The Cincinnati Reds will look to avoid being swept this afternoon in Washington. The Reds rolled into town on a winning streak but the Nationals put an abrupt stop to that and have won the first two games of this 3-game series. First pitch is an early one today, scheduled for 12:15pm ET. This game can only be watched on Peacock.
Starting Lineups
Cincinnati Reds | Washington Nationals |
| Elly De La Cruz – SS | CJ Abrams – SS |
| Sal Stewart – 1B | Abimelec Ortiz – 1B |
| JJ Bleday – LF | Jose Tena – DH |
| Tyler Stephenson – C | Daylen Lile – LF |
| Eugenio Suarez – DH | Dylan Crews – RF |
| Hector Rodriguez – RF | Jorbit Vivas – 3B |
| Dane Myers – CF | Nasim Nunez – 2B |
| Matt McLain – 2B | Keibert Ruiz – C |
| Ke’Bryan Hayes – 3B | Jacob Young – CF |
| Brady Singer – RHP | Brad Lord – RHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Brady Singer | 113.2 | 4.67 | 1.43 | 39 | 97 |
| Brad Lord | 59.0 | 3.81 | 1.20 | 21 | 52 |
| Links: Brady Singer’s Stats | Brad Lord’s Stats | |||||
Brady Singer
The month of May was a tough one for Singer as he battled a few different ailments and injuries but since June began he’s been quite good. In his 11 starts since then he has posted a 3.45 ERA and given up just fine home runs in 62.2 innings pitched. Singer faced Washington back in May and they scored three runs against him – all on solo home runs – in just 3.2 innings pitched.
This season the splits against Singer have been strange. Righties haven’t hit for much average against him, but they have walked at a solid rate and made a lot of contact against him. They have also shown solid power when they’ve gotten hits against him. Left-handed hitters are hitting for a high average, don’t walk much, strike out far more, but also hit for a good amount of power against him.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 182 | 38 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 27 | .233 | .313 | .405 |
| LHH | 321 | 85 | 11 | 1 | 15 | 23 | 70 | .293 | .353 | .493 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-seam | 2-seam | Cutter | Slider | |
| Velo | 90.8 | 91.4 | 87.0 | 82.2 |
| Usage | 3% | 48% | 7% | 42% |
Brad Lord
This will be just the second start of the season for Lord. His first one came on July 1st, which was also just three games ago for him as he spent much of July on the injured list before returning to the mound with the Nationals on August 5th. Lord has pitched multiple innings many of his outings, topping out at 3.0 innings on six occasions in his 28 games this season.
The splits this season are in the smaller sample size range still, but the splits have been quite big. Right-handed hitters have done next to no hitting against him. Lefties, though, have found plenty of success. They are hitting for a high average, drawing plenty of walks, and showing solid power when they get hits.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 131 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 26 | .183 | .244 | .250 |
| LHH | 120 | 28 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 26 | .272 | .370 | .447 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-seam | 2-seam | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 94.6 | 94.4 | 84.3 | 86.1 |
| Usage | 36% | 23% | 35% | 5% |
When and Where
- Game time: 12:15pm ET
- Where: Nationals Park
- Watch: Peacock
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 90°, cloudy, 0% chance of rain
News and Notes
Draft Pick Homers
Not much news today, but Eric Becker, the Reds 2nd round pick this year and the only draft pick from the team that’s playing in the minor leagues right now, homered last night for Dayton. It was just his 3rd professional game.
Division Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Milwaukee | 73 | 44 | 0.0 | 99.9% |
| Chicago | 68 | 50 | 5.5 | 98.6% |
| St. Louis | 58 | 59 | 15.0 | 7.4% |
| Pittsburgh | 58 | 61 | 16.0 | 12.9% |
| Cincinnati | 56 | 60 | 16.5 | 1.2% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
Great day to be a Reds fan. Yes Hayes is playing.
“Yes Hayes is playing.”
It was the plan when trading Lowe is my guess. Let’s win anyway and hope his back makes a miraculous heeling/recovery. 🙂
What is the Reds W-L record when Hayes starts at 3B?
28-23. The bad record when he doesn’t start is in part due to him being IL’d around the same dates as Pagan – he wasn’t around for the worst of the bullpen meltdown.
Not sure one caused the other, but I doubt Hayes alone is responsible for the Reds being 56-60 now.
Is Steer coming back any time soon? 😉
I’ll be shocked if Steer plays again this season.
“I’ll be shocked if Steer plays again this season.”
We can always hope. 😀
WLW 700 pre game show (Ken Broo) said it’s a bullpen day for Washington.
Basically, another Hayes trade. Hayes for Lowe. Good to get that offensive help. Why are we in last place?
Not because of Hayes. The Reds are 28-23 when he starts at 3B.
Keep telling yourself that, if it makes you feel better, doesn’t belong on a major league roster
Facts don’t work on this guy, Oldtimer.
Yeah Richard because the facts are that he is the worst hitter in major league baseball, his defense has nothing to do with the reds record. He botched a play last night that according to you he should make that play every day, he didn’t. But you know all Richard, you are a lawyer so you are smarter than all of us. Thanks for your great insight
Since we are laying down facts:
Hayes WAR of -0.5.
A replacement level player would have provided more value.
His April WRc+ was 5.
At that time he had -1 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) so his defense was winning all of those games either.
You have a lot of good posts, but your arguments for Weaver and Hayes are baffling. I thought you actually looked at numbers.
The question should be, how many MORE games would they have won without him in the lineup.
@Rand Dude, I never said I was a lawyer. This explains a lot. You’re reading comprehension skills need work.
As for Hayes, using one play to anecdotally dump on him and ignore his career defensive numbers shows you aren’t serious.
I get it. The Reds are bad this year and you need to push the vegetables off the high chair.
Correct. He wasn’t brought here to hit but because of his fielding. Other players were expected to hit better and some haven’t unfortunately.
@VaReds please enlighten me regarding my posts about Weaver? I have no idea what you’re talking about.
As for Hayes, I’ve made my position clear months ago. We know he hasn’t hit. We also know he’s been on the IL, hence the awful WAR number.
I too wish the Reds had signed an all star 3rd baseman who could play solid defense. Those guys cost 4 times what ownership was willing to pay.
Again, facts.
I think VaRedsFan may been addressing that to Oldtimer, who did predict that Weaver would be better when he left the Reds.
@Richard, No, what I’m trying to explain is that 28-23 has nothing to with Hayes. My point about the play last night was you guys claim that nobody else can play 3rd on this team because of defense. You can call me names and do what you do because you are never wrong. Hayes has no business being on a major league roster, don’t care about his career defensive stats. This team has so many bad hitters they can’t afford somebody at 3rd base who can’t hit 150. Yeah I don’t know anything about baseball I played division 1 college and minor leagues but I have no clue about what I’m talking about, just like Brantley and others that you know more than. I’m sure you will keep replying because you always have to have the last word of your brilliant sarcastic remarks.
Weaver been an excellent reliever for NYY and NYM (now PIT) the last three years. Arguably this year, he is the best set-up reliever in MLB.
The Reds won 12 of his 21 starts in 2023.
The Reds lineup has LOTS of guys who aren’t hitting. Hayes is NOT the reason they are losing more than winning.
@OT
Luke Weaver
5.86 ERA with the Reds
-0.7 WAR
1.64 WHIP – WOW
2.2 HR/9
3.2 BB/9
All career lows in his 10 year career.
Weaver is good now, but was at his career worst with the Reds.
Don’t tell me you are basing a players performance on whether a team wins, when a team scores runs 7-9 runs in his starts? You opinions lose credibility when you throw out a useless team record, like it’s a result of causation. They keep individual stats for this very purpose, so we can evaluate players.
Found the attached article on mlb.com about LH hitters. Last season I wrote that I believe that the Reds needed more accomplished LH hitters, not more RH hitters. At the time many on this forum were calling for more RH hitters.
I believed that the poor showing against LH pitchers was because we did not have accomplished RH hitters (We still don’t) not that we needed more RH hitters.
I still contend that the lineup needs to be balanced. To have accomplished LH as well as RH hitters.
https://www.mlb.com/news/lefty-batters-dominating-2026
Hey, I’ll take hitters from either side.
This is a crackpot theory with no evidence but I think the trick to hitting *LH* pitching is having killer LH batters. Force the pitcher in and out of different modes. If you run a team of 9 platoon righties, it looks good on paper, but the pitcher can just junk his slider. So much easier to get into a rhythm that way.
Sam Lecure is on the Peacock broadcast.
Double digit strikeouts loading again … just unbelievable how bad this had been the
entire year …. Pure terrible
3 up 3 K’s, looks like a good day. NOT
Inauspicious inning for the Reds hitters. Making Lord look like a K king with 3 K’s. Hard to remain positive with this lineup.
How are you going to hit the Lord?
By waiting for a mistake pitch.
Yesterday, the Reds went through the lineup the first time with striking out. That didn’t work out. Today, they are trying something a little different.
You’re on a roll. Don’t stop. We need a little levity
I think the team looks really lost today. It’s hard to not look at this line up and wonder how they can win.
without*
Tyler Stephenson should get no days off. If he’s not catching, he’s DHing.
Agree with this !
Rally caps on!
You are 100% correct.
A run without a home run.
Jumped into the lead. 1-0.
Good job getting the lead . Can’t go into next year with McLain part of the starting lineup . Fine with him off the bench – can’t be
starting second baseman next year , just cannot .
Too bad McLain K’s there with Suarez in scoring position. A microcosm of our season and hitting (in)abilities.
Happy for a run. Should have been more. Hoping HRod gets his fair share of playing time.
Short lived lead, they just need to get out of Washington ASAP. What an awful weekend.
They will make Brady Singer a qualifying
offer for that 20 plus million a year …. He ain’t even with the 12 million he’s getting paid now …. Dude is 5-10 for a reason … just ain’t all that
If they make him a qualifying offer, they should all be fired.
They will I bet cause they want that draft pick if he doesn’t take it …. Another idiotic move by front office , cause he would be a fool not to accept it … no way this guy is worth that kind of money , no way !
He shows up every turn so thats a plus, but he’s nothing special
He does for sure Indy , but as you said absolutely nothing special – I ain’t paying 20 plus million just to show up either
Hayes is worse since he came back then before 6-44 (.138). Think about that for a second….and he’s still here playing
Posted this on the wrong thread. lol
A note on Gameday:
“Ke’Bryan Hayes has struggled against RHP this season, hitting .123/.177/.221 in 130 PA.”
I submit he’s not doing all that great against LH pitching either. .195/.250/.293/.543.
I mean that’s just pitiful …. Another reason why Krall and Meador should be shown the door …
[checking notes] You’ve shown everyone on this team the door at one point or another here.
According to you, the Reds shouldn’t be able to field a team. You’ve DFA’d them all.
i certainly have not Richard – go check yourself man . You’ve got something to say about everything and anything anyone on here says. Thats what this place is for . I could give an absolute crap about what you have to say about my opinions. I’ll pull for the Reds to win always . Your comment is stupid .
@Red Alert. You are absolutely right and he will keep attacking everyone he disagrees with to prove he is right about everything.
I just can’t believe this team is even trying as long as he is playing.
Not a serious organization?
When Sal’s sitting on a first pitch breaking ball sometimes he’ll swing at the heater two feet high and inside. Kind of funny. Don’t mind it at all, as long as he misses so the at-bat stays alive…
He could actually drop below .100 batting vs right handers….the worst trade ever
Francona hasn’t figured out that Bleday is hitting awful as of late. This road trip could go 0 and 6 the way this team looks. Let’s be honest they only won the A’s series because of walks and wild pitches.
He’s definitely been struggling but certainly far from the only one:
Last 7 Games .200 .360 .350
Last 15 Games .156 .333 .356
Last 30 Games .198 .325 .406
What’s a manager to do with a roster like that?
Remarkably enough, the answer is: win a lot of games since the AS break. This series may be the end, but it may not. Just the same, I’m glad I’m too cheap to pony up for Peacock.
I’m sure he’s aware of it, Mark, but have you checked who’s available on the bench?
Don’t tell old timer that he will tell you how great the reds are when he plays. It is the worst trade in reds history. You can’t hit any worse than he has.
Well, there’s the Mathewson for Rusie trade, but yeah, it’s not a good one.
Worse than the Frank Robinson trade? I think not.
LOL. Robinson for Pappas is arguably THE worst trade in MLB history much less Reds history. Perez for Woodie Fryman also among the worst trades ever.
Claude Osteen for Dave Sisler. Mike Cuellar for cash. Joaquin Andujar for prospects. Aroldis Chapman for prospects.
To name a few worse than the trade for Hayes.
Its on Peacock, but I’m not bothering. White Sox are 35-22 at home. I’m going on Thursday and I guess AA is pitching. This trip ends the playoff fantasy. Even Kevin will give up lol.
Hey Indiana got an injunction and Stephen Daley is coming back for IU football. Led the B10 tackles for loss. Ohio State in big trouble in Bloomington. We’re #1 and we’ll prove it
Talk to me when Indiana does it for as long as OSU has. Indiana has been terrible for decades. One excellent season does not equate to the history OSU has.
That was then. Indiana basketball used to be great too, but it is what it is. OS should never be #1 with all your losses on defense.
You are correct this trip will end any dream and the better teams are yet to come. This team will lose 90 plus pretty much a guarantee.
This is the 87th time you’ve predicted the Red’s demise since opening day. You’ll eventually be correct. If it causes you that much pain, is it worth it?
LOL, I gave up in July. Been nice run since all star break, however its over…
I’ve noticed that Peacock is pretty much in sync with our radio broadcast for whatever that’s worth.
Reds offense: The fine art of watching paint dry.
You are insulting paint and yet the hitting coach still has a job. This organization may be the worst in all pro sports.
At least they made it quick. 6 total pitches.
I don’t think they will score again, looking forward to a day off in Chicago.
The word of the inning is CLOBBER as in: Reds hitters will CLOBBER the ball this inning.
Bottom line this series Elly and Sal have done almost nothing as a result it is looking like a sweep’
JJ double. pulling their pitcher Stephenson up to bat. Has become one of our better hitters for a time now.
Well…
What is that old saying again? There’s only one thing worse than being bad, it’s being boring.
There is no doubt Francona has let this team become the most boring Red’s team I can remember in over 50 years. It’s not the record, looking like 56 and 61, it’s just that they are boring as could possibly be. You can tell that the players feel that way to, though they would never admit it.
lol.
For all the crap I hear about Singer here on RLN, Singer virtually never misses a start and is on the cusp of another quality start. He’s an innings eater and seemingly a leader in the clubhouse for a younger pitching staff. I’ll take that.
I, for one, was glad the Reds did not trade Singer! And I agree with your comment about Singer making every start, eating innings and pitching well enough to give his team a chance to win! Offense needs to do their part and support Singer and all the Reds pitchers!
Kudos.
I also wonder about Singer’s influence on pitchers like Lowder, who are similar in stuff and style. For one, and I’d have to go back and look, I was questioning if Lowder worked as quickly as he did the other night. It wouldn’t surprise me if, like Singer, he’s picked up the pace.
Brady Singer with a quality start. Kudos.
First look in this afternoon! Was working in the yard trying to beat the afternoon thunderstorms we have here in Florida!
Looks like a typical Singer start! 6 solid innings with 3 runs allowed! Reds hitters are doing their usual thing as well with 6 SOs thru 6 innings!
Gonna get swept by the Nationals at a point in the season where it was pretty much mandatory to beat the sub-500 teams before the brutal September ahead!
Dennis: You have missed nothing but frustration.
Another workmanlike effort from Singer.
Fight me.
You’re on! Tequila shots to drown out the analytically ignorant at noon tomorrow.
7 Ks for the Reds in 7 innings. They’re going to have to work a little to reach double digits.
I know I harp constantly on the Reds SOs, but it seems like a lot of those SOs occur with RISP! Today’s example was McLain’s SO in the 2nd inning! Just putting the ball in play would be helpful! Who knows, maybe an error happens or, God forbid, the ball sneaks thru for a hit!
Reprinting this from another thread. It may explain what you’re feeling.
“ But why have teams pursued a strategy which leaves so many runners at third?
“The modern approach to hitting leaves a greater proportion of runners stranded on second and third base. Those runners are only there 20% and 10% of the time, respectively. And runners in scoring position, of any configuration, happen 25.6% of the time.
The majority of plate appearances (56.2%) took place with no runners at all, and an additional 18.3% took place with a runner only at first. And there is always a batter. Skills that drive in runners from first base and the batter’s box are going to be more useful more of the time. The number of runs gained from the extra home runs over the past two decades outweighs the number of extra runs left on second and third. And by a lot.
All runners are in scoring position. If you only look at the ones at second and third and don’t consider what a strategy does to the batter and runner at first, then you miss the point entirely.”
You are so misinformed its hardly worth a rebuttal. If i did a quick google search im sure Id find the hitting “guru” you subscribe to. The Reds have the second highest launch angle in the league and are up there towards the top in barrel pct. Yet they have one of the worst offenses in baseball. Top 5 in home runs and bottom 5 in run differential. Putting the ball in the air isnt always the answer.
Just because you believe it and get snarky about it, doesnt make it true.
It’s one thing to be bad when everyone predicted you would be bad….its another thing to be this bad when most thought you would be pretty good….but last or close to last in the league in a lot of offensive categories…I didn’t see that coming. That is a lot of failure all across the board
The only thing the Red’s have made this weekend is all of us trying to figure out why we are watching. For me I fell and fractured my tail bone so I really don’t have anywhere to go.
Easy with the us and the we’s there
Tito continues to do a great job in keeping the guys playing.He knows what the deal is and so do the players.Look around at this roster.It was doomed from the start when Bleday was sent to the minors.Tom said from the start that Lowe and his career OPS of 116 should be the to starter at first but became a bench bat instead with Sal at first instead of him going to third.Went through the Friedl demise and he still is on the roster,kept Benson up forever then DFA and nobody wanted him.Still waiting on MMC and Hayes to return to 2023.Brought Arroyo up to play a position he was just learning in the minors and was sent down because he couldn’t.HRod starts in center having played what only 3 games there in the minors and Tito tells him whatever happens he will take the responsibility.Only true back up to Myers is Friedl.no back up for Sal unless its Tyler,Johnson backs up some of the infield but not all of it.Injuries to Hunter and Lodolo and Ash and Lowder and Tiger and Pagan and I am sure I missed some and Lowe is traded at the deadline off of a team that can’t hit for a few dollars and Steer yes average Steer is out for who knows how long.Tito should get manager of the year and those above him should be replaced for awful decisions and the roster he has to manage.For me I say GO REDS for a little while longer this year.
Spot on Brother.
+1,000
Reds have looked very inferior in every aspect of the game this weekend against the Nats.
And the “Reds Killer” Lile comes through again with a 2-strike count and 2 outs! A 4-1 deficit versus 3-1 probably doesn’t matter the way the Reds are not hitting!
Lile is from Louisville KY and was a star in HS there.
Thanks, Oldtimer, for that tidbit on Lile! I was born and raised in Carrollton, Kentucky, a small tobacco farming town on the Ohio River midway between Louisville and Cincy! I had no choice but to be a Reds fan growing up while watching my paternal grandfather listen to the Reds on WLW on an old Crosley upright radio!
Don’t look now, but the Reds have themselves a baserunner.
The Reds send up a pinch hitter OPSing .499.
You cannot make this stuff up. Double play.
It is really hard to believe and Elly looked like he had given up with that at bat. Washington has made the Red’s look like a class A minor league team. They best enjoy the off day because with this type of effort the Sox will make them look like a rookie league team.
EDLC with the old “swing at the first pitch get me outa here”.
Problem with Singer is most people on here expect him to throw 7 innings every game and have a 3 or less ERA . That’s not who he is. He was brought in to be a reliable 5th starter on a team loaded 1-4. A 5th starter is suppose to keep you in the game and let the hitters and bullpen finish it. He has done that. Yeah he had a bad stretch but he was beat up with comebackers off his thigh and foot. IL? Nope he just took the ball every 5th day. Singer isn’t the problem on this team. Reds are 15-44 and soon to be 45 when scoring 3 runs or less. That’s not good. They need hitters.
Thank you for the common sense thoughts. Needed here.
Apparently, the Nationals used defense to their advantage.
Whouda thunk it?
So much for making things weird, this team has quit and it is obvious.
This was exactly what I was thinking tonight…sometimes it’s obvious.
The team hasn’t. You did months ago
Welp that’s the year….hope Krall is enjoying some aged Whiskey tonight. He’ll need it..
Would everybody agree this has been the Reds worst series of the year?
Worst organization in Baseball even? Angels are pretty bad off the top of my head..after that I dunno
From an offensive standpoint, yes! The Reds offense is just that, offensive!
The 0-7 stretch in Pitt and Chi would be up there.
Unless Antone performs a miracle, this game is probably over!
The Reds players should be embarrassed by their performance over the last 3 days.
I’ve seen better performances from my grandkids at their elementary schools plays!
Just imagine — if the Reds had signed Schwarber, he’d have 34 solo home runs and lead the league in strikeouts. Not many DP balls, though.
Reminds me of what Ken Griffey Jr once said about Adam Dunn early one season when Dunn’s first five homers were solo shots. Said Dunn would be baseball’s first 40-40 guy: 40 home runs and 40 RBIs.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dunnad01.shtml Dunn had better numbers as a Red (2001 through 2008) than Griffey, Jr did in the same timeframe.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/griffke02.shtml Griifey, Jr as a Red.
Pathetic series for the Reds… Nothing worked …Can’t believe it how bad things went…Officially out of run I think…Why can’t they stop this Nats team?
Because that Nats were better.
Or at least, they played better.
Four over the minimum, what a joke. Come on boys you may be bad but not this bad.
They’re that bad.
The 2 National hitters that killed the Reds during this series were Lile and Chaparro!
Overall, the Reds offense scored 6 runs total in the 3 games! Can’t wait to see how that plays against the Dodgers, Brewers and Braves in September!
I don’t think the world harbors that much anticipation.
Man Nats have dominated the Reds…and about every year they do, wonder what the deal is there. They beat on us maybe more so than even Milwaukee. EDC and Stewart just kind of disappear at times offensivly we have little shot when that happens.
I can accept this Reds team having a horrible series and being swept against a good team but not against this struggling Nats with bad pitching , missing Wood and without Garcia Jr… Really embarrassing and disappointing
The reds came into this series with all the momentum in the world and Nationals were really on the down swing….and this is what we get? They maybe had a chance to win the friday game till Tito decides to bring in Moll with the game/season on the line…and so here we are: season over.
Agree that was a turning point. Maybe replace Burns after 5 IP.
Welp so much for meaningful baseball until 2029…cya
Front office needs to make another off-season trade like Singer for India to have starting pitching depth in 27. Maybe Steer for someone like Singer? But I’m not sure a team would give a a number 4 type starting pitcher for Steer.
Francona stated at the beginning of the year he thought it was important to rest EDLC.
The first few day games of the year — where it might be an opportunity to rest Elly after a night game– I noticed Elly wasn’t exactly productive, but I got tired of bringing it up. Just checked again (numbers before today).
Night Games: .293/.395/.568 (OPS .963)
Day Games: .248/.297/.416 (OPS .713)
Strikeout %
Night: 22.8% K
Day: 32.6% K
BB %
Night: 14.1%
Day: 6.4%
Nobody says it’s exactly great to have your best player sit, especially after he missed a month. However, if resting Elly was the plan, and that plan was aimed at helping his production, why aren’t they following their own plan?
It’s not like they don’t know the numbers.
To be honest this team is going to be so bad going forward you might as well rest everybody and let everybody take turns playing like a Junior High team. I thought 90 losses were going to happen but after this weekend 56 and 61 with 45 to go. I could see finishing 11 and 34 for 95 losses and one of the worst seasons in Reds history when you consider everything, as you can tell I am one upset fan, mostly because it looked like they quit today and that should never happen.
I’m guessing they will probably go 20-25 the rest of the way to finish 76-86.
They better stack all the wins they can this month, because they aren’t going to get many in September.