Reds fans don’t deserve this crap !
Will be irrelevant by the end of May if not
sooner …. DO BETTER MAN !
Reds manager and players always say the right things in February, March, and April and then talk meets reality two or three months later. It gets old.
Richardson on to pitch the 8th with Wynns catching…
Same deficit…3 runs.
I’d rather had seen Lyon Richardson come in at 3-0 then Barlow.
If you’re planning to use both of them anyway, at least use the better guy first.
Reds will at some point play good ball this year and get on a winning streak and the hitters will rebound, not sure which ones. It is disheartening to watch them struggle so bad, once a team loses confidence it all snowballs and then eventually there is a rebound, all teams go through it but why now and why the Reds? That is the way the streaky game of baseball goes. At what point in the season will we be playing our best? Our only hope is September and that we are still at .500 when we start to click. Until then we suffer with our team, sigh, we have been through worse with less hope. I long for the rally Reds to come back and brighten our days.
Reds top of the Order to start the bottom of the 8th…
Most of us old guys would like to see another championship before it’s our time to get out of here. Now Im thinking it would be nice just to make the playoffs.
The older I get the more I think about that. I was 22 when the Reds last won a World Series in 1990. I just want one more before I assume room temperature. Had you told me in 1990 that the Reds wouldn’t even make it back to the World Series in at least the next 35 years, I would have called you out as a liar.
Richardson has done a good job thus far… Let’s see if he will be optioned for Gibaut or eventually Díaz or Moll…Tito said the wouldn’t like to demote a guy who doesn’t deserve it
Should be Barlow
Richardson has been looking good in his limited action so far.
He has a wide pitch mix…more that of a starter than a reliever,….but, wherever it plays, it is welcome.
He’s certainly out performing Barlow of late.
Brittle players, no contact hitters, excellent acquiring strikeouts. Give me the 60’s and 70’s guys that played the majority of the games and hustled. Pete was sliding headfirst, taking out guys at second, diving for balls on defense and never seemed to be out injured. I thought weights were supposed to make you stronger. Wasting a brittle, but good pitching staff. Friedl is hard nosed but the majority play like they don’t want to get dirty.
Honor Pete Rose and welcome 40,000 fans. Proceed to dishonor Pete Rose and remind the fans why they stopped coming to the ballpark a long time ago.
Reds have had several balls caught on the warning track. It’s like the wind shifts to blowing in in the bottom of every inning.
Except there’s not even a slight breeze tonight.
That’s called warning-track power … which doesn’t belong in a MLB lineup.
On a 2-2-2 count, Elly Doubles ! and that count is jinxed.
Hays responds with a double of his own ! Elly scores.
Pitching change for Steer…
But one is all we’ll get. It’s onto the 9th, Reds down 4-2.
We catch two breaks in a row. How about that …
Not a bad day today. I seen a shooting star, bigfoot and the Reds had 2 hits in a row.
Just don’t get struck by lightning.
I was hoping your Knicks would knock off the Celtics tonight but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.
Nope. They laid an egg
Pacers and Knicks have a history in the playoffs. Would be fun.
Offensive explosion there in the eighth.
Wow. They may have been a HR.
Suter looking to negate those two runs the Reds scored.
Good move to walk Meidroth, now we can get two.
But Vargas pops out for the 2nd out of the Sox 9th. Can Suter finish it ?
Yes, 2-2-2 to Quero, and he grounds out to end it.
Nice recovery by Suter there.
Another chance wasted by White sox…Could the Reds capitalize?
Well, what’s it gonna be, boys?
Benson on with 4 pitches, but one out.
McLain give it a ride, but not enough. Now it’s up to Hinds.
Benson with a 4-pitch BB??? What planet are we on? 😮
He can walk in a couple of runs if he wants. We don’t mind.
Stink. Fish. Pot!!!
And the White Sox will go for the sweep tomorrow.
Whatcha gonna do, Nick?
What should he do?
Robert Jr. is in house. I would take him if it didn’t cost too much and the Sox paid part of his salary. Mets are rumored to be in on him. Like I said I wouldn’t pay too much for him though. He had two hits tonight and showing signs of life. Problem is he’s kind of like a lot of our hitters. Wouldn’t it be nice if we traded for a HOT HITTER?
Watch the Blue Jays Win!!!!! Woot!
Hahaha!
(Life is pain)
And the Reds go quietly in the 9th… Final score Sox 4, Reds 2.
So the Reds lose the series against one of the worst MLB team …Well I’m starting to think maybe the Reds are one of the worst team too…. I don’t know if I can change tecnically my alias to RedsGettingWorse…
Colorado is the worst team in baseball. The White Sox now have double the wins that Colorado has thanks to the Reds!
We definitely need to add 2 power hitters to our lineup. Don’t see the Reds making any trades to address the issue. They’re hoping that CES and Marte will be back soon and provide the clutch power hitting that’s lacking. With a rebound of steady production from Steer and McLain. Not completely confident that Benson and Hinds are part of the solution, but I hope one or both prove me wrong. We need to somehow stay close enough in the standing until then. It’ll be interesting to see who the Reds trade in July if all hope is lost: Martinez, Singer, Suter, Rogers, Barlow, Moll, Diaz, and Gibaut? Position players: Wynns, Lux, Hays, Fraley, and perhaps Espinal? I hope there’s not a complete fire sale but if the Reds aren’t playing competitive baseball by then it’ll probably happen.