After dropping the game earlier on Wednesday, the Cincinnati Reds are looking to avoid being swept in Boston tonight. The Red Sox entered the series with one win in the previous week, but they’ve taken the first two games of the series from Cincinnati. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Cincinnati Reds | Boston Red Sox |
| TJ Friedl – CF | Jarren Duran – LF |
| Matt McLain – SS | Roman Anthony – RF |
| Elly De La Cruz – DH | Abraham Toro – 3B |
| Austin Hays – LF | Trevor Story – SS |
| Spencer Steer – 1B | Wilyer Abreu – DH |
| Tyler Stephenson – C | Ceddanne Rafaela – CF |
| Gavin Lux – 2B | Marcelo Mayer – 2B |
| Rece Hinds – RF | Romy Gonzalez – 1B |
| Santiago Espinal – 3B | Connor Wong – C |
| Nick Martinez – RHP | Brennan Bernardino – LHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Nick Martinez | 94.0 | 4.12 | 1.16 | 21 | 69 |
| Brennan Baernardino | 31.2 | 4.26 | 1.42 | 17 | 26 |
| Links: Nick Martinez’s Stats | Brennan Bernardino’s Stats | |||||
Nick Martinez
To say that Nick Martinez has been pitching well over the last two weeks would be an understatement. On June 19th he got shelled by the Twins, giving up seven runs in 2.2 innings. He then stepped up to pitch relief in two games before his start against the Padres. In total he threw 11.0 innings and gave up one hit.
The splits for Martinez this season are a bit different. Right-handed hitters are mostly doing better across the board as they hit for a higher average, make more contact, and hit for more power. Lefties are walking more often, but they are not hitting for much average and are only showing solid-ish power against him.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 203 | 50 | 17 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 31 | .265 | .307 | .481 |
| LHH | 178 | 38 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 38 | .233 | .288 | .399 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-sm | 2-sm | Cutter | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 92.6 | 92.4 | 88.7 | 79.6 | 84.5 | 78.8 |
| Usage | 22% | 15% | 20% | 9% | 13% | 21% |
Brennan Bernardino
A Reds draft pick back in 2014, Brennan Bernardino spent five years in the Reds farm system before playing in the American Association, Mexico, Venezuela – all before signing a deal with Seattle in 2022 when he would make his big league debut at age 30. He pitched in just two big league games that year, but he’s thrown 55 and 57 games with Boston in the past two years and will be making his 38th appearance of 2025 tonight.
This season the splits for Bernardino are interesting. Right-handed hitters are walking more than they strike out, but they are hitting for absolutely no power at all. Facing lefties he’s not giving up hits or walks, but they are hitting for a bit more power than righties are.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 91 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 12 | .247 | .371 | .274 |
| LHH | 54 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 14 | .213 | .278 | .319 |
Pitch Usage
| 2-seam | Cutter | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 91.0 | 86.3 | 79.6 | 80.2 |
| Usage | 40% | 18% | 27% | 15% |
When and Where
- Game time: 7:10pm ET
- Where: Fenway Park
- Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, MLB.tv
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 82°, cloudy, 5% chance of rain
News and Notes
Reds sign prospect out of France
This afternoon the Reds added 17-year-old prospect Jordan Ouanyou out of France. The first baseman is about to graduate high school and will then go to Cincinnati’s complex in the Dominican Republic. We’ve got a full report over at RedsMinorLeagues.com if you want more of a deep dive.
Keeping an eye on Steer and Encarnacion-Strand
Spencer Steer is in tonight’s lineup, but….
Terry Francona said Spencer Steer is swelling up after getting hit by a pitch. They’re keeping an eye on him. CES fouled a ball off his foot and then got removed from the game.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) July 2, 2025
Division Standings
*these are the records and odds at the beginning of the day*
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Chicago | 50 | 35 | 0.0 | 87.9% |
| Milwaukee | 47 | 37 | 2.5 | 59.5% |
| St. Louis | 47 | 40 | 4.0 | 42.1% |
| Cincinnati | 44 | 41 | 6.0 | 14.7% |
| Pittsburgh | 37 | 50 | 14.0 | 0.3% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
I was curious if Steer would have some good swelling after that HBP. That didn’t look good. Hope he’s ok.
How many innings do we expect from Bernardino ?
The last thing we don’t want to happen is Martinez has a bad outing… This series has been annoying so Reds taking 1 at least compensates a bit
With this afternoon’s loss Game No. 2 today takes on a little more importance! Hoping the Reds can bounce back with a win!
Through the 20-game stretch that started against Cleveland on June 9th the Reds are 11-9. Unfortunately, the Reds have lost 4 of their last 6 games!
Need to survive the next 4 games and get back to GABP with a .500 record or better!
Time to drill a couple of Red Sox Yea, I ‘m old school.
Agree! I miss the old days when the opposing team’s pitcher plunks one of my players my pitcher throws at one of your players!
I was thinking the same thing on Monday when Burns was on the mound.
This team has bounced back from tough losses all year, no reason to believe they can’t do it today. No sweep. Let’s go.
The offense need to wake up!
This team seems to be stuck in a rut on offense! Few hits and WAY TOO MANY strikeouts!
Nice job by Martinez to avoid any 1st inning damage like what occurred in the first 2 games of this series!
So Steer got pulled out of line up last minute? In the article he was in line up batting 5th.
His HBP on his hand in the first game started to swell and change colors it was reported, so a late lineup change. Hope he’s ok.
This team just is what it is, around .500. They haven’t been hot all year because they just don’t hit well enough.
There’s different ways to win or lose game. When the offense is in a funk, the defense and management need to be good to have a winning chance. Reds didn’t do that in the loss earlier today. Offense is in a funk because both Tj and Elly are in a funk at the same time. It happened. Cardinals were blanked back to back by Pirats.
I actually thought that Boston without Devers would not be as tough as they have been in the first 2 games of this series! Guess I was wrong!
SF has been horrendous offensively since they got Devers, lost a bunch of games. Boston lost a bunch of games since the trade too, until the Reds came to town to wake them up.
And now we play from behind! Offense needs to wake up and the defense needs to shape up!
Can we please acknowledge that Hinds is the best fielding/throwing outfielder on our team?
I rest my case about Hinds being our best outfielder.
Friedl is really in a funk on both sides of the game.
He sure is ….
!00% agree and it is really hurting the team. They just don’t have enough to cover when one of their best players goes into a little slump.
Exactly right Mark!
What’s your solution to do with one the best players on the team in a slump?
Bench him?
3rd base void is killing this team – Marte can’t get back fast enough
No power, but he won’t take a walk. great job espy
Swung at ball 4 for sure …
With the off day tomorrow, I was wondering if Marte might be brought up for the series with the Phils.
Hopefully you are right ….i don’t think any more “assessing “ is required at this point …
Especially needed with Steer and CES among the “walking wounded.”
The ML All Star break cannot come soon enough for this team! Need Marte back as well as a healthy Greene!
Nick is battling! Where is the offense?
Reds look really tired = slow bats and horrible pitch recognition along with some poor defense. It could be a long weekend in Philly.
A welcome day off tomorrow?
don’t know how many more times i can stand seeing rece hinds’ helmet fly off as he completely whiffs it
The team is down right now …the offense has had pathetic at bats
Entirely too many whiffs on this team game after game after game … just pitiful AT BATS
Game bout to get away …. Reds making Sox look like world beaters …..
Martinez doing all he can though – nice job !
No energy. You’re supposed to get some energy and camaraderie out of a 9th inning walk off. C’mon guys? Like watching someone’s funeral procession
CES and Hinds …go tear up AAA and we’ll get back to you. Don’t call us, we’ll call you
Neither one can barely get the ball past the infield dirt … really disappointing … almost always a whiff , beat ball in ground , or weak as water pop up
Especially disappointed in CES. Really thought he’d be a solid big league hitter. He’s anything but at this point.
One thing is true, the Reds often have surprised us coming alive when they seems to be dead…To be honest I still hope that could happen in this game
This turned out to be the best comment in the thread!
Martinez is earning his paycheck
We’ve seen this way too often this season. Pitchers keeping us in the game.
As mentioned by almost everybody the bats just seem slow, this will end the non sweep stretch. I just hope they can win one in Philly to come home at .500, 45 and 45.
I’m with you Mark! It may be a tall order to win a single game in Philly the way this Reds offense is sputtering!
Watching the Reds offense right now is like dentistry without Novocain!
lol without a doubt Dennis !
It wasn’t pretty Hinds! But we’ll take it!! LOL
Looked pretty to me. Beat the heck out of what we’d get from Lux or Steer.
I hope you are being sarcastic.
i need the offense to step for martinez!! he has the most energy out there!!
Martinez is doing the job…1-run ball through 5 IP and the most important is he’s been efficient
Last team to get swept, let’s catch up and get swept back to back. If they can’t touch Boston’s nobodies then forget beating Philly
Nick is dealing much like he did against San Diego! Maybe we can score him some runs! Pretty please!
Seem to recall a lot of people wanting Martinez to pitch out of the bullpen. He’s been very solid as a starter this year season. Seem to remember 2 duds, the Cubs and the Twins, those were the outliers.
It’s frustrating…
This offense is making this game hard to watch. Get it going, Redlegs!
Is it me, It seems like the Reds hitters are almost all down 0-1, taking a strike that seems in the hitting zone.
Feels like this is happening a lot!
The fact that the Reds have never gotten hot is going to hurt them more than it should. For example’ the Cardinals just got swept at Pittsburgh but they are still 6 games over.
(sigh)
Wow between Abreu and Story have made a lot of damage…Unbelievable… I wonder whether the Red Sox overperformed or the Reds underperformed in this series
I hate to bring this up but the way this game is playing out just proves that Tito should have used his best arms in game 1
3-0 seems like a death sentence with the way they are hitting today.
Turn out the lights
Front office has done absolutely ZERO to
address offensive deficiencies …. Ownership could care less long as they got good
bobbleheads and fireworks …
Name a team that doesn’t give away bobbleheads.
Talking bout REDS specifically due … come on man
..and their ownership
So the Reds ownership does what every other ownership does when it comes to bobbleheads and fireworks….which your post was about.
Ok dude I guess you just don’t get the point period … not gonna waste any more time trying to clear it up for you … carry on
The Reds are winning now, so you might stop posting if there is nothing to complain about.
It was obvious what RedAlert was posting about. Any Reds’ fan knows that the Reds’ ownership cares more about trying to sell tickets with promotional nights than by actually spending on the roster. It is what it is.
I’m down for the “Marte and Joe” bobbleheads.
Even if it is Noelvi and Connor.
Ha ha!!! Why not? 🙂
Rookie phenom Misiorowoski got lit up tonight.
Was wondering if that might happen soon. He had looked so good in his first few starts.
Unfortunately, this 3-0 deficit may be too much for this zombie offense to overcome!
Agreed, this may be an early Clete for me.
Obviously, I was kidding. Good job, CES! 🙂
Too bad you missed it.
I didn’t miss it but thanks for you concern
Martinez nice job … got no help
Giving up 2-out RBI continues to haunt this team. Abreu has killed the Reds up to that point and yet we pitched to him. Still a QS for Martinez though.
Good at bat by Lux.
Thank you CES!
CES!! Grand slammmm! Reds went ahead
Don’t call us we’ll call you.
+1000
CES with a HUGE fly!!
More runs, more runs, more runs.
Reminiscent to game against NY, Reds we were down 3-0 and CES hit a double to clear the bases. He outdid himself with a GS this time. No slider thrown by Boston pitcher. Shhhhhhh, keep it a secret.
Well done CES !
The Red Coats are coming! The Red Coats are coming!
2 out damage by Elly
Was really glad to see Brennan Bernadino for the Red Sox. I have met a lot of Dragons placers over the years, some nice kids and some jerks, mostly nice. But, Brennan falls into category of over the top great kid. I believe as he was working his way up he had responsibility for a young family member as well. Very respectful, always positive and great with the fans. His perseverance paid off and Im happy for him.
Nice job Elly.
Nice to get another run, thank you Elly!
When Friedl and a Elly hit, life is good. CES hitting is cream on top.
I totally take back everythingsaid about CES and MM earlier. So glad they proved me an idiot.
Go Reds! Now win this game!
The “Hal King Moment”?
I was at that game. This isn’t it. But it’ll do.
My son is at this game and got loudly booed after CES GS by red sox faithful for cheering
He was happy
Yikes. CES crushed that.
Cowboy is advocating for bringing Santillan and or Pagan this inning. He say Martinez is out of gas! He doesn’t sound happy!
Cowboy was right.
It’s always the last minute replacement that seem to do damage.
It’s certainly happened against the Reds.
CES for Steer.
This is a classic Dusty Baker moment. Sticking too long with the veteran. Has options, but going with the gut.
Eerily similar. Martinez is done.
And off day tomorrow.
Rogers … hold your breath…
Don’t you bring your best pitchers in at this point?
Why Rogers? Something wrong with Santilla/Pagan?
Exactly! Why Rogers! Day off tomorrow! Use your best RPs and win this game!
Reds need insurance runs in a hurry
That strikeout pitch by Rogers was nasty!
The problem with Rogers, and I like him, is that he seems to be Boom or Bust!
I do agree with you, Dennis. He has had some boom and bust moments this season.
439 feet by CES? That was McGwire Canseco roid rage distance. I request an engineer here please lol. I’ll guess 380 just to the wall there plus it flew 60 feet over and who knows how the distance? Thats 475 easy. All those blasts are measured incorrectly imo
I’m a 47-year engineer but I only deal with potable (drinking) water and wastewater! Good with liquid flows and pressures!
I worked with wastewater too, renting frac tanks & pumps
Thought the same…halfway to Nantucket
“Every time I think I’m out … they pull me back in.”
Like an IRS audit!
My Wife always tells me that when I start griping out loud to her (not that she really cares) is usually when they get it going. LOL!
Wild inning! Go Reds.
All this is a result of Hinds legging out that potential DP.
Ok Espinal and Friedl delivering the needed insurance runs…Go!
just following on Game Day. What happened on the Friedl ground ball?
Story tried to backhand a chopper and it kicked off him, meanwhile CES kept running and scored from 2nd
backup on the play threw to 3rd…then he threw home…CES safe.
Throw back to 3rd and Espy safe.
Heck of a slide by Espy.
Incredible! Love it.
Ok anyone besides me have the Reds threatening double digits runs in this one lol. Crazy
Not on my bingo card. lol
I’m getting too old for these wild swings in scores! Where’s my Geritol and Mylanta?
It’s not over yet.
I noticed on one of your earlier posts that you are 47. I’m right behind you! I hit 47 this November. 🙂
Most of us wish were were 47. 😉
Not 47! 47 years as an engineer! Turned 72 last December and a Reds fan since 1961!
Ha ha!!! Okay, I see. I totally misread that. I’m happy to be 46 now. LOL!
Dennis, that’s longer than I’ve been alive. I was born in 75.
Va Reds Fan, how old are you and how long have you been a fan? I guess it would be around 1985 for me. 🙂
57
Since 1974
Very nice!
Ok Tony that will work !
Nice inning Sanillan. Great to see you in a game.
Or Santillan if I could type.
1-2-3 for Tony.
We love no drama.
Yankees losing 8-0 in the 4th.
Just tied it 9-9.
Judge 2 run shot
Lux with a very productive night at the plate. I really like how he works counts. Just a solid hitter with a good eye for the zone.
yes! he is my favorite to watch at the plate! very patient
Pagán is topping 97.7 MPH…
Nice comeback ! Needed that badly !
REDS WIN! Literally nobody thought that in the 6th inning after Abreu homered… Reds avoid to be swept again even by this annoying Boston team… Reds are unpredictable…
Nice win proved many of us wrong, need to play when in Philly.
Nice comeback win! Been a rough stretch for CES but he came through tonight. Let’s get a couple against Philly.
Splitting a DH is like kissing your sister! To that I say Pucker Up!
I think if they got 1 W at Philly it would be a success…The chance could be on Friday with Abbott on the mound the other matchups are tough especially on Sunday…
The comments from the beginning to end of game are funny. Guilty of it myself, however they play 9 innings!! Plus I keep saying it, this is a good reds team.
Apparently Lux, with his “soft” ab’s had a good night. On base 2 times, scored 2 runs. Great pick up by the Reds. Love his professional at bats