The Reds’ bullpen has spent most of the season looking for answers, but Luis Mey has given them one of the clearest bright spots. After bouncing between Triple-A and Cincinnati earlier in the year, the 25-year-old right-hander has come back in August and turned into a completely different pitcher.
Since rejoining the Reds, Mey has thrown 8 2/3 scoreless innings. He’s allowed just five hits, walked one batter and struck out 13. That’s the kind of stretch that stands out on its own, but the pitch data behind it makes the run look even more real.
Mey’s slider has been one of the best pitches in the game lately, regularly posting a Stuff+ rating above 112. Anything over 100 is considered above average. His sinker has also been a weapon, sitting near 100 miles per hour and giving hitters another problem to solve.
What’s made the difference, though, isn’t that those pitches suddenly appeared. It’s that Mey is finally landing them in the zone.
He walked 11 batters in his first 8 2/3 innings at the big league level this season, but that command issue has flipped since his return. According to TJStats, his zone percentage has jumped from 44 percent to 59 percent.
That change has altered the way hitters are approaching him. In those early outings, opponents swung at just 39 percent of his pitches, and the walks piled up from there. Since he came back, hitters are offering at 47 percent of his pitches, but they still aren’t doing much with what they see.
Mey’s zone contact rate has stayed elite, which is why this looks sustainable as long as he keeps pounding the strike zone. When he’s around the plate, the Reds have a weapon.
In Other News...
Reds Bullpen Churn Continues As Another New Arm Already Disappears
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Marinaccios departure leaves the Reds back at square one in that spot, with the roster spot opening as quickly as it was filled. Former Padres pitcher Matt Waldron is in a similar position with Toronto after being designated for assignment following four appearances, a reminder of how fragile these bullpen stops can be. For Cincinnati, the larger issue is not just losing a reliever, but doing so before there was any real chance to see whether the fit could last. [Read more 🡒]
Jeff Brantley Just Fired Up The Sal Stewart Rookie Debate
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Jeff Brantley made his stance clear during a recent game broadcast, favoring Stewarts offensive production over Wetherholts defensive profile and adding another layer to a discussion that already has Reds fans talking. The debate has only grown louder as the season has gone on, with commentators and viewers trying to figure out whether the award should reward the more complete overall player or the one bringing the bigger impact at the plate. [Read more 🡒]
TJ Friedl Has Become A Real Reds Offseason Problem
TJ Friedl entered the 2026 season as one of the more established pieces in Cincinnatis outfield, but the year has gone sideways in a hurry. After a far more productive 2025, his bat has backed up sharply, with less contact and far less pop than the Reds expected from him, and the club already tried sending him to Triple-A Louisville in an effort to help him find something closer to his old form.
Instead, the situation has only deepened the Reds winter dilemma. Friedl is no longer a simple lineup puzzle, because the organization has younger outfielders pushing for chances and more flexibility if it decides to move on from him, which means his place on the roster is suddenly tied to a much bigger offseason decision than anyone would have imagined a year ago. [Read more 🡒]