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    Cincinnati Reds vs Arizona Diamondbacks – August 22, 2025

    Doug Gray 297

    The Cincinnati Reds are coming off of a series win over the Angels and head to Arizona to start a 3-game series with the Diamondbacks tonight. First pitch is scheduled at Chase Field for 9:40pm ET. Tonight’s game, along with all other MLB games except the Apple TV game of the week, will be FREE on MLB.tv.

    Starting Lineups

    Cincinnati Reds

    Arizona D’backs

    TJ Friedl – CFGeraldo Perdomo – SS
    Gavin Lux – DHKetel Marte – 2B
    Elly De La Cruz – SSCorbin Carroll – RF
    Austin Hays – LFLourdes Gurriel Jr. – LF
    Noelvi Marte – RFPavin Smith – 1B
    Spencer Steer – 1BGabriel Moreno – C
    Ke’Bryan Hayes – 3BAdrian Del Castillo – DH
    Jose Trevino – CBlaze Alexander – 3B
    Matt McLain – 2BAlek Thomas – CF
    Zack Littell – RHPRyne Nelson – RHP

    Starting Pitchers

    PitcherIPERAWHIPBBK
    Zack Littell151.03.521.1131141
    Ryne Nelson113.03.581.073099
    Links: Zack Littell’s Stats | Ryne Nelson’s Stats

    Zack Littell

    After three starts with the Reds, Zack Littell has turned in two strong starts and one clunker in the middle. In his last outing he allowed one run over 6.0 innings against Milwaukee in an extra-innings loss.

    The splits for Littell this season favor right-handed hitters, but not by a whole lot. They have an advantage in average and in power, but in both areas it’s a small one. Lefties are walking a little more often but neither group walks much at all.

    Splits 

    SplitPAH2B3BHRBBKAVGOBPSLG
    RHH32980160151156.256.289.452
    LHH28264120121347.241.278.421

    Pitch Usage

    4-seam2-seamSliderSplit
    Velo92.091.386.283.4
    Usage23%15%34%28%

    Ryne Nelson

    After starting the year in the bullpen and making a few spot starts in May, Ryne Nelson moved into the rotation full time in June. He’s been good for the most part, but has had a few clunkers mixed in there – including against the Reds back in June when he gave up seven runs in 3.0 innings when Cincinnati blew them out 13-1.

    The splits against Nelson this year favor right-handed hitters. they are hitting for a higher average and hitting for a decent amount of power when they do find the occasional hit against him. Left-handed hitters walk more than righties do, but they are hitting for a lower average and far less power.

    Splits 

    SplitPAH2B3BHRBBKAVGOBPSLG
    RHH2465113481462.222.268.417
    LHH212406351637.207.278.347

    Pitch Usage 

    4-seamCutterCurveSliderChange
    Velo95.690.680.386.486.7
    Usage63%10%9%14%4%

    When and Where

    • Game time: 9:40pm ET
    • Where: Chase Field
    • Watch: FanDuel Sports Network, MLB.tv
    • Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
    • Forecast: They have a retractable roof

    News and Notes

    Zach Maxwell called up

    After optioning Luis Mey to the minor leagues on Thursday the Reds announced the other end of that transaction on Friday by calling up Zach Maxwell from Triple-A. Like Mey, he throws 100+, but like Mey he also struggles with control. We wrote more about the move earlier today when it was announced if you want a bit of a deeper dive.

    Nick Lodolo’s rehab goes well

    Terry Francona told the media this evening that Nick Lodolo’s rehab went well today and that he threw “three innings” to hitters today and that he should start on Wednesday against the Dodgers.

    Division Standings

    TeamWLGBPlayoff Odds
    Milwaukee80480.0100.0%
    Chicago73557.098.7%
    Cincinnati676113.018.6%
    St. Louis646516.54.2%
    Pittsburgh547426.00.0%
    Playoff Odds via Fangraphs
    Previous Cincinnati Reds call up flamethrower Zach Maxwell
    Next Reds get walked-off in extra innings in a loss to Arizona
    Doug Gray
    Doug Gray has been covering Cincinnati Reds baseball since the 2006 season. Current bylines here, at Reds Minor Leagues, and Baseball America. Past bylines at The Athletic and a few other places I've forgotten and or cease to exist. Forever tired.

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    297 Responses

    1. Looks like the Mets are teeing off on the Braves so likely the Reds will need to hold serve tonight.

      1. Saw that too.

        Thought the Braves would give them a harder time than this.

        Oh well, all the Reds can do is focus on winning their games and let the chips fall.

        1. No, nearby. Going to a different game over the weekend. Haven’t decided which one, yet.

    3. Almost time to Stomp some Snakes!!!

      Good to hear Lodolo is working his way back. We need him to be solid so the pen can get some relief.

      1. I wholly resent your snake comment. I caught a rattler the other night. They’re cool!

        1. I’m in the land of Copperheads … most definitely NOT cool. Also some large Black or King snakes. I like them because they keep down the mouse population.

        3. hahaha To each his own. I think we’ve had this conversation before. I hate snakes. Sorry. 🙂

        4. ” I like them because they keep down the mouse population.”

          Get a cat. 🙂

        5. Stay out of this conversation, Melvin, or I’ll drop a cobra down your drawers.

    4. AZ gonna want to make up ground. Gotta match their most likely playoff -caliber effort.

    5. Mets 7-2. Whats it feel like to run it up on someone? Glad the Mets didn’t call up that rookie earlier. He’s got good stuff

    6. Well, I was hoping tonight would be the night! The night the Reds would finally move into the 3rd NL Wild Card spot! Looks like that’s not gonna happen as the Mets are thrashing the Braves!

      In any event, the Reds need to wrangle some snakes and keep pace with the Mets!

      More importantly, the Reds need to continue winning series and no better way to start that to win Game 1.

      As always, some early runs and a strong outing by Littell are the keys to a win!

      Go Reds!

    7. Trapped series. Our SP needs to keep us in the game for 5-6 innings at least. Be nice to get a couple Hrs from offense. Need a W. Absolutely need to get a W. Go Reds.

    8. Where’s Benson vs RHSP? He was 5 for 11 in 3 games at end of July/1st of Aug., 1 AB since. Need his pop. Put Lux at 2nd, Hays DH, Benson in LF.

    9. Someone may have already asked this, but why is Andujar not in the lineup? He’s been hitting lefties and righties.

      1. Complete insanity ! Right in the midst of playoff push .5 games back and he’s sitting ! CRAZY DECISION !

        2. Common sense unfortunately isn’t all that common.
          Wholeheartedly agree though.

    10. One of the cool things about this race for the wild card down the stretch to the end of the season, is you get to see who the players are that turn out to be the ones that can be leaned on to carry the team this year and into the future. A core group, much like the Giants had when they went on there championship runs.

    11. Reds haven’t been good recent years playing at Phoenix. They went 2W-5L in the two previous series of 2023 and 2024. They have to win the most games as possible. Mets are defeating Atlanta at this moment 7-2 in top of 7th inning

    12. Petty with another poor outing. Is Blake Dunn trying to be the offensive player called up? 3 for 3 tonight, HR and SB.

      1. Dunn has turned it on. Since the All Star break, he has an .800 OPS and 120 wRC+. Going into tonight, for August, he had a ~.926 OPS and 150 wRC+ in 12 games.

        I don’t think he has the all-around athleticism and consistent power of Hinds. Nor does he have the ceiling of Stewart. However, if the Reds might be looking to catch lightning in a bottle, he is getting very hot as those other two seem to be slowing a bit.

        The Bats play through September 21, so the Reds could actually swap the 13th and 14th position player spots a time or two to fit their needs and who is raking at AAA.

        1. Yeah. I noticed that. What’s he got three or four home runs total? Two of them have been in the last few games.

    13. Some of Giesenslag’s pre game stuff just drives me crazy. Talking like the Dbacks are world beaters. They traded away 2 of the best hitters and a couple solid pitchers for prospects starting in mid July! They gave up on 2025 when they had a record similar to the Reds. They are a lesser team on the whole than they were a month ago. Not knocking their strategy as it very well may prove smarter than Krall’s dipping his toe into the deadline trade. By smarter I mean they have 5-6 talented prospects in return for rentals in giving up on the chase. Alternatively, the Reds have nothing in return and no certainty that they are going to make it. (I actually thought the Reds were going the Dbacks route.). Since the trading period ended, the Reds have lost ground on their closest competition at the time. Not for a horrendous streak by the Mets the Reds would be about 5 games behind in the wildcard hunt.

      I am not saying the Dbacks are bad like the Nats or Braves, but they are a lesser team than they were 5 weeks ago. They could still take 1 or 2 from us if we get into one of our offensive funks.

      1. Well compared to how the reds have fared at phoenix the last few times they were there they might as well be

      2. It’s not like you can’t see it (at least from the camera view) and he was going to it before most every pitch.

      1. He’s pretty inconsistent though. Make him throw it for a strike maybe?

        1. After a fastball though the slower slider to me seems hard to hit or not swing at. Maybe they will pick up slider next go around.

    17. I don’t know how Hays can struckout looking a pitch right in the zone on a 3-2 count…wild

    18. The Reds just don’t hit any pitcher with decent stuff. How long are we going to fool ourselves with Elly in the 3 whole. He just isn’t hitting 2 for 13 on the trip.

      1. Simply not true. Suarez and Sanchez of Philles and sure they are others.

        1. Please don’t try and defend this offense. If you watch every game you can’t defend them.

    19. Stewart has one hit tonight and just hit one hard to CF with an EV of 103.1. Rarely a game goes by that he doesn’t get at least ONE hit.

      Poor CES has sunk so low that he’s batting 7th for the Bats now. That’s without Hinds even in the lineup.

      1. CES’s MLB experiences aside, in 2023, he owned AAA pitching nearly as much as EDLC or McLain. He also looked very good in the 2024 Arizona Fall League, coming off the hand surgery. So, I’m thinking he is trying to play through some impairment, perhaps his ongoing back issue.

    22. I’m gonna be lucky to make it through 3 innings tonight. I’m tired.

      Please go on a hit parade, Boyz. Pretty please?

    23. Sometimes when you watch this team it’s hard to believe they are 6 over. The offense is just that bad.

    24. Littell having lack of command problems but could limit the damage to just 1 run. Carroll killing the Reds as usual…

    25. Arizona leadoff hitter WALKS! He ultimately scores a run! Imagine that! Gets old!

      1. WALKS will do that! Not only the pitches wasted but the additional pitches needed to get through the inning!

        1. That’s is true. Walks just always seem to haunt, especially the lead off variety.

      1. Noticed the same thing. Shocked the Reds aren’t asking the ump to check.

    32. I was and still am not a fan of the Hayes trade…but I appreciate him and rooting for him..

    36. Reds seem to always struggle against The Snakes! Especially in Arizona! Mets up 12-4! Need to match the Mets this weekend as they have a 3-game series against Philadelphia starting on Monday!

    38. Friedl strike one swinging,strike two swinging,strike 3 swinging and Lux ground outs out.Not good after the bottom of the order does their job.

    39. Doesn’t have his control tonight and is falling behind in the count.

    41. Littell is often going behind the batters …he doesn’t look good tonight

    43. Hope he can get us to the 6th or later with the lead.Reds need more then 2 runs though.

    44. Hard to pick on the starters when they’ve been pretty spectacular this season but yeah Littell off tonight.

    45. One way or another, Littell ain’t long for this game.

      In 1 2/3 innings, he’s already at 43 pitches.

    46. Littell relies in his control and command in order to have success if not he’s bad

    47. Got that right for sure Jason.Thats why you have to score 5 or 6 runs every once in awhile.

    50. Littell clearly doesn’t have his best stuff tonight, but dude is battling hard.

    51. Little flirting with disaster and a very high pitch count. Maybe we’ll see Maxwell tonight.

    53. Littell could get the scoreless after a big jam but he’s close to 50 pitches just through 2 IP …

    54. Littell not long for this game! At 49 pitches after only 2 innings! Yikes!

    55. I really get tired of missing live action because the broadcast is flashing replays or graphics.

      1. It’s worse when the “money driven alternatives” are in charge. So much fluff and foolishness instead of baseball.

    59. It’s really hard to win when your 3 and 4 hitters look this bad.

    61. Not be out done Hays for the second straight time strikes out looking.Got to love that.Can’t wait till his third at bat.

    63. It’s possible I’ll be done THIS inning. Littell just doesn’t have it tonight.

    64. Elly’s struggle with strikeouts has reared its ugly head again after having been tamed a bit. He has already matched last month’s total and there’s plenty of August ball left.

    65. Bottom of order gets two across and set us up with two on and one out and nothing.Then two punch outs and a grounder in the 3rd.No worries after Steer the next inning its the bottom of the order again.Benson and Andujar may have and I say may have made a difference tonight.

    67. Littell WALKS Carroll after being ahead 0-2! Ridiculous!

      Last inning for Littell if he makes it thru the 3rd!

    72. This catcher interference doesn’t help at all …Littell is battling

      1. Me too, Mark! Been a tough week at work!

        Looks like the Reds bullpen is NOT gonna get any rest tonight!

    80. What a disaster so far. Elly and Hays look awful and Littel looks worse.

    82. Of course not.We can’t score and then a walk and error and a bomb and well it is what it is.Can’t expect the starters to hold the other team night after night to 2 or 3 runs and then hope we score enough to beat them.Not going to happen with this roster.Tito talks about playing clean and he is right that’s the only way we even have a chance.Just once I wish someone would say something about the offense.Night all.

    83. Reds can battle back …let’s see…Littell doesn’t have it

    84. More worried about the Reds in this series than the upcoming series with the Hollywood Dodgers! Reds seem to lose focus against teams like Arizona!

    85. Well compared to how the reds have fared at phoenix the last few times they were there they might as well be

    86. Before I go let me say if the Reds continue to start Hays,Steer and MM they deserve to lose our on a post season spot.None of them can hit a right handed pitcher and he doesn’t have to be a good one.The numbers just don’t lie.

      1. Agree. I’m at a loss as to what to do. Maybe take the sunflower seeds away until Tito sees it. I’m a firm believer in you got to be hungry to really want it.

    87. Going to need shut down performances by the bullpen to have a chance.
      Bats need to wake up. Not sure why Andujar isn’t in the lineup.

    88. I hope this isn’t another one of those bats go dead quiet nights. If so, it’s a signal to keep Andujar in the lineup and to bring up Stewart. I’m sounding like my own broken record.

      1. Agreed. I mean the Reds are 5 and 37 when scoring 2 or less runs so the offense has been a struggle virtually all season. Andujar and Stewart potentially, and virtually certainly, give the offense some pop.

    89. I have to wonder why Benson and Andujar aren’t playing tonight. Most likely 1 and 1/2 back after this crap show. Littel was just bad that is good, bad, good and awful in his 4 starts as a Red. That is not good enough with this pathetic offense.

    90. We need offense, so Francona needs to bring in Andujar to pinch hit for MM in the next AB.

    93. Why do I feel like Francona has thrown in the towel when he brings Moll in?

        1. I think Moll or Suter was a no brainer with all the lefties that the Diamondbacks started.

    94. It’s hard to start a 6-game stretch with your starter only tossing 3 innings

    96. You are not getting to Nelson tonight. That ship has sailed. Hopefully you can get into the bullpen and do some damage.

    97. These next 6 games may put the Reds way behind the 8 ball. I see 2 and 4 at the best. The lack of hitting is just catching up with this team.

    99. The offense is not working …this looks not encouraging tonight…

        4. Jason T. – So you like snakes too? 😉 hahaha

          The TIGER gets it done! Gotta score now.

    107. I think the problem with this board is so simple. With no playoff series win in 30 years, we as Reds fans are just always waiting for something bad to happen and sadly it usually does.

        1. He needs a reset in AAA. Giving us no offense and we just can’t spare another light hitting player.

        2. Any other organization would have sent him packing to minors…. But REDS , ohhhhhhhh no ….

        3. So true. I think the part that especially irritates me is the fact that he’s gotten so many chances, way more than others. Makes no sense.
          He just has poor zone recognition with his swings yet takes on strikes right over the plate. Frustrating.

        4. So true. I think the part that especially irritates me is the fact that he’s gotten so many chances, way more than others. Makes no sense.
          He just has poor zone recognition with his swings yet takes on strikes right over the plate. Frustrating.

    109. Mclain making a 51 mph contact to pop up to the pitcher is really ridiculous

    110. Why is Matt McClain in the starting lineup PERIOD ???? Dude couldn’t hit air if it was thrown to him ….

      He deserves to be in AAA a long long time ago …

    111. Why was Mclain even batting in that situation? I guess Francona is going to hang with him until they are mathematically eliminated.

    112. Can’t help but wonder if they call this guy K-mart. Of course that reminds me of a line in a famous movie: “Gotta get my underwear K-mart. 400 Oak Street, Cincinnati, Ohio.”

    115. Bullpen doing some quality work tonight.
      Let’s get these bats going… can’t let these games slip away getting later into the season.

    116. Well, look who’s in the game. I guess you needed time off for his bat to cool down. Lol

      1. He’s been a revelation. Knew his reputation against lefties but he’s been crushing righties too. Such a professional hitter.

    125. Credit goes to the bullpen for holding serve until the offense could catch up.

    129. Like to see Elly steal here after a big hit. Not a lot of faith in Hays, maybe Marte.

      1. Yeah, I said the same thing as I was watching it and sure enough…the two ball.

    130. Like to see Elly steal here after a big hit. Not a lot of faith in Hays, maybe Marte.

    131. Like to see Elly steal here after a big hit. Not a lot of faith in Hays, maybe Marte.

      1. The lack of steals and controlled aggressiveness boggles my mind. It’s a bad look.

    132. He could’ve stolen second once and it would’ve been enough. Another DP because we won’t steal with our fastest guy.

    133. Of course, Elly doesn’t try to steal then Hays hit for a killer double-play… pathetic

    134. Nice one Tito. Chain Elly to first because Hays never hits groundballs to short or 3rd

    135. Benson .686 ops vs rhp. Hays should only play vs lefties.

      MM, Espy, and Steer should play for Lville

    136. Brutal AB Hays …. ZERO attempt to steal … unbelievable

      Hays going backwards again

    137. Brutal AB Hays …. ZERO attempt to steal … unbelievable

      Hays going backwards again

    140. The suggestion that Tito is looking old gets amplified when he refuses to run Elly in an obvious situation. Just sayin’.

      1. When you’ve got a guy with his speed especially it’s a no brainer.
        Baseball is a game of adjustments and his refusal to let these players steal is a bad look. We just don’t hit enough consistently that we can just be so stagnant on the base paths. That’s a concern.

    141. Not trying to steal has led to way too many double plays all year, come on Francona, use the speed.

    143. Andujar should never sit with this roster. Lux 2B and sub him out later. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put together an optimal lineup and I dont ga if Tito has won 5k games

      1. Bingo. Painful to see game in and game out not maximizing the hitters we do have.

      2. Can of creamed corn.

        Smart pitchers pitch to the park they are in. Steer has demonstrated warning track power at this park 3 times tonight.

    145. Steer hit it to the wrong side of the park. Would have been out as in HR most places.

    146. Steer hitting a flyball to the deepest zone near 413 ft but it is out…incredible…Hope Pagan keeps the tying to go to extras…

    147. I think Tito should be forced to read RLN after every game. That would shake him up.

    150. Pagan worked around the leadoff single…good job…Extras territory hasn’t been good for Reds but let’s try to win this!

    151. Giants and Cardinals lost tonight. Reds won’t gain on the Mets, but they can add a bit more distance from the teams behind them.

      1. Yeah, I have no problem with the decision, but if almost anyone else is going there, it’s now 6-4.

    160. After you had one run I would have batted Benson and let him hit especially with Trevino running.

      2. Or if Tito had any confidence in Banfield to catch the bottom of the 10th, he would have run for Trevino.

    164. Wish I had posted earlier, why no pinch runner? Got the slowest guy in the team running.

    166. Unfortunately, it looked like Trevino was trying to run into a 100 mile windstorm against him. That guy is slow.

    169. Another blooper against Ashcraft… just couldn’t passed MArte

      1. Gotta give credit where credit is due. That was one heck of an at bat by Marte.

    170. Not starting Andujar, not running Elly, and calling on Ashcraft the way he’s been pitching lately… Makes me wonder.

    171. Would rather have seen the debut of Big Sugar at 100+ there – who the D’s had never experienced – than the predictably mediocre Ashcraft.

    176. There are times when Friedl just makes BONEHEAD PLAYS …. like he’s in la la land

    177. Wow really bad luck there… They are in the verge to lose another tough game

      1. Francona might have also lost a step, mentally, from his brilliant managing days. Hate to say it. And he only has so much to work with as far as player talent frankly. Ashcraft two in a row blown.

    183. You just can’t lose this game and expect to catch the Mets. Francona needs to do a better job. At times I think he is just collecting a pay check figuring he will do his best but not worry about it if he loses.

    184. 1000% on Tito

      No steal with Elly, Hays dp

      No pinch runner for Trevino 2nd with nobody out

    185. Francona don’t manage any better than this Reds ain’t got no shot to get in ….

    186. Pen was lights out for 6 innings.Tito made a lot of bad decisions starting with no Andujar and no Benson in left to begin the game.Hays Steer and MM did nothing again.No late steal by Elly,no pinch run for Trevino and why wasn’t Friedl going back to the base on the liner by Elly.Other then those few things well Tito and the boys did really good tonight.

      1. Hays .668 ops vs righties. Was there a worse ops by a cleanup hitter in mlb tonight? I doubt it.

        No doubt in my mind Bell atleast pinch runs for Trevino there. Maybe Ashcrash gives up 2 anyway, but probably not

    187. The biggest joke this season has been how many more wins the team would have because of Francona, I would say that number is at least zero if not a negative , beginning with the first game of the year. I am afraid this west coast trip may be the beginning of the end and last night the manager hurt this team.

      1. Something is wrong. Way wrong with Francona. The players don’t seem to be playing for him. He is not serving the team.

        1. Robin: I see it the same way he just doesn’t seem as invested as I had hoped. I really hope he decides not to come back and they get somebody who is younger and more exciting.

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