The Reds picked up a clean, convincing win in Atlanta on Tuesday night, blanking the Braves 4-0 behind a sharp outing from Brandon Williamson and another loud performance from Elly De La Cruz.
Williamson gave Cincinnati exactly what it needed from the left side. He worked six shutout innings, didn’t issue a walk and struck out two while needing just 68 pitches to get through his six frames.
He threw 43 of those pitches for strikes. Since coming off the injured list at the start of the month, Williamson has made five appearances and hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any of them.
That stretch matters for a Reds club that is already out of postseason contention but still sorting through what comes next. Williamson has been especially steady in September, winning three of his five starts and turning in a shutout against a Braves lineup that has already won the National League East.
De La Cruz kept building his case as one of the most productive players in the league. He homered for the 29th time this season and swiped his 29th base on Tuesday, then added two walks to reach base four times.
Entering the game, he ranked first in batting average at .394 while also leading in slugging, OPS, hits and total bases. He was third in home runs and second in on-base percentage.
For the season, De La Cruz is now hitting .288 with 29 home runs and 76 RBIs, with an OPS of .892.
The Reds and Braves continue the series Wednesday night at Truist Park. Cincinnati will send Andrew Abbott, who is 6-11 with a 4.70 ERA, against Braves left-hander Chris Sale, who is 14-9 with a 2.18 ERA.
Thursday’s game is also set for a 7:15 E.T. start, with Brady Singer taking the mound for the Reds against Braves right-hander Tyler Mahle, who spent time with Cincinnati and enters at 7-10 with a 3.81 ERA.
In Other News...
Reds Are Quietly Testing Two New Pieces For A Bigger Role
The Reds have spent the stretch quietly sorting through some less-heralded additions, and Juan Brito has already started to stand out as one of them. Cincinnati claimed Brito and Oswaldo Cabrera off waivers, bringing in two versatile pieces who fit the kind of roster flexibility teams often prize long before a bigger opportunity opens up. Brito has been getting regular run lately, and the early returns have shown a player who looks more comfortable at the plate while also giving the club some defensive options.
Cabrera brings a different kind of appeal, one that can matter to a manager trying to cover a lot of ground with a limited bench. The switch-hitter can handle seven positions and spent most of the year in Triple-A before arriving in Cincinnati, which makes him the sort of depth addition that can quietly grow into something more if the bat follows the glove. Terry Francona has sounded encouraged by both players, and the Reds at least appear willing to see whether either can become part of the bigger picture by 2027. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Head Into The Offseason With Two New Injury Concerns
The Reds offseason checklist got a little longer with two more medical appointments on the calendar. Spencer Steer is set to have right wrist surgery next Wednesday in Phoenix, while Tony Santillan is lined up for left hip surgery Thursday in Nashville to repair a labral tear, adding another layer of uncertainty as Cincinnati shifts from the seasons finish into winter.
For a club already mapping out its next steps, the news is a reminder of how quickly roster plans can get complicated at this time of year. Steer and Santillan are both now focused on recovery after injury setbacks during the season, and the Reds will have a clearer sense of their near-term depth only once those procedures are behind them and the long rehab process begins. [Read more 🡒]
Elly De La Cruz Is Closing In On Rare Reds History
Elly De La Cruz kept adding to an already eye-catching season with another reminder of how much he can impact a game in different ways, swiping a base and leaving the yard in a recent contest. The burst pushed him closer to a rare Reds benchmark, one that only a small handful of players in franchise history have reached, and it comes during a stretch in which he has been one of the best all-around performers in the sport since the All-Star break.
The numbers have placed De La Cruz near the top of the conversation in WAR and batting production, but Terry Francona has kept the focus on the broader picture rather than the milestone chase. For the Reds, that balance matters: De La Cruz is putting himself on the verge of special history, yet the emphasis inside the room remains on playing the game the right way and letting the rest sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]