The 3-game series began last night and the San Diego Padres picked up a 5-0 win. Tonight the two teams get back on the field at Great American Ball Park and the Cincinnati Reds will be looking to even the series up. First pitch this evening is scheduled for 6:40pm ET.
Starting Lineups
San Diego Padres | Cincinnati Reds |
| Fernando Tatis Jr. – 2B | Hector Rodriguez – RF |
| Samad Taylor – LF | Elly De La Cruz – DH |
| Manny Machado – 3B | Sal Stewart – 1B |
| Ty France – 1B | JJ Bleday – LF |
| Jackson Merrill – CF | Matt McLain – SS |
| Xander Bogaerts – SS | Jose Trevino – C |
| Austin Hays – DH | Juan Brito – 2B |
| Freddy Fermin – C | TJ Friedl – CF |
| Jase Bowen – RF | Edwin Arroyo – 3B |
| Randy Vasquez – RHP | Nick Lodolo – LHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Nick Lodolo | 79.0 | 5.24 | 1.54 | 33 | 64 |
| Randy Vasquez | 123.0 | 4.02 | 1.29 | 34 | 76 |
| Links: Nick Lodolo’s Stats | Randy Vasquez’s Stats | |||||
Nick Lodolo
Since his return from the injured list after another blister issue and an attempt to change the grip on his breaking ball, things have been a struggle for Lodolo. He’s given up 14 runs on 24 hits and six walks in 16.1 innings in his four starts. In his only home start in that time he threw 5.0 shutout innings against Miami on August 16th.
The splits against Lodolo this season are pretty big. Left-handed hitters are hitting for a very high average, walking at a solid rate, making contact at a solid rate, and they are showing solid power against him. Righties are hitting for a good average and hitting for more power when they do get hits, but they are not walking as much.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 271 | 63 | 9 | 1 | 13 | 24 | 48 | .273 | .353 | .489 |
| LHH | 88 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 16 | .347 | .432 | .520 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-seam | 2-seam | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 94.0 | 93.7 | 82.3 | 88.1 |
| Usage | 25% | 27% | 25% | 24% |
Randy Vasquez
The first 15 games of the season all came as a starter for Vasquez, but since June 27th he’s split time between the rotation and the bullpen. Four of his last five games have been starts and they’ve been good ones as he’s allowed four runs in 23.0 innings with just three walks.
The splits against Vasquez are large. Left-handed batters are hitting for a high average and hitting for a good amount of power when they face him while making plenty of contact. Right-handed hitters are showing a low average, they aren’t walking much, and they aren’t hitting for much power when they do get hits.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 216 | 43 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 31 | .217 | .269 | .359 |
| LHH | 300 | 81 | 19 | 4 | 8 | 22 | 45 | .298 | .351 | .485 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-sm | 2-sm | Cutter | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 95.0 | 94.9 | 90.7 | 84.2 | 85.4 | 88.5 |
| Usage | 31% | 16% | 25% | 16% | 4% | 8% |
When and Where
- Game time: 6:40pm 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: 91°, sunny, 0% chance of rain
News and Notes
September Call Ups!
There was a time when September call ups from the minor leagues were fun and exciting. In some cities that might still exist, somewhat. But Major League Baseball only allows two player additions in September now instead of up to 15. Teams can still bring up a top prospect for a cup of coffee to get their feet wet before the next season. In Cincinnati, though, the Reds have brought on Brandon Williamson after he missed most of the year and then struggled for the last month while rehabbing in the minor leagues and Juan Brito, who has struggled to do much hitting in Triple-A this year. You can read more about both guys here if you’d like.
Eugenio Suarez is out
The Reds slugger will not be with the team tonight or tomorrow. As reported on the Reds.tv broadcast last night he will be taking the two days off for his US naturalization test.
Division Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Milwaukee | 85 | 53 | 0.0 | 100.0% |
| Chicago | 78 | 60 | 7.0 | 99.2% |
| St. Louis | 68 | 70 | 17.0 | 1.1% |
| Pittsburgh | 67 | 71 | 18.0 | 1.6% |
| Cincinnati | 65 | 73 | 20.0 | 0.0% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
5-9 looks rough in that lineup. Hopefully they can pull something out.
Yessir I’m headed to game as I did last night,most likely leave early again
Didn’t realize the Friars picked up Hays. Good for him. I hope he does well and makes it back to the playoffs.
Why is Tito playing 3 players out of position? Leave McLain at 2B, Arroyo at SS, and Brito at 3B.
pulled the lineup out of a hat?
That’s an improvement.
Matty is by far the best glove at SS. It’s not even close.
Perfect CF/utility player next year after we sign Arraez. 😉
There are 2 major league players in tonight’s lineup. The other 7 are interchangeable with anyone currently playing in Louisville or Chattanooga. (Actually, the rest of the roster excluding Chase). Krall and his crew have failed miserably at their jobs while earning big paychecks. I hereby nominate Joey Votto to be new Reds new GM. Find somebody who knows more about baseball than this guy.
I second the motion, either GM or hitting coach.
Why would a retired multi-millionaire traveling the world when he feels like it want EITHER job?
Krall, despite his title, does what the C-suite tells him to do. Nothing really changes while that tandem remains sitting on the wallet.
Hey think positive the Reds can still win 89 games.
I miss the era of big roster call ups. I know it’s a different game and it probably wouldn’t make any difference. But it was fun to see.
Focus, Nick. Let’s get it done tonight.
Juan Brito, the natural successor to Alejo Lopez. I feel Kris Negron energy here.
+10,000
Hit game winning SF in 8th inning. Love re-reading these kinds of comments.
Talk about a hustle triple 😮
That ball hung for a long time.
Lodolo is throwing strikes at least.
Nice start by Hector.
A little risky to stay on your feet, Hector. But nice hustle.
Battled him at least and moved HRod over. Let’s see if JJ can produce.
Like that. Capitalize on a mistake.
Hurray, Bleday. Game is all tied up at one.
Great job Bleday, no shut out today.
8-inning ball game. Tied at 1 apiece through one.
The long ball is avoiding the Reds bats since yesterday…another shot near to go but died on the warning track
Reds will probably come close to hitting 200 home runs and if you had said that before the season I would have said playoffs.Problem of course is the solo homers and the overall offense.Its a one dimensional offense that needs 3 or 4 guys that just get on base,put the ball in play,not concerned about home runs.Dunn could be one of those and maybe Myers as well.Just not sure if either is a starter.
This is so wrong. I wrote about this. It’s been documented over the last two decades. You’re fooling yourself.
@Richard>> Do you ever wonder whoever it was that supposedly set the Reds up to be a small-ball team feels like when the Reds seem to win more games with multiple home runs than with several station-to-station rallies?
I do.
Jim, when Dick Williams left, Krall was tasked with changing the philosophy. Brody and Driveline analytics were sent packing. Was this his doing or did ownership mandate it because FA power hitters were no bueno?
@ Richard…have you written about having 4-5 every day guys like friedl and Hayes in your lineup every day for months hitting the worst in MLB history plus Trevino and McLain and Marte all with horrific OPS. Reds offense stinks because of lack of talented hitters who cant hit for avg or get on base or take walks or have power. Reds lack talented hitters. Reds offense worst in MLB because they dont have enough good hitters.
Its roster and talent and plate discipline and hitting the ball hard few and far between
“Reds will probably come close to hitting 200 home runs and if you had said that before the season I would have said playoffs.”
Add that to Stewart being a 30 HR 100 RBI guy and you would definitely think the Reds would have made the payoffs. Not so.
“you would definitely think the Reds would have made the payoffs.”
Not only payoffs but playoffs too. 😉
Spot on, Old School.
Man I like Hector at the top of that lineup.
I will take a wild guess here and say Trevino had to be guessing for something to take 3 straight strikes.Brito and its just a guess as well must have been in a hurry.Good at bat by Friedl at least allowed Nick to take a breath or two.
Triple by a .163 hitter … 😐
Lodolo got his seemingly once a game HBP out of the way.
Wow. Lodolo meltdown.
Just kind of a wasted year for Lodolo.
Sadal talking about a grand slam like he can’t wait to call it. Sigh ..
Sadak man I hate spellcheck
Thank you sal for saving that throw
Skenes being roughed up again tonight.
Saw that! What happened to the Skenes from last year?
Dead arm….velocity gone.
Why the Reds are shuttering Burnes down the last month
Skenes deliberately dialed back his velocity to protect him arm so he wouldn’t end up like others, ie. Greene.
Pittsburgh is terrible defensively and Skenes pays for it when he takes the mound. His FIP is solid.
Thank you Matty for the Bike Helmets.
The pitcher’s best friend. Double play with the bases loaded.
Big zero there…
Houdini would be proud as Lodolo escapes a bases-loaded, one out mess of his own doing!
Listening to Padres Don Orsillo and Mark Grant. Wow how sweet to hear true professionals.
This old Reds fan still misses Marty & Joe on Reds Radio! WLW AM 700 of course!
I remember listening to Joe when you could get the station on “the skip”. Living in Southern NY State among Yankee fans.
Ditto. Yeah. Likewise. Word. You said it. Agree. Right. And so forth from another old Reds fan.
Of course my all time favorite was Waite Hoyt.
Elly rockets a single.
Lodolo at 60 pitches thru just 3 innings! Looks like another long night for the Reds bullpen!
Nope. 6 IP and only 2 R.
Lodolo has a lot to work on in the off season. Him and Abbott both need to be better at holding runners on. For left handersthey seem to be terrible.
Almost our entire staff has problems holding runners.
Nick needs to focus on the right grip that makes the ball break without breaking his own skin.
100%
They’ve been pitching for awhile now, seems like somebody would have taught them.
Except for Burns, the Reds pitchers as a whole is awful at this.
Maybe Johnson isn’t interested in this aspect of the game.
Never understood why lefties struggle with that since they are looking directly at the runner on 1st base up until the time they deliver their pitch to home plate!
TJ shouldn’t have called off JJ. Cost a base.
Nice bounce-back, 10-pitch inning by Lodolo!
Lodolo made it through the fourth. Nice.
Lodolo is doing a nice job so far today. But the days when he struck out 8 or more guys are behind apparently
6-pitch inning. No bueno.
Matty at least making contact more. That’s a step in the right direction.
And no downtime for Lodolo.
You were saying?
Two hard contacts but caught.. bad luck …the Reds offense didn’t last 5 minutes to be retired…Lodolo has to do additional effort
Tatis tattoos one. Pads take the lead.
It’s feeling old-school tonight. The WLW feed is “fuzzy”. Same as last night.
Friedl caught stealing. Arroyo ground rule double AAARRRRRGGGGHHH
Why did Friedl slow down? He probably would have made it if he didn’t.
Well too bad Friedl got caught stealing or Arroyo would have tied the game up
Or at least 2nd and 3rd with one out.
Prior events mean future events are altered. Might not have played out like that.
For one the pitcher would have been in the wind up instead of the stretch.
Caught stealing may just bite us there.
Unbelievable …Friedl walks and he’s caught stealing later only to see Arroyo doubles
This whole umpiring crew is terrible.
What is with these Chumpires this series? Are they all lobbying to be out of a job and replaced completely by ABS???
Hector comes thru!
HRod is becoming a gem.
Nicely done. I hope HRod can keep figuring it out.
Hector the ASG Collector.
Rookie attack – Arroyo and Rodriguez.
Good for Arroyo and Rodriguez maybe the future looks a little bit brighter…
H-Rod is becoming a big league hitter step by step…I like it
All Star Logan Webb gave up 9 ER’s to the Pirates tonight
Can I say it once more…I like Hector at the top of the lineup!
Due to the abundance of “static” on the WLW feed (no idea why) I’ve downgraded to Sadak and Larkin.
i just cannot understand why all balls/strikes can’t be autocalled by the umpire behind the plate…they have the technology to do it… nobody would be opposed to it, except the umpire union (who cares what they think-all umpires are replaceable with the system we have now–it don’t take a genius). Get rid of the “tapping” of the helment and all that stupid stuff…just do it!
As much of a traditionalist as I am, I’m in the camp that says the time has come. It’s a variable that isn’t necessary.
Baseball is such a perfect game. Look at how many plays where you have fielders firing home and runners just barely eeeking home.
Take a bow, Nick. Game well played.
Agreed. QS by Lodolo,
He definitely turned his game around.
Winning rally time. Sal singles to start it all.
Kudos to Lodolo for making it thru 6 innings with only 2 runs allowed!
McLain is just a tough at bat to watch. Over 1000 plate appearances since the start of 2025 and he’s actually looking even worse if that was at all possible.
On a more positive note, kudos to HRod and Arroyo with some nice at bats.
Lodolo walked a tightrope but delivered a quality start.
Walks haunt.
Catcher’s interference. Yikes. 2 on, nobody out.
Did I hear them say that’s 5 total for Trevino this season? And he’s our #2 so he’s not playing a high percentage of the games. Sadak saying that’s part of the give and take. I’m not buying that.
Back to back K’s from Mey … He could get out of this !
and he does !
Luis Mey buckles down and ends the threat.
If he continues to mature this way, he’s a key asset at the back end of games.
Another big zero , this time by Mey…
Justin Lebron hit another home run for the Dragons. 7th of the year in only 18 games.
Nice recovery by Mey. He’s looked quite good overall.
Nice at bat and walk by Arroyo.
Just let him and Hrod play.Nothing to lose but experience for both players.Its just the right thing to do for them and the club.
On to the 8th, still tied at 2 …
Need a run and then Pagan.
Our stars need to win the game for us right here. Let’s go.
Burke, too, dodges a bullet! Need one measly one! You can do it!
Burke gives up a two out dbl, but gets out of the inning unscathed…
Time for the Elly and Sal show!
Good plan and lets get it done.
A walks a good start!
Morejon is a badass, but Elly gets on with a walk …
and with that single from Sal, Elly is standing on 3rd with no outs.
Reds are business with runners on the corners and nobody out.
There it is! Beautiful hit Sal! First and third no outs!
Sal is the man!
I’d say he went with that pitch. Their OFers are quick or that may have been in the gap to the wall.
And we don’t get Myers because???
Already pinch hit
Sal = Clutch. Period. He’s had such a remarkable season.
Stewart is incredible…extend him!
Bunt. One run wins it with Pagan coming in.
Put the ball in play and we got a run! Sal should be running too
Better than Bike Helmets there … need to find green or some air, Matty.
One down, I’d bunt Mclain …
Same
but he gets the intentional walk, to bring up Trevino …
Bunt it!
Padres is playing this game like it’s on the playoffs…can’t afford to lose against the Reds…LOL
Trevino just get it into the outfield!
What is this insanity??? Why not QB1 here?
Tito knows
I smell grand slam
Good question Mark.Lets hope we don’t have to worry about it
Woohoo!!
Here comes a fastball
Trevino responds
I’m stunned … way to go Trevino!!!
All day, Jose!
Yes way Jose!
Trevino! Nice!
Way to come thru Trevino!
Trevino, once called out All-Star, comes thru in the clutch, plating one.
our all-star … By JB, I believe !
I wouldn’t call him a all-star but he was once. Not sure why they didn’t pinch hit but hey it worked.
He hits like one on occasion, and did tonight !
Let’s add on here guys
Pitcher is on the ropes
Good at bat by Brito bringing in an insurance run
Juan Brito gets some insurance. Nicely done.
Brito comes thru to bring sal home good atbat
SF RBI!!! Just what the doctor ordered from a guy not known for his bat.
The Reds have caught fire ! Brito with a sac fly brings in another. 4-2
Pitching change does it on one pitch … we’re onto the 9th !
Good things can happen when bat puts ball in play.No always but sometimes and that was one of those sometimes .
Patience and station to station got it done.
That insurance run proved huge !
And Sal was off and running no matter how shallow the fly ball ended up being totally determined to score
Buckle Up Buddies!!!
Let’s Go Emilio!!!
We got two! It’s in Emilio’s hands now. Go get em! Go right at em.
God job by both. Fingers crossed in 9th.
Good, not God.
Fingers, toes, eyes, legs … you name it, got it crossed.
Hopefully the Friars are no match for Pagan.
1 down and 2 to go …
Just one more now …
he grooved one to Tatis … and it’s gone. 4-3
2 down, 1 to
Ouch!
It’s never easy. Tatis goes deep.
Tatis crushed that, unfortunately.
Tatis loving the little park.
BALL GAME. Pagan strikes out some rookie.
Oh yeah! Reds win!!!
Nice recovery Pagan!
W for the good guys.
Pagan does not mess around … K’s Taylor for the WIN !
In throwback to Sports or Consequences on WLW 700 years ago … he don’t, he don’t, he don’t mess around.
That was a good ballgame. The good guys get the W!
Very good ballgame
Agreed, JB! It was a fun one to watch tonight.
Nice win tonight.
Williamson needs to step up so the Reds can take the series.
Very satisfying win. Figures Tatis would blast one like that 😉
Reds win… another 1-run victory…The offense could score without homers today and the pitching was good by Lodolo and the bullpen…
Never easy! Now let’s win 23 more!
A better approach is focus on one game at a time. Just win tomorrow.
Game is at 12:40 tomorrow.
Team win. Everyone contributed in one way or another. Fun game.
Perhaps Lodolo is figuring out the new grip. If so, this could be a significant positive step. From what I read the slider was a devastating go to pitch, but it unfortunately devastated his finger and put him on the IL more than he pitched. If the new grip gives him a pitch with similar results, that could be exciting.
If the Reds beat the Pads tomorrow, they are only 6 games back. Stranger things have have happened.
Very true. Not dead yet.
If the Reds make the post season with the schedule they have in September already at least six games back then Tito should be named to the Reds Hall Of Fame just for that and definitely Manager Of The Year. In several recent years we’ve had “easy” schedules down the stretch and blew it. Maybe this year will be the exact opposite? 😉
They were 8.5 games back in 4th place in 1964. Got into 1st but finished 2nd only 1 game back.
Jim day interview after the game Brito ends it with a grin and “let’s go Reds” ha!!! I hope they don’t send him back down after tonight. Give him a shot to show what he can do.
Yes it was a team win and players just doing the little things in the ninth.Trevino on 3-2 singles and Brito on 3-2 puts the ball in play for a sac fly.Elly with the walk and Sal just does what he does and well its the ball game.No homers 4 runs and a win.Hrod with 2 hits,Arroyo with a double and walk.That extra run was huge cause Pagan is a fly ball pitcher and in GABP that can spell trouble.