The Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies have split the first two games of this series. Tonight they’ll wrap things up at Great American Ball Park with the winning team grabbing a series victory. First pitch this evening is set for 7:10pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Philadelphia Phillies | Cincinnati Reds |
| Trea Turner – SS | Elly De La Cruz – SS |
| Kyle Schwarber – DH | Sal Stewart – 3B |
| Bryce Harper – 1B | JJ Bleday – LF |
| Brandon Marsh – LF | Spencer Steer – 1B |
| Alec Bohm – 3B | Eugenio Suarez – DH |
| Bryson Stott – 2B | Tyler Stephenson – C |
| Gabriel Rincones Jr. – RF | Noelvi Marte – RF |
| J.T. Realmuto – C | Edwin Arroyo – 2B |
| Justin Crawford – CF | TJ Friedl – CF |
| Jesus Luzardo – LHP | Brady Singer – RHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Brady Singer | 82.1 | 5.03 | 1.54 | 30 | 71 |
| Jesus Luzardo | 103.1 | 3.75 | 1.27 | 33 | 125 |
| Links: Brady Singer’s Stats | Jesus Luzardo’s Stats | |||||
Brady Singer
It has been an inconsistent season for Singer this season. He’s battled a few injuries, but even before and after those he just wasn’t able to find the consistency he’s shown in the past. In his last start he allowed two earned runs but walked five batters in 5.0 innings in a loss to Baltimore. Cincinnati has only won one of his last 11 starts.
The splits against Singer favor left-handed hitters. They are hitting for a high average, making contact at a solid rate, and they are hitting for a lot of power. Right-handed hitters aren’t doing as well in average but still have a high one, they are walking a bit more often, they are making more contact, and while they aren’t hitting for as much power as lefties they are hitting for plenty of it. Not shown below in his splits is that he’s got a 3.29 ERA at home this season and his OPS against is .794 (it’s .955 on the road).
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 141 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 19 | .270 | .348 | .484 |
| LHH | 233 | 63 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 17 | 52 | .300 | .362 | .548 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-seam | 2-seam | Cutter | Slider | |
| Velo | 90.8 | 91.3 | 86.7 | 82.1 |
| Usage | 3% | 47% | 8% | 42% |
Jesus Luzardo
Outside of an injury-plagued 2024, Luzardo has been quite good over the last five seasons where four of those years his ERA was under 4.00. This year it’s been more of the same and the Phillies have done quite well in his starts, winning 11 of his last 13 starts. The last time out he allowed a run and struck out nine in 6.0 innings in Kansas City.
The splits against Luzardo are huge. Team’s don’t send many lefties out to face him but when they do the results are not good. They are hitting for no average, they don’t walk, they strike out a lot, and they hit for absolutely no power. Righties hit for a good average and walk at a solid rate, but they don’t hit for too much power.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 330 | 80 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 27 | 92 | .271 | .340 | .417 |
| LHH | 107 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 33 | .182 | .234 | .222 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-seam | 2-seam | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 97.3 | 96.1 | 86.5 | 85.1 |
| Usage | 25% | 18% | 37% | 21% |
When and Where
- Game time: 7:10pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park
- Watch: Reds MLB Channel, Reds.tv (in-market), MLB.tv (out of market).
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 85°, cloudy, 5% chance of rain
News and Notes
Ke’Bryan Hayes homers on rehab
Last night in Louisville was a big game at the dish for Hayes. It was his 4th game on his rehab stint and his second in Triple-A. After going 1-4 on Tuesday with a double he went off on Wednesday, going 4-5 with a double, two singles, and a long home run.
Division Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Milwaukee | 58 | 34 | 0.0 | 99.0% |
| Chicago | 52 | 40 | 6.0 | 78.2% |
| St. Louis | 48 | 43 | 9.5 | 33.1% |
| Pittsburgh | 47 | 46 | 11.5 | 33.3% |
| Cincinnati | 42 | 49 | 15.5 | 2.0% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
McLain as bad he has been should be playing CF. Friedl is worse than McLain. He is hitting .120 since he returned. Also would rather Lowe than Arroyo. I know he has struggled but he is still better than Arroyo. Move Steer to 2B and let Lowe play 1B
McLain is dealing with a calf thing today, which is why he’s not playing.
3.29 era at home. I think we are looking good
Let’s support Singer in a BIG way tonight … and let’s hope he can hurl a QS for us.
Freidl has continued to struggle overall since coming back up. I’m hoping he still has one more surge of hitting left. It seems age is catching up to him, hard to believe he’s fallen off so quickly this season. He’s slower in the field, but I think he still knows the position well, and is actually still decent getting to balls like last night. You get the feeling his time may be running out a bit, but I hope the best for him. Even if it was going to another team I wonder if he could pick it back up as a 4th 5th outfielder on a contender.
Reds have 2 hits tonight. Friedl has 1 of them and made a couple nice catches in CF.
this could be ugly tonight, Singer has nothing in his aresenal to be able to navigate against all the lefties he will see tonight
LOL. Nope. Good P by Reds through 8 IP.
Expect some Philly HRs..If he doesn’t walk people in front of them, might be managable.
None yet through 8 IP.
While you usually see a fall off after a big scoring game, I feel like the Reds are surging. We soon shall see.
Tonight, with a chance to win the series coming off of last night, will probably tell us more about the character of this Reds team than the outburst last night.
At the least, I hope we don’t see any “Little League” plays from the Reds, whether that be on defense, questionable base running, or bunts that were inappropriately free lanced or involved missed signals by the base coach and/ or runner.
+10,000
Schwarber vs. Singer …. a bad feeling comes over me.
How ’bout you do something really grand for the community, Phil? Like sell the team to somebody who understands how to run a MLB club.
We’ll take that for a first inning. Nice job of mixing it up, Brady.
Singer 123 first inning! Get him some runs to work with!
Good start for Singer, keep that ball below the hitting zone.
5 pitch inning for their starter…just adds to my fear that after that scoring barrage yesterday….reds will struggle to get any runs today.
Singer has allowed 10 R (10 ER) in 27.1 IP in his last 5 starts. That’s 3.32 ERA lately. Reds lost 4 of those 5 games.
Given a QS equates to 4.5 ERA, I’d say that’s doing pretty well. But if you can’t score, it doesn’t matter.
Nice recovery there by Singer…
Worked a little harder that time. Bit of a cement mixer to Stott and lucky he wasn’t square on it.
Time for Crooked Numbers.
So far tonight the Reds hitters look like normal.
Eugenio is 1-10 against Luzardo, lifetime. I just hope he makes contact …
Geno is what he is. A mostly 2-outcome hitter.
HRod starting in CF for the Bats tonight. Does this mean he might be promoted soon and play CF for the Reds? As he is considered just an average corner OF, this is an interesting move. Who would be better in CF, HRod or Marte? Dunn and Myers must still be far from returning to the active roster.
My understanding is that RF is generally the hardest of the OF positions. But you have to have a fair amount of speed to cover CF.
For HRod, it’s obvious that he will be promoted for his offense and not his defense. The FO just has to decide when they want to pull the trigger, before or after the deadline. At this point, we are playing 2 under the Mendoza line hitters in CF until Dunn and Myers return. If we promote him and he hits .200, critics will point to his lack of defensive skills, but if he comes up and hits .300, those deficiencies will be overlooked
Still say Stephenson worth hanging onto.
Catchers are in high demand out there. He may or may not want to stick around.
He will go to the highest bidder. He wants to increase his income.
Suarez has seven strikeouts in his last nine plate appearances.
Not unusual for Suarez.
Ty Steve breaks the ice with a base hit, but he will not advance… The Reds are swinging, and Luzardo is throwing strikes.
I don’t get to hear from Barry Larkin very often but I don’t seem to have a problem with spinning on things. Why do a few of my baseball pals have such a problem with him
What I hear from the guys on here, is that he doesn’t say enough, often enough. The color guy is not showing much color. I watch gameday, so I don’t have the experience of our broadcast team. Cowboy gets good reviews.
Andrew pretty much summed it up. And his silence just makes Sadak use more of the words in his “big bag of stuff”, often using a string of words where a couple would do. Cowboy normally contributes and quiets him down quite a bit.
For me, the Thrall and Cowboy broadcast is a better game experience. If you haven’t tried the radio side duo, give it a try and see which you like better.
Singer guns ’em down pretty fast in the 3rd … just that one dbl on the day.
This is the kind of game the Reds have played a lot. No scoring for a few innings then the other team breaks through and game over. Let’s hope they flip the script tonight.
Luzardo K’s the side in the Reds 3rd …
Singer strikes out Scwarber a second time tonight!
How about that !
Singer sets ’em down 1-2-3 in the Phillies 4th !
Solid 4 from Singer. Now we need to back him.
Singer has a 3.16 ERA since June 1.
Somebody noted that above and I commented on it. Good ERA, but if we can’t score … 😐
He’s locating pretty well from what I see tonight.
Would be really nice if the gutters supported Singer tonight
Hitters too….
😀
Has any Red ever hit the Toyota sign?
Didn’t somebody hit the truck last year?
Hey Mark, I honestly don’t know. I was curious if anyone knew if it did happen in the past. I certainly have never seen it happen.
No Cincinnati Reds player has ever actually hit the designated Toyota sign or the physical truck during a live game. The target, located 430 feet from home plate beneath the Power Stacks at Great American Ball Park, is famously difficult to strike.
However, the sponsoring Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Toyota Dealers have still awarded trucks to fans on occasion:
Jesse Winker (2018): Winker hit a home run ball that came within an estimated 3 inches of the sign. Because it was the closest any player had come, the dealerships declared that “close was good enough” and awarded the truck to the designated fan.
Jay Bruce (2015): The prize was awarded to a lucky fan through a designated promotion when Bruce hit a home run into the right-field seats, even though the sign wasn’t struck.
End of Season Drawings: If the sign is not hit by the end of the year, the local Toyota dealers regularly donate the Toyota Tundra to a local charity or award it via a raffle.
Great that Toyota donates the truck one way or the other……admirable
Thanks, appreciate it
Admirable Toyota donates the truck one way or the other.
Thanks for info, appreciated
Singer gave up 2 ERs in his last start and the Reds were shutout. Gosh, let’s hope they get him several runs tonight.
I’m sorry. I keep dozing off when the Reds are up to bat….
You’ll only get to doze off, then the other team is up !
Those breaking balls out of the zone are killing Geno … Reds get their second base runner on a HBP.
Eugenio, we need some ‘Good Vibes Only”. Any time now.
Geno is who he is … we have to live with that.
Geno with 8 strikeouts in his last 10 at bats and 48 in his last 116.Nobody will want him at the deadline.
Suarez has stru struck out something like 89 times in like 230 at bats…..
Yup and this trend is typical for him.
A continuation from the end of last year unfortunately and the reason we were able to sign him IMO
Wow ! Singer is doing something tonight !
Another baserunner. Marte walks.
The thing about Suarez, is i guess, you just got to keep playing him, at 3rd or DH and have some hope that he will turn it around because, if not, you just threw away 15 mil $….but if this season turns into more about the future (as it’s looking like it is) then, why play him cause he’s not coming back next season for sure. The only hope is that someone would take him off our hands for the rest of the season, but, most likely, the reds would still be eating most of that 15 mil$
In today’s market, that salary isn’t considered “excessive” anymore. Boggles my mind to think that, but we all know the salaries.
DH him and know you get what you get. Nobody’s going to take on the rest of his contract. It’s sunk cost (coming from a seasoned project manager).
I wonder if he will have value for any club next year …..his days in the field are mostly if not completely behind him and I wonder if a club wants to invest in his 200plus ks and possible bombs. I think the Reds took a gamble on him hoping he could do the latter but knew he could help create excitement for the club and increase gate revenue.
Just happy it’s only this season…unlike Hayes contract
Hey, the Reds are threatening in the 5th ! But can’t break thru …
The Reds scored 11 last night and will not score tonight.
Was thinking the same thing immediately following last nights game……I mean cmon how many times has that happened the last 2 years
Reds hitting .500 w/RISP.
Singer still golden thru 6 ! Reds need to get something going !
Another 1-2-3 for Mr. Singer.
i expected this…..we’re not hitting HR….we are not scoring….cannot build a winning team like that
Great 6 innings for Singer but zero offense.
Singer is pitching his heart out!
Great audition for Singer tonight.Just make some calls right now.His value can’t be any higher then it is right now after this last two starts.
Reds hitters look really bad tonight.
double figure for SO’s for the reds….nothing new …..SO looking, SO swinging, SO check-swinging…..reds do it all
The Phillies P is an All-Star next week.
10 Ks in 6 innings. SMH.
It’s not just that the Reds are not hitting, they are not even fouling the ball off. 3 more K’s in the Reds half of the 6th.
What’s bad is the Reds swings are not even close. The only question is when and how many will the Phillies score.
Nice turn there.
Singer wobbling. One more out please.
Get the bullpen ready.
Minor threat thwarted. Singer sailing.
Phillies get two singles in the 7th, but can put no runs across. Singer still throwing well.
Singer has trade value. It’s a sellers market and hes pitching well against a perennial WS contender with some of the best hitters in the game. There will be many teams that want his innings, his experience, and his ability to lengthen their rotation and pitching depth heading into the dog days of august and a playoff run.
Reds should be able to get a high quality young arm at high A or AA plus a talented player in the lower minors with upside to begin to backfill this depleted farm system. That would be a great trade.
Pro scouts are booking flights to Reds games.
I sense some fireworks in the bottom of the 7th.
If Barry Larkin says conviction one more time…
Singer certainly getting it done. How about some offense, Reds?
Take Singer out now, after 7 brilliant shut out innings against the powerful Phils his trade value couldn’t be higher.
Should pinch run for Suarez.
Leadoff walk to Geno, Now for a long ball !
Give Geno the green light. Element of surprise.
again, another pitcher with a career high in SO vs the reds….just unreal
I guess sliding hard into second base on a double play attempt is no longer part of the game.
Woke up in a daze Singer pitching a gem. Where are the hitters?!
Good old-fashioned pitcher’s duel.
but nothing doin’. It’s still 0-0 after 7.
Incredible the best two outings by Singer, the Reds can’t score a single run
Singer gets a batter on an 0-2 pitch and then hits him! Not a great way to start the inning!
That really hurt
That really hurt
Hang tough, Brady, your run is a-coming.
Well NUTS
And the HBP runner scores!
starting a runner to stay out of a double play or to get a runner in scoring position…what a concept …..Tito should take notes
He knows the at-bat is always going to be a strikeout so no need for the baserunner to start off early.
Singer has had only a few good outings but when that happens he’s been unlucky
In hindsight he should have never gone out for the 8th = signs were there in the 7th, without the double play they score.
A HBP comes back to haunt … Sam Moll takes over with 2 on and Schwarber at the plate.
that makes 3 K’s for Schwarber on the day … 2 outs
The margin of error is so very thin with this Reds team.
Come on, Sam. Keep it a one-run game.
Great job, Mr. Moll.
Brady owes Moll a beer!
Well still a chance.
How ’bout them apples ! Harper does down on strikes !
We got the good Moll Man tonight.
as we all know, last nights scoring onslaught, was a total aberration…..tonight we get back to the real concinnati reds 2026. A starting pitcher can go into the 8th inning and give up 1 stinking run and then take an L…..shameful
Way to shut that down, Sam.
Now to get Brady off the hook.
Elly Stewart Bleday…best shot to score coming up.
Yep Bryce is sporting a .219 average against lefties in 26…Think Tito knew that?
Oh..Friedl. bunt man!!!
Francona kills me.
Reds telethon.
Bid on a one hour hitting clinic with Reds hitting coach Valaika and player to be name later. Do they pay you or we pay them? A player to be named later is hilarious. Whats better would be a hitting coach to be named later, lol.
Hilarious
Looks bad now, cause we’ll be facing the Phillies closer in the 9th.
unless some red runs into one…..it will be another shutout
Tejay Antone looking good in the 9th ! Hoping for not a shutout !
Well, with their closer that is the old ball game = 42 and 50. The Reds will have over 50 losses at the break. However, there will be big crowds this weekend sadly most in blue.
Singer throws the best two games of his season and gets zip for support. I’d be chucking a cooler in that dugout.
Same old problem for the Reds if they don’t hit a home run they can’t score.
HR or strikeout ….all season long
Elly looks lost at the plate tonight with 3 Ks!
It must be the hair.
12 SOs and only 2 hits thru 8 innings! I guess last night’s slugfest was an anomaly! Too bad because Singer pitched well except for his last inning!
I’m less concerned about the K’s than the overall lack of hitting. Luzardo is a very good strike-out pitcher.
Antone 15 pitches
13 strikes and 2 balls, one of which was a pitchout.
0 walks and 0 runs
Small wins!!!!
Don’t worry, Hayes will be coming back soon to ignite the offense
Just what the Reds need! Another hitter in the lineup hitting below .200!
Can’t hit any worse than this
How much worse could he be?
Last call, Gents … 😮
BP did their jobts. Maybe the bats wake up in the ninth.
My eldest son for a run.
Wow. While we all appreciate your sacrifice it does seem a bit extreme.
Probably a safe bet
Won’t go that far but I will promise to stop throwing things at my TV!
one stat that i heard earlier this year that is just hard to believe….Elly has yet to have a walk off hit in the major leagues….that blows my mind….not a one
50 losses and 16 games behind Milwaukee in the loss column after tonight’s loss and another Brewers win!
Problem is, Reds hitters are gonna go up their swinging for the fences instead of trying to put the ball in play.
Bleday with a single to start the rally.
Bleday with a lead off single against Duran … good at bat !
and he steals 2nd !
Wow. Bleday hit green and is on first with a great atbat
i would consider starting the runner
Station to station is what they do and wait on a big fly.Maybe it happens.
Bleday bat to ball against 100 for a single.
Guy is productive and left handed and not awful split and cheap and controlled thru 2028 yet folks want to trade him?????? Why???? You trade guys on expiring contracts or one trick pony old guys or dump salaries…. You dont trade cheap talent.
We must keep him. Don’t count me in that trade everyone nonsense.
Steer takes one for the team.
Bleday with aggressive steal. Takes away the dp! In scoring position got a shot!!!
WOW now we run.Great job.
Unfortunately sets up the double play again
Another clutch moment for Suarez
Spencer Steer HBP, 2 on with no outs.
Set off those fireworks, Geno.
Good grief! Another unproductive at bat from Suarez!
Geno has very little plate discipline! His “job” with that AB was to move both runners into scoring position!
he is terrible..period
geno does what he does…sick of watching it
Suarez fooled again surely he knows it’s coming?
Marte it’s up to you!
It’s up to Noelvi now … who else would you want up there ?
1st pitch groundout and that’s the ballgame … 1-0
I don’t like to second guess the manager because it’s a tough job but would anyone else have entertained hitting Lowe instead of Suarez there?
Suarez was the last guy i wanted to see come up at that point
Three innings ago
#RallyFizzle
Good night, gents. I do not envy you the headache you will have in the morning. Sleep well and dream of large women.
This is old. Fourteen strikeouts tonight. Eighteen earlier this week. A wasted great pitching performance by Singer. Just a wasted season!
42 strikeouts over a 3-game series.
I wasn’t sure of the exact count. Aren’t the owners and the front office embarrassed by all this! Apparently not!
Why do they keep playing Suarez, id they can’t trade him at the deadline they have to just release him.
Going on record that I was not a big fan of Geno during his first tour of duty with the Reds! Even less of a fan now and was not excited when the Reds brought him back!
Going on record that Geno averaged 27 HR and 75 RBI with 109 OPS+ over 7 seasons in first stint as Red (noting that 2020 was a short season).
At least, I still have my son.
Sorry about your luck
Two on and NO OUTS and then nothing! If this keeps up this team is headed for 90 losses at a minimum!
Nattering nabob of negativism.
How many times the Reds get the first 2 batters on base only to see the next three be retired in order without scoring? Really embarrassing loser team
Can’t watch post game interview. “We kept it close. We were in it til the end.” I mightthrow something at my tv Dennis. I tell myself “it’s just a game. It’s just a game…” Well maybe we can do some damage against the Cubs.
At the bare minimum, they have to boot Valaika over the All-Star break.
Reds hitters collectively had three more hits than Valaika tonight.
Thanks for pointing that out. He’s the hitting coach. 3 hits. And 42 strikeouts over 3 games. It might not all be his fault, but the buck stops with him. Always has. Always will.
The Reds hitters are bad. Not necessarily the coach.
“The Reds hitters are bad. Not necessarily the coach”
He (Valaika) may not be bad but it’s pretty much undeniable that he’s not having a positive influence that produces results.
Yes. If a change is made, it would be the coach (not the hitters) who is fired.
Everyone be truthful….when that game ended last night….did you not automatically think: “probably get shutout tomorrow” I did
Hunter Greene on the mound. That’s always worth a look. Lodolo and Abbott follow him up.
problem is, reds will be sending the same hitters to the plate
Let’s just say it’s generally not starting pitching that’s letting us down. Definitely not our main worry. Singer with maybe his best game of the year tonight.
Reds just not a well put together team right now. No consistency Offensively. Not sure if is a talent issue, hitting philosophy issue, or little bit of both.
Wow … Did Francona say we just gotta get Geno going???! Interview Singer. I wanna see what he has to say.
Hello darkness my old friend…….
I like the version by Disturbed even more than the original by S&G.
The ‘27 Reds either got no hit or 1 hit tonight, depending on if Bleday gets traded or not.
Kudos to Brady Singer. He has taken his share of lumps this year, but comes up with a gem vs. a very good Philly lineup. Another series loss at home. The Reds are buried in last, even Pirates are ahead of them. Time to clear the decks on the Titanic. Almost nobody is untouchable on that team. I mean, what do you have to lose. You are already in last place. My only issue is a lack of trust in the FO ability to evaluate talent. So, trading one of your “better” players more than likely will make matters worse. Would be good if Reds ownership changed hands, then gut the FO, upgrade coaches, and get some better players for both the MiL and MLB teams. I live 4 hours from Cincy and I just don’t feel motivated to spend the time and $$ to travel to a snoozefest game like tonight. Which unfortunately, is too often for Reds. Even a bobblehead would not change my mind.
Great pitching combined with an inconsistent offense with the tying run ISP with no outs. Another loss and eight games under .500.
Hmmm, two on, no outs in the 9th, and the same failure strikes the Reds again.
Tito doesn’t want to try and advance runners with small ball and call for a sign for Suarez to bunt or pinch hitting for him with a left-handed hitter (Lowe).
Why would any manager have Suarez swing away already with 3 K’s and right at a 40% strike out rate, or have him bat anyways in this situation? Take my chances with a bunt by Suarez or McClain as PH or insert Lowe as a PH.
I doubt Suarez even knows what the bunt sign is to be honest since he hasn’t likely done it in so many years.
Hahaha, that’s a high probability Melvin.
Likely more embarrassing to witness a bunt attempt vs him striking out.
Amazing how basic fundamentals such as bunting escape a team’s capabilities when needed or necessary.