Redleg Nation - A Cincinnati Reds Experience (OOTP 22)

[jasontoddwhitt]

Team Headlines

* Yesterday, the Reds pulled CF Nick Senzel in the 5th inning after he trapped his right wrist under his body on a diving catch. X-rays were negative, but the Reds placed Senzel on the 10-day IL with a sprained wrist, retroactive to April 11th. To take his spot on the active roster, the Reds recalled CF Scott Heineman from Triple-A Louisville.

The Reds are hopeful Senzel is out at most two weeks. Senzel had gotten off to a great start this season, hitting .333 (12-for-36) with five doubles, seven runs scored, and three runs batted in.

* Nine games into the season and the issues of last season seem to be reversed. The offense has gotten off to a great start, currently ranked 3rd in the National League in runs scored (59). The pitching staff, particularly the starting rotation, have gotten off to a horrible start, currently ranked 11th in the National League in FIP (4.66).

There is hope that Sonny Gray will be coming off the IL later this week as he continues to recover from back spasms.





MLB Standings



MLB Power Rankings



Players of the Week

SS Bo Bichette (Blue Jays) - .375 AVG (12-for-32), 5 R, 5 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 SB
C Carson Kelly (Diamondbacks) - .542 AVG (13-for-24), 6 R, 2 2B, 3 HR, 13 RBI

Did You Know?

Which rookie is leading MLB in extra base hits?

1. 1B Pavin Smith (Diamondbacks) - 4 (1 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR)
2. CF Cristian Pache (Braves) - 3 (2 2B, 1 3B)
2. LF Taylor Trammell (Mariners) - 3 (3 HR)
2. LF Andrew Vaughn (White Sox) - 3 (1 2B, 2 HR)
5. 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Marlins) - 2 (2 HR)

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Pitching Matchups

04/12 - Jeff Hoffman (1-0, 2.57 ERA) vs Aaron Sanchez (1-0, 1.23 ERA)
04/13 - Luis Castillo (0-2, 9.00 ERA) vs Kevin Gausman (2-0, 1.80 ERA)
04/14 - Tyler Mahle (2-0, 1.26 ERA) vs Logan Webb (2-0, 3.00 ERA)

Series Notes

- Teams did not play during the 2020 season.
- Giants finished 29-31 last season, their fourth straight losing season.

Players of Note

Cincinnati Reds

None of note

San Francisco Giants

2B Donovan Solano -- .050 AVG (1-for-20), 1 RBI over last six games
LF LaMonte Wade Jr. -- .050 AVG (1-for-20), 1 HR, 4 RBI over last five games

Injury Report

Cincinnati Reds

SP Brandon Bailey (elbow) -- 60-day IL
SP Sonny Gray (back) -- 15-day IL
CF Nick Senzel (wrist) -- 10-day IL
CF Shogo Akiyama (hamstring) -- 10-day IL
SP Michael Lorenzen (shoulder) -- 15-day IL

San Francisco Giants

SP Tyler Beede (elbow) -- 60-day IL
RP John Brebbia (elbow) -- 60-day IL
SP Dedniel Nunez (elbow) -- 60-day IL
SP Alex Wood (back) -- 15-day IL

[jasontoddwhitt]

Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants
Apr 12, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati (5-5)	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	7	0
San Francisco (7-3)	0	0	6	1	0	1	2	1	X	11	17	2
W: Aaron Sanchez (2-0) L: Jeff Hoffman (1-1)

The Reds got off to a nice start in the first inning, but 19 men left on base proved to be the undoing of the Reds as the Giants bashed Reds pitching into submission in an 11-2 drubbing.

Aaron Sanchez kept pitching himself into jams but was able to come out mostly unscathed. Sanchez gave up two runs on four hits in five innings of work that would see him throw 121 pitches. He worked around seven walks and struck out six hitters.

The Giants offense was paced by Mauricio Dubon, who went 3-for-5 with two homers and five runs batted in. Mike Yastrzemski also had a good game for the Giants, as he went 1-for-4 with a home run and two runs batted in.

Reds starter Jeff Hoffman was solid in the first two innings, but the wheels came completely off in the third inning. Hoffman gave up six runs on seven hits in three innings of work. He walked one and struck out one in the losing cause. The Reds bullpen also didn't fare much better, surrendering five runs over the final five innings.

Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants
Apr 13, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati (5-6)	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	0
San Francisco (8-3)	1	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	X	4	8	0
W: Kevin Gausman (3-0) L: Luis Castillo (0-3) S: Jake McGee (2)

Once again, Reds hitters had a strong first inning but were unable to sustain that success. Giants pitching combined to strike out 15 Reds hitters as the Giants pushed across three runs in the 5th inning to secure a 4-2 victory.

Kevin Gausman gave up two runs in the first inning. After settling down, Gausman made the Reds look silly. Gausman gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits over five innings of work. He walked two and struck out 10 hitters to improve his record to (3-0) on the season. The Giants bullpen combined for four innings of scoreless relief, giving up one hit and striking out five.

LaMonte Wade Jr. paced the Giants' offense, going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Donovan Solano went 3-for-4, with his run-scoring single in the 5th inning pushing the Giants ahead for good.

The Reds Luis Castillo is struggling to find the form that he has shown the past two seasons. Castillo gave up four runs on eight hits over 5 and 1/3 innings of work. He walked three and struck out five to drop his record to (0-3). Sean Dolittle and Heath Hembree were perfect out of the bullpen over 2 and 2/3 innings of work, but the bats couldn't threaten the Giants down the stretch.

Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants
Apr 14, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati (5-7)	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	0
San Francisco (9-3)	0	3	0	0	2	0	0	2	X	7	13	0
W: Logan Webb (3-0) L: Tyler Mahle (2-1)

It was apparent in this three-game sweep that the Reds bats forgot to make the trip from Phoenix, putting a sour end on this 2-4 road trip. To make matters worse, Tyler Mahle had to be pulled in the fifth inning after grabbing at his hamstring. All that combined with a masterful pitching performance by Logan Webb was too much for the Reds to overcome in a 7-1 victory by the Giants.

Webb gave up one run on four hits in eight strong innings of work. He walked one and struck out 10 hitters to run his record to a perfect (3-0).

Tommy La Stella paced the Giants' offense, going 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. Mike Yastrzemski also had a great game, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and one run batted in.

Mahle struggled before his injury, giving up four runs on seven hits in 4 and 1/3 innings pitched. He walked one and struck out three.

The Reds get a much-needed day off before they host the Cleveland Indians this weekend.

***

MLB Headlines

04/12 - Royals SP Brady Singer is out for the season with a torn elbow ligament.
04/12 - Dodgers RP Kenley Jansen signed a two-year extension worth $14.8M.
04/14 - Orioles SP Anibal Sanchez announced he will retire at the end of the season.
04/14 - Astros place LF Yordan Alvarez on the 10-day IL after suffering an oblique strain. He is expected to be out for four to five weeks.
04/15 - Marlins place 3B Brian Anderson on the 60-day IL after suffering a torn muscle in his back. He is expected to be out for four to five months.
04/15 - Padres place SP Yu Darvish on the 15-day IL after suffering a sprained elbow. He is expected to be out for five to six weeks.
04/15 - Twins SP Jose Berrios aggravated his elbow strain in yesterday's start. The Twins are expected to push his next start back and don't expect to place him on the IL at this time.

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Pitching Matchups

04/16 - Cal Quantrill (1-1, 3.86 ERA) vs Wade Miley (1-0, 8.18 ERA)
04/17 - Shane Bieber (2-0, 3.26 ERA) vs TBD
04/18 - Triston McKenzie (0-1, 36.00 ERA) vs Tejay Antone (0-2, 6.10 ERA)

Series Notes

- Reds were 1-3 in 2020 against the Indians.
- Indians finished 35-20 last season, finishing 3rd in the AL Central. The Indians lost to the Yankees in the AL Wild Card round. It was the 8th straight winning season for the Indians, and the 4th time in five years the Indians made the playoffs.
- Reds placed SP Tyler Mahle on the IL after injuring his hamstring in Wednesday's start. The Reds purchased the contract of SP Ryan Merritt from Triple-A Louisville to fill the roster spot.
- The Reds are hopeful that SP Sonny Gray can be activated from the IL before Saturday's start.

Injury Report

Cleveland Indians

1B Jake Bauers (back) -- 10-day IL
RP Cam Hill (wrist) -- 60-day IL
RP Oliver Perez (ankle) -- DtD
CL Emmanuel Clase (illness) -- DtD

Cincinnati Reds

SP Brandon Bailey (elbow) -- 60-day IL
RP Sean Doolittle (illness) -- DtD
SP Sonny Gray (back) -- 15-day IL
CF Nick Senzel (wrist) -- 10-day IL
CF Shogo Akiyama (hamstring) -- 10-day IL
SP Michael Lorenzen (shoulder) -- 15-day IL

[jasontoddwhitt]

Cleveland Indians at Cincinnati Reds
Apr 16, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cleveland (9-4)	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	2	7	1
Cincinnati (6-7)	0	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	X	5	6	0
W: Wade Miley (2-0) L: Cal Quantrill (1-2) S: Lucas Sims (2)

The Reds rode a strong effort from starter Wade Miley to secure a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the first game of the Ohio Cup. Miley gave up one run on six hits over seven innings of work. He walked two and struck out five hitters to pick up his second victory of the season.

Indians starter Cal Quantrill was chased from the game in the third inning after the Reds brought 11 hitters to the dish after SS Andres Gimenez dropped a throw at second from C Austin Hedges. Quantrill gave up five runs (one earned) on six hits in 2 and 2/3 innings of work. He walked two hitters and failed to register a strikeout to pick up his second loss of the season.

It was CF Scott Heineman's run-scoring double in the 3rd inning that put the Reds on the board. Heineman was 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.

Indians RF Franmil Reyes caused the only blemish on Reds pitching tonight, going 2-for-4 with a solo shot in the 7th inning.

Reds closer Lucas Sims pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning with one strikeout to pick up his second save of the season.

Cleveland Indians at Cincinnati Reds
Apr 17, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cleveland (9-5)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Cincinnati (7-7)	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	X	2	7	1
W: Sonny Gray (1-0) L: Shane Bieber (2-1) S: Lucas Sims (3)

Cincinnati Reds starter Sonny Gray made his season debut after being activated from the IL, and it was like he was never out.

Gray and Indians starter Shane Bieber were locked in a pitcher's duel, but it was Mike Moustakas' solo shot in the 5th inning that put the Reds ahead as Gray and the bullpen combined to shutout the Indians 2-0.

Even with a half-hour rain delay in the 4th inning, Gray delivered in his first start of the season, showing no ill effects from the back spasms that plagued him in spring training. Gray gave up no runs on three hits in six innings of work. He worked around four walks and struck out eight batters to pick up his first win of the season.

Bieber was equally as impressive, his only blemish was the homer to Moustakas. Bieber gave up one run on four hits in six innings of work. He walked one and struck out six hitters as he lost his first start of the season.

Tucker Barnhart played add-on in the 8th inning, going 1-for-3 with a solo shot off of Indians' reliever Bryan Shaw.

Cam Bedrosian and Amir Garrett pitched perfect 7th and 8th innings of relief to hand the ball off to Reds closer Lucas Sims. Sims worked around a walk and a base hit to get his third save of the season.

Cleveland Indians at Cincinnati Reds
Apr 18, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cleveland (10-5)	0	0	4	0	4	0	0	0	1	9	14	0
Cincinnati (7-8)	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	8	1
W: Triston McKenzie (1-1) L: Tejay Antone (0-3)

Maybe it's time to end the Tejay Antone experiment in the rotation?

Antone struggled to miss very many bats as the Indians lit up him up for seven runs on ten hits over 4 and 1/3 innings of work. Antone walked one and struck out only one-hitter as his record dropped to (0-3) on the season.

Indians starter Triston McKenzie rebounded magnificently from his first start of the season, dropping his ERA from 36.00 to 11.25. McKenzie gave up two runs on seven hits in six innings of work. He walked two and struck out nine hitters to improve his record to (1-1).

Indians 3B Jose Ramirez teed off on Reds pitching today, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and a three-run homer in the 3rd inning. RF Jordan Luplow also added to the fun, going 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.

***

MLB Headlines

04/18 - Diamondbacks announce that Zac Gallen's return from a fractured wrist has been pushed back for a week or two after a setback in his recovery.
04/19 - Indians traded RF Jordan Luplow to the Tigers for RF Victor Reyes.

[jasontoddwhitt]

Team Headlines

- With the activation of P Sonny Gray from the IL, the Reds optioned P Jose De Leon back to Triple-A Louisville, deciding to keep P Ryan Merritt on the active roster, who the Reds signed to a minor league deal on April 1st.

Merritt had initial success in his MLB career, starting in the ALCS for the Indians back in 2016 after the Trevor Bauer 'drone incident' that will live in infamy. He found it hard to crack the deep Indians rotation, and after dealing with knee and shoulder issues in 2018, he elected free agency, where he signed with the Tampa Bay Rays. He struggled in the Rays organization, elected free agency, and missed the entire 2020 pandemic season.

Merritt doesn't fit the usual mold of the modern hurler, as he is very much a finesse pitcher with a fastball topping out at 88 on a good day. The Reds are all about reclamation projects, and if he can regain the form he showed in the Indians' organization, this could very well be a huge steal.

- Heading into the season, the rotation was going to be the major question mark for the club. Unfortunately, that is proving to be a fact in more ways than one. Luis Castillo (0-3, 8.27, 17 K) is struggling mightily out of the gates. If the Reds are going to have any hopes of contention in the NL Central, they will need Castillo to bounce back sooner rather than later. Tyler Mahle (2-1, 2.89, 18 K) was building upon his career year in 2020, but now he finds himself on the IL for at least the next two weeks with a hamstring strain. Wade Miley (2-0, 5.50, 11 K) has been very hit and miss, while Tejay Antone (0-3, 8.59, 5 K) and Jeff Hoffman (1-1, 7.20, 9 K) have been getting roughed up in the early going.

The return of Sonny Gray will certainly help, as he showed in his start Saturday against the Indians (6 IP, 0 ER, 8 K), but that still leaves a decision to be made once Mahle returns from the IL. Does Antone go back to the bullpen? He did start four games last season and pitched well in those appearances. Out of the bullpen though, he was lights out. But how much faith can you put in the numbers of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season?

Those are the rough waters the Reds front office will have to wade through as the 2021 season progresses.

Team Batting Statistics



Team Pitching Statistics



***

American League Standings



National League Standings



MLB Power Rankings



Players of the Week

3B Jose Ramirez (Indians) - .423 AVG (11-for-26), 6 R, 4 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, .467 OBP, .923 SLG
1B Garrett Cooper (Marlins) - .429 AVG (12-for-28), 5 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .467 OBP, .857 SGL

Did You Know?

Who holds the single-season record in MLB for hits?

1. Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners) - 262 -- 2004
2. George Sisler (Browns) - 257 -- 1920
3. Lefty O'Doul (Phillies) - 254 -- 1929
3. Bill Terry (Giants) - 254 -- 1930
5. Al Simmons (Athletics) - 253 -- 1925

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Pitching Matchups

04/20 - Madison Bumgarner (1-0, 2.87) vs Luis Castillo (0-3, 8.27)
04/21 - Luke Weaver (0-3, 8.80) vs Jeff Hoffman (1-1, 7.20)
04/22 - Caleb Smith (0-2, 9.00) vs Wade Miley (2-0, 5.50)

Series Notes

- Reds are currently 2-1 against the Diamondbacks this season.
- CF Nick Senzel will be eligible to come off the IL on 4/22. Senzel has been on the IL since 4/11 after suffering a sprained wrist.
- Diamondbacks are coming off a four-game sweep to the Nationals and are currently on a six-game losing streak.

Who's Hot? Who's Not

Arizona Diamondbacks

SS Nick Ahmed -- 6 G, .550 AVG (11-for-20), 1 HR, 2 RBI
C Carson Kelly -- 10 G, .459 AVG (17-for-37), 4 HR, 14 RBI
3B Eduardo Escobar -- 6 G, .076 AVG (2-for-26)
SP Merrill Kelly -- 3 G, 0-2, 7.90 ERA, 13.2 IP, 12 K
SP Matt Peacock -- 2 G, 1-1, 14.85 ERA, 6.2 IP, 8 K
SP Caleb Smith -- 2 G, 0-2, 11.57 ERA, 7.0 IP, 11 K

Cincinnati Reds

SP Tejay Antone -- 2 G, 0-2, 12.46 ERA, 8.2 IP, 2 K

Injury Report

Arizona Diamondbacks

2B Asdrubal Cabrera (back) -- DtD
RF Kole Calhoun (knee) -- 10-day IL
SP Zac Gallen (wrist) -- 10-day IL
RP Tyler Clippard (shoulder) -- 60-day IL
RP Kevin Ginkel (ankle) -- 15-day IL

Cincinnati Reds

SP Brandon Bailey (elbow) -- 60-day IL
SP Tyler Mahle (hamstring) -- 15-day IL
CF Nick Senzel (wrist) -- 10-day IL
CF Shogo Akiyama (hamstring) -- 10-day IL
SP Michael Lorenzen (shoulder) -- 10-day IL

[jasontoddwhitt]

Arizona Diamondbacks at Cincinnati Reds
Apr 20, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Arizona (7-10)	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	8	0
Cincinnati (7-9)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	2
W: Madison Bumgarner (2-0) L: Luis Castillo (0-4) S: Joakim Soria (4)

Luis Castillo had his best start by far this season, but the Reds' inability to play defense or generate offense was their undoing in a 3-1 loss to the Diamondbacks.

The Reds managed to manufacture one run off of Madison Bumgarner in the 1st inning, but the Diamondbacks starter settled in and made the Reds look silly the rest of the game. Bumgarner gave up one run and scattered six hits across eight innings of work. He walked one and struck out six to pick up his second win of the season.

It looked like it was going to be another roller coaster ride for Castillo judging by the 30 pitches he threw in the first inning. The Reds ace settled in nicely, and had it not been for a throwing error by Tucker Barnhart and Castillo's own throwing error in the 5th inning, the outcome could've been different. Castillo gave up three unearned runs on seven hits in 7 and 1/3 innings pitched. He walked two and struck out nine hitters, but it wasn't good enough to avoid his fourth loss of the season.

The Diamondbacks' offense was paced by CF Tim Locastro, who went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored.

The Reds managed to get the tying run to the plate against Diamondbacks' closer Joakim Soria, but both Eugenio Suarez and Mike Moustakas flashed that warning track power.

Arizona Diamondbacks at Cincinnati Reds
Apr 21, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Arizona (7-11)	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	9	0
Cincinnati (8-9)	0	3	0	0	0	0	3	0	X	6	8	2
W: Sean Doolittle (1-0) L: J.B. Bukauskas (0-1) S: Lucas Sims (4)

The Reds bullpen had to put in the work today.

Reds starter Jeff Hoffman had a rough first inning, giving up a three-run homer to Pavin Smith in the first inning following a Eugenio Suarez throwing error. Hoffman got out of a jam in the second inning, but upon recording the final out of the inning, he was pointing to his elbow as he was coming off the field. Hoffman finished with three runs (two earned) on three hits in two innings of work.

The bullpen combined for seven innings of shutout baseball, highlighted by reliever Cam Bedrosian striking out all five hitters he faced.

Jesse Winker broke a 3-3 tie in the 7th inning with a three-run blast to right field off of Diamondbacks reliever J.B. Bukauskas. Amir Garret worked around two 8th inning walks to get out of the inning while Lucas Sims struck out two in the 9th to pick up his fourth save of the year.

Diamondbacks starter Luke Weaver gave up three runs on six hits in six innings pitched. He walked one and struck out seven in the no-decision.

Arizona Diamondbacks at Cincinnati Reds
Apr 22, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Arizona (7-12)	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	5	11	1
Cincinnati (9-9)	1	0	5	0	0	5	0	0	X	11	11	0
W: Wade Miley (3-0) L: Caleb Smith (0-3)

The Reds offense exploded today for 11 runs including two grand slams as the Reds defeated the Diamondbacks 11-5 to win the three-game series.

The Reds got started early as Scott Heineman led the game off with his first homer of the season to give the Reds the early 1-0 lead. The wheels came completely off for Diamondbacks' starter Caleb Smith in the 3rd inning, as he loaded up the bases before Kyle Farmer came up and smoked a line drive to left field that just got over the wall to give the Reds a 5-0 lead.

Smith was pulled after that, allowing six runs on four hits in 2 and 2/3 innings pitched. He walked three and struck out four in his third loss of the season.

The Diamondbacks bullpen stopped the bleeding until the 6th inning. Relievers Humberto Castellanos and Alex Young combined to load the bases before Eugenio Suarez crushed a ball 425 feet into the left-field bleachers to give the Reds the 11-5 lead.

Wade Miley gave up one run while scattering eight hits across seven innings of work. He walked one and struck out six en route to winning his third straight start.

Nick Castellanos had to be pulled from the game in the 3rd inning after getting hit by a pitch on the hands. X-rays were negative and he is listed as day-to-day with a bruised wrist.

***

MLB Headlines

4/20 -- Dodgers announced RP Brusdar Graterol will miss an additional two weeks after an "issue" landed him on the injured list in the first place.
4/20 -- Royals announced SP Carlos Hernandez had radial nerve decompression surgery on his elbow and will be out for five months.
4/20 -- Giants placed SP Logan Webb on the IL with a strained triceps. He is expected to be out for five to six weeks.
4/20 -- Braves placed RP Chris Martin on the IL after having surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. He is expected to miss six weeks.
4/20 -- Indians RF Victor Reyes went 5-for-6 today in their 13-2 victory over the White Sox.
4/21 -- Padres announced C Austin Nola will miss an additional two weeks after a setback in his recovery from a fractured finger.
4/21 -- Orioles SP Jeff Samardzija announced he will retire at the end of the season.
4/22 -- Red Sox placed SP Garrett Richards on the IL after having knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He will miss four to five months.
4/23 -- Tigers placed RP Jose Urena on the IL after elbow surgery to repair a partially torn UCL. He will miss at least six months, effectively putting him out for the season.