Looking to defend its Ohio Cup title from 2025, the Cincinnati Reds (23-21) head north this weekend for the first game of a three-game series with in-state rival Cleveland Guardians (24-21). First pitch is at 7:10 PM EDT.
The Guardians are currently in first place in the AL Central, though it’s not because of their hitting. They are towards the bottom of the AL with a .687 team OPS. It’s the pitching that is keeping them above .500, with a 3.81 team ERA that is 5th in the AL and 420 strikeouts, good for 1st in the AL.
Lineups
Cincinnati Reds | Cleveland Guardians |
| Will Benson – CF | Steven Kwan – CF |
| Elly De La Cruz – SS | José Ramirez – 3B |
| Sal Stewart – 1B | Chase DeLauter – RF |
| JJ Bleday – LF | Rhys Hoskins – 1B |
| Spencer Steer – RF | David Fry – DH |
| Nathaniel Lowe – DH | Angel Martínez – LF |
| Matt McLain – 2B | Travis Bazzana – 2B |
| Tyler Stephenson – C | Patrick Bailey – C |
| Ke’Bryan Hayes – 3B | Brayan Rocchio – SS |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Andrew Abbott | 46.1 | 4.47 | 1.51 | 20 | 33 |
| Tanner Bibee | 45.1 | 4.17 | 1.35 | 18 | 45 |
| Links: Andrew Abbott’s Stats | Tanner Bibee’s Stats | |||||
Andrew Abbott
After a rough month of April, left-hander Andrew Abbott has started to look better in May. In his last three starts, he’s allowed just two runs on 12 hits in 17.2 innings for a 1.02 ERA. He’s struck out 14 in that timespan, but he’s also walked seven. While Abbott has really struggled in his home starts this season, he hasn’t pitched too badly on the road. He’s got a 2.87 ERA in 15.2 innings on the road. He’s only allowed five earned runs in three road starts, but his WHIP on the road is close to 1.6. This is because he’s walked nine batters while surrendering 16 hits in those 15.2 innings.
Abbott has some reverse splits so far this season, though it’s a small sample size because he hasn’t faced many left-handed hitters. He’s given up 16 hits to lefties in 45 plate appearances, including two home runs. He does still have a better strike out rate against lefties as compared to right-handed hitters.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 158 | 34 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 11% | 12% | .245 | .329 | .360 |
| LHH | 45 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4% | 31% | .372 | .400 | .512 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | Sweeper | Change | Curve | Cutter | |
| Velo | 92.5 | 81.7 | 85.8 | 79.4 | 86.7 |
| Usage | 46.4% | 20.2% | 19.9% | 13.2% | 0.3% |
Tanner Bibee
If it wasn’t for one start in April in Atlanta, right-hander Tanner Bibee would have a much better pitching line that he currently does. In that game against the Braves, Bibee pitched only 4.2 innings, giving up eight runs on 11 hits. Even with that start, his ERA is still 4.17 on the season. His last start against Minnesota, Bibee pitched six innings, allowing just one hit–a home run–while walking two and striking out nine in 6.0 innings.
Bibee is tough on lefties. He has 31 strikeouts against left-handed batters in 107 plate appearances this season. However, he has given up five home runs to lefties, compared to only two long balls to right-handed hitters. His best pitch is his changeup, and it has a whiff rate of 45.5% this season. He has had some success with his cutter (12 strikeouts and a 38.4% whiff rate), but that’s also the pitch in which he’s given up four of the five home runs he’s allowed.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 87 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8% | 16% | .300 | .356 | .425 |
| LHH | 107 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 10% | 29% | .200 | .290 | .389 |
Pitch Usage
| Cutter | 4-Seam | Change | 2-Seam | Curve | Sweeper | |
| Velo | 86.0 | 94.2 | 81.0 | 94.1 | 77.7 | 82.8 |
| Usage | 27.4% | 24.4% | 19.1% | 16.1% | 12.1% | 0.9% |
Game Details:
- When: 7:10 PM EDT
- Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
- TV: Reds MLB Channel; Reds.TV (in-market); MLB.TV (out-of-market)
- Radio: 700 WLW (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 64 degrees, partly sunny, 1% chance of rain
News, Notes and Pregame Reading
Injury Update
According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Eugenio Suarez was taking batting practice tonight in Cleveland after his latest MRI cleared him to begin on-field, pregame work.
Abbott and Science
Down on the Farm
Division Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Fangraph’s Playoff Odds |
| Chicago | 28 | 16 | – | 83.9% |
| Milwaukee | 24 | 17 | 2.5 | 59.6% |
| St. Louis | 25 | 18 | 2.5 | 58.1% |
| Pittsburgh | 24 | 20 | 4.0 | 26.6% |
| Cincinnati | 23 | 21 | 5.0 | 12.7% |
I like that Bleday has slowly been moving up the lineup. I think 4th is a good spot for him, hitting between Sal and Steer.
Friedl out of the lineup for the second game in a row this time against a righty. Interesting.
Benson hasn’t exactly been tearing the cover off the ball the last seven games but has been getting on base. .091/.375/.091 Tito doesn’t have many options. Personally I’d rather see Arroyo up hitting leadoff and shuffling the lineup to make that happen one way or another.
Let’s keep winning. Do whatever it takes. That’s all that matters.
Agree with you Melvin, I would rather see Arroyo given a shot than have Benson out there. He may be getting on base a bit more but his hitting is atrocious. We have enough of that at the bottom of the lineup. Love TJ but something seems different this year. Maybe his stance. Larkin certainly thinks so.
Think TJ just got old.
His bat slowed down a little. In a game as precise as baseball, losing even a little bat speed can be fatal.
“I would rather see Arroyo given a shot than have Benson out there”
Benson continues to have more lives than a cat. As I said, the options for Tito are limited when it comes to the outfield.
A leadoff hitter with a .375 OBP isn’t so bad. But I agree that it would be good to see if Arroyo can handle MLB pitching.
“A leadoff hitter with a .375 OBP isn’t so bad.”
I agree with that. At some point though pitchers are going to stop walking him since that’s the only way he’s getting on consistently. It’s pretty stupid at this point. If he wants to get hot and help us win it’s fine with me. Not holding my breath at this point.
Benson has a homer and an 1800 OPS against Tanner Bibee–perhaps that earned him today’s nod over Friedl.
That’s SOMETHING. Trying anything is better than the status quo at this point. We’re over 25% into the season.
It is Benson’s .375 OBP that has earned him increased playing time ahead of Friedl. It would take a lot of moving pieces to get Arroyo into the lineup. That may be coming up if Arroyo keeps forcing the issue; but, Francona probably wants more time to find a way to succeed with minimal upheaval if he can.
The Reds seem to like thinking outside the box when it comes to defense. If they’re insistent on keeping Hays in the lineup on certain days at least one option would be McLain in CF and Arroyo at 2B. There are multiple ways to get Arroyo in the lineup.
The way Elly been hitting a bunch of singles, putting him in 2nd slot makes a lot of sense. If we have another power bat, like a good Suarez, I would then move Elly to lead off and move Bleday to 2nd. Sal and Suarez will have plenty of RBI opportunities.
Hope Abbot on his game today. Let’s get back to 3 over 500.
Good hustle by Steer. Outstanding play by Rocchio.
Bases are still loaded, no outs, and one run in…
Got one. Need more. A lot more.
Bases loaded walk and the Reds didn’t issue it?
Good job TS with a sac fly.
Sac Fly from Ty Steve gives us another one …
What do they call it when you hit a fly ball to the outfield, and it’s caught, and we score a run?
a sac fly. It doesn’t count against the batter.
and the batter gets a rbi.
Anyone interested Arroyo is playing 3B tonight.
interested
Bibbee made that more challenging than it needed to be … at least we got two !
Hayes unproductive….Benson did everything good until lst pitch on 3-2 count you can’t be looking a pitch in the zone
Bleday is seeing the ball well. He saw that curveball coming, staying back, and crushed it for a double. Good to see Lowe hit the ball at 112. Until Sal hits again, we need Lowe to hit.
Finally gets Bazzana on the 12th pitch !
No damage so far !
that 12-pitch at bat by Bazzana tired Abbott…insane
47 pitches by Abbott through 2 IP
Our 2, 3, and 4 hitters go down quietly in the 3rd.
Does Tito not like to use challenges early in the game? Was that ball 4 pitch close on the strike zone?
That 5th pitch was a strike, and it ended up in a walk, putting a man in scoring position. Somebody should have told the catcher to challenge !
Reds got a 2 run lead, and so go into a hitting coma … well it looks that way !
Elly…play of the game…doesn’t matter what happens the rest of the game.
Stellar!
Abbott gets thru the bottom of the 4th on 6 pitches ! Gotta love it !
Ke’Bryan with a base hit ! Always worth a mention.
And Elly drives him home with a Double, hitting in the clutch with 2 outs !
Clutch hit by EDLC.
Elly pads the lead….good…Hope Abbott could hold on
Ke’Bryan never slowed down rounding the bases had his sites on home plate from the beginning.
Nice shot off the wall by the “singles hitter”
eyeroll.
I’m concerned about Sal at the plate. He’s slumping, making contact to be sure, but not on top of his game.
swinging at everything, it seems
Cleveland is the only team to only use 5 starting pitchers this year.
Wow!
Nj, AA.
Bleday keeps the hit parade going ! 2 for him today.
and Steer becoming famous for the wrong thing …
This team last night and tonight looks like the April team. Sal is still struggling but that won’t last.
If Abbott would reduce or eliminate the walks, he would have a much better chance to pitch beyond the 5th inning! In all other areas he’s done well tonight!
I just watched Jim Maloney the other night on Youtube. He actually threw 177 pitches, and had 7 walks, but it was still a no hitter win for him and the Reds in 1965, against the Cubs at Wrigley.
There goes the shutout …
92mph meatball
and just like that on comes Pierce Johnson.
I don’t know but I would bet that Hoskins was going to hit a dinger against Abbott…
Schwarber hit #19 and #20 tonight.
DO NOT put T Santillian in this game!
Bazzana taking an insurmountable lead in the Foul Ball derby …
Good job, Johnson.
Johnson gets him (bailey) with the high heat to end the Guardian 6th.
I think Brantley has come so far. He is miles more interesting to listen to than Larkin these days. Just a thought.
The best they got?
Got the young one in bed just now so I’m a bit late on this point but I’m glad the Reds didn’t move Elly De La Cruz to the outfield and gave him time to figure things out. He’s been so good defensively this year and he is making plays every night that would lead off Baseball Tonight in my youth. I’m sure he’d be a good outfielder but I think he’s more valuable at shortstop still. Maybe if he loses a little quickness over time that will change but he is not there yet.
Thank you for walking Benson with Elly coming up. Not very smart.
That was Bibee, and it was 4 straight balls. He’s gone…
Arroyo with a bunt hit his last AB. It would seem he can do it all. Good leadoff hitter. 😉
Elly showing a .300 batting average for the first time ever in the majors, and coming to bat in another clutch situation with 2 outs in the 7th.
Elly gets plunked to load the bases for Sal… flyout ends it.
Sal can’t be pleased about how things are going of late.
Stewart is struggling….he swung an ugly pitch …Reds wasted a chance to tack runs , hope that won’t haunt…
Maybe need to sit Stewart for a game. He’s been struggling for awhile. Below .500 OPS for the month of May and below .700 over the last month. Teams seem to have figured him out. Might need a day to sit and work out some adjustments.
Elly doesn’t get HBP much.
1st time this year
only twice last year
Buckle up!
Tito is showing up confidence in Santillan
Hope The Tiger is ferocious tonight and doesn’t give up any HR.
Santillan on for the 7th. He gets the first one (K) even with one they should have challenged.
He escapes the 7th after a 2 out 2 bagger.
Why Santillan in a 2-run game?
Nice Job Tony!
I can breathe again!
Nj, Tony. Whew.
Gotta up my blood pressure medicine when Big Tony is on the bump! It comes in 12-ounce brown bottles!
We survived a Tony inning
Bleday is on fire
J.J. Bleday having ANOTHER day.
I know it’s early but I would take the chance and sign Bleday to an ext tomorrow. His at bats are all good. Doesn’t chase and knows the strike zone.
They still got him for 2 years of Arb
Do they? Nice!!
It’s early.
Plenty of time for an extension if it is warranted after more than 58 abs.
Even with his strong start in 2026, Bleday has a .220 lifetime BA.
If there is an extension offer tomorrow, it should be on the cheap.
WTG, Steer!
Steer humming along.
Bleday with a Dbl this time ! And Spencer Steer drives him home … That’s the way it should be done !
JJ is a keeper, I think!
Mac!!
Outstanding!
And now McLain puts this one out of reach with a long ball, his second hit of the day. (Score 6-1 anyway.)
Why would you say it’s out of reach.
Don’t you know the rules?
Yeah, has he seen this bullpen? LOL
Out of reach?
At what point is Sal dropped in the order so he can regain his confidence and take the pressure off?
McLain is getting hot apparently…Reds need that after Stewart is in a deep slump
challenges a ball and loses, then no challenge left for strike on the next pitch …
Ashcraft on the mound.
Mound visit doesn’t help… back to back walks
I don’t think you question Stephenson and his challenges. The guy is very good at it.
So, Ashcraft comes in with a 6-1 lead and walks the first hitter he faces! Interesting strategy!
setting up the triple play
that makes 3 in a row… He has to be lifted.
Make that 2 straight walks! I can’t watch another bullpen meltdown!
what is happening to Ashcraft? 5-run lead man, thow strikes
Get Ashcraft out NOW! I don’t CARE if no one is warm! He has thrown EIGHT straight balls!
Go to the mound and and get him out of there NOW!
Yank him . Show these guys this isn’t acceptable.
C’mon Franco! You Can’t leave him in there!
One batter too many, Tito. Hook, please.
No lead is safe with this Reds bullpen!
This guy wants be a closer? Terrible
One batter too late!
What in the actual was that.
Unbelievable.
Good job Tito. That was garbage pitching and Ashcraft doesn’t deserve to see another batter.
He didn’t walk Bazanna, but he shouldn’t have been out there to give up two runs.
Just one run in, and the bases still loaded for Burke, now on the mound.
What a disastrous outing by Ashcraft put the game in danger
3 straight strikes from Burke. WTG.
Then 4 straight balls!!!
Jekyll and Hyde?
Spoke too soon.
Is that what you’re supposed to do??
this is absurd…
More like insanity! Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results! 3 runs so far on ONE hit!
More like insanity! Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results!
Torture! Pure torture watching the Reds bullpen blow a 6-1 lead!
Oh boy. We’ve seen this before this year and it’s terrible. Thrall, “Nobody in baseball has walked more batters with the bases loaded than the Reds.”
then Burke fires 4 in a row above the zone, and another run comes in, 6-3.
Kwan then walks making it 6-4. We’ve heard this music before, me thinks.
I still think Antone should be the closer. He is the only one I trust
Don’t we have anyone in the bullpen who knows how to throw strikes!
Next.
Who said this game was out of reach?
I qualified it though… Score 6-1
Anybody else that does that, should be banned.
@ vrf – Yep. This is baseball. No jinxes allowed. Lol
I’m sick of this bullpen. Can anyone throw strikes?
Agree!!!
What in the hades is going on? I can only watch the box score online
3 walks from Ashcraft, a base hit, and two more walks from Burke.
Is anyone up in bullpen?
Little league again. Just stand there and don’t swing. Why would you?
I take the blame. Was listening in car and got home turned it on.
Turned it back off too,but too late
The gascan twins … Ashcrap and Burp … Geeze pathetic
Ha ha! It seems like that stuff always happens to me too.
Now turned it back on!! Lmao
lol!!!! Yes!
I thought Benson had a better arm than that. That sac fly was shallow.
So who gets to blow it in the 9th???
Well I was going to say what a game!! Reds offense, and then the bullpen happened. Ashcraft picked a bad time to lay a egg. It happens, however still stinks!!!
Sure hope McLain’s dinger holds up.
A very horrible inning by Ashcraft and Burke dropping a 5-run lead into a 1-run one
AA needs to beat someone up after this game.
Pirates blew 6-0. I would rather we didn’t follow suit
It’s 6-5 going into the 9th, and nothing is out of reach !
Pirates blew a 6-0 lead tonight
And the reds front office just sits there and watches this garbage BP ….score 4 runs on one single…stupid
Seems impossible, doesn’t it?
They’re professionals at it ….. wrote the book on sitting there and doing nothing
New name for the baseball team…Cincinnati Walkers (no longer called the reds)
Bleday is to fast to get that DP
That insurance run makes me feel better!
Way to make contact on an 0-2 count, Bleday, and pick up another run. Nice job, Myers!
What a bargain JJ Bleday has turned out to be for the Reds.
Come on Antone. We all want you to be the “closer”.
To quote the RLN Oldtimer” “Who cares about walks? Sheesh!”
Nah. Only those who don’t talk about anything else. The Reds won. Period. THAT’S what matters.
Mlaoney walked a lot of batters, but he was Reds ace in 1960s.
Reds pick up an insurance run in the 9th, and Tejay Antone takes the hill in the bottom of the inning.
Score now 7-6 with two outs. Insurance run is looming large.
I think Myers needs glasses
This team is pathetic
They won
+10000
It was nerve wracking but Kevin is right. They won! Enjoy it.
One more TeeJay
Darn good defense Tonight
Wow!!! What a play by McLain to end the ballgame!!!!
Welcome back, Antone! And Ty.
BIG insurance run – Myers/Bleday.
Whew!!!
Good work, Tejay! 🙂
Did we find our new “closer”?
He gets my vote, Melvin!
Well he didn’t walk anybody. That alone puts him ahead of most.
Looks like by committee for now.
And that’s the way it ends, 7-6. “It ain’t over ‘it’s over … ” REDS WIN !
It ain’t over until it’s over
But the walks. THE WALKS. What about the walks?
Almost cost them the game.
The Reds had 7 in a row earlier this year. And it wasn’t from the two guys that had that trouble tonight.
Glad to see somebody else on the RLN site sees walks by Reds pitchers, especially the BP, a problem!
What a play by McLain to finish it off! Reds Win the opener but the bullpen compromised the game…
At least Tejay did throw strikes
That’s why I never give up on McLain. He’s been great the last 10 games or so. Sooooo good to see.
What a story of perseverance Tejay is. How can we not root for him? Once you’re a closer, you know what it takes to do it. Not easy. Ashcraft given a chance to set up and failed miserably. Each role has different challenges. Not easy to step in a new role.
AA gets the win and deservedly so.