The Reds have already clawed their way back once in this series, and now they get one more shot to take it. Cincinnati’s 5-4 win last night pulled the set even at two games apiece, setting up a decisive fifth game this afternoon at 12:40 p.m. ET.
The matchup puts Brady Singer against Michael McGreevy, and both starters come in with plenty to like on the page. Singer has settled into a steady run, delivering three straight outings that fit the cleanest version of a quality start: 6.0 innings, three runs allowed.
He’s also logged a quality start in six of his last seven trips to the mound. Since the beginning of June, Singer has made 13 starts and posted a 3.62 ERA after working through a rough May while dealing with multiple injuries.
The deeper look at Singer is a split story. Right-handed hitters have had a hard time doing damage against him even though he isn’t missing many bats against them.
They’re not walking much, they’re not turning contact into much power, and the results have stayed muted. Left-handed hitters have had far more success, batting .304 with a .360 on-base percentage and a .512 slugging percentage against him.
Singer’s pitch mix leans heavily on the cutter and slider, with the cutter showing up 49% of the time and the slider at 41%. His 4-seam fastball has barely been used at 3%.
McGreevy, meanwhile, has put together a solid season of his own. One rough outing at the end of July - seven runs in 1.2 innings - pushed his ERA up to 3.57, but he’s bounced back since then and has allowed five runs over his last three starts. He also saw the Reds earlier this season, back in early June, and gave up two solo homers over 6.0 innings in a Cardinals win.
His platoon splits are less dramatic than Singer’s, though left-handed hitters have had the edge. They’ve hit for a better average, reached base a bit more often, and done slightly more damage overall.
McGreevy’s arsenal is more varied. He’s leaned on a four-seam fastball 25% of the time, while also mixing in a two-seamer, cutter, curve, slider, and changeup.
Here are the lineups for the finale:
JJ Wetherholt, SS; Ivan Herrera, DH; Alec Burleson, 1B; Jordan Walker, RF; Joshua Baez, LF; Nathan Church, CF; Bryan Torres, 2B; Blaze Jordan, 3B; Jimmy Crooks, C; Michael McGreevy, RHP.
Elly De La Cruz, DH; Sal Stewart, 2B; JJ Bleday, LF; Tyler Stephenson, C; Matt McLain, SS; Michael Toglia, 1B; Dane Myers, CF; Hector Rodriguez, RF; Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B; Brady Singer, RHP.
The series isn’t the only thing getting a little extra attention today. Justin Lebron homered for the third time this season last night in Dayton. The shortstop has now played seven games since he was drafted and signed, and he’s hitting .333/.355/.700 with two doubles and three home runs.
In the division picture, Milwaukee sits first at 78-49 with a perfect 100.0% playoff odds mark, while Chicago is 74-54 and listed at 98.6%. St. Louis is 65-63 with a 9.1% playoff chance, Pittsburgh is 63-66 at 5.2%, and Cincinnati is 61-66 with a 0.1% shot.
In Other News...
Spencer Steer Update Could Force A Tough Reds Decision
The Reds open a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Nick Lodolo on the mound, but there was plenty happening around the roster before the first pitch. Cincinnati added former Braves right-hander Darius Vines on a minor-league deal, a move that gives the organization some extra pitching depth as it keeps sorting through the long grind of the season. Austin Hendricks demotion to Double-A Chattanooga also underscored how quickly the club is still adjusting pieces at the lower levels.
The more pressing watch, though, is Spencer Steer, who is due for a wrist re-evaluation that could determine whether surgery becomes necessary. Any update there would ripple beyond Steer himself, since the Reds have already had to manage lineup uncertainty and can ill afford another extended absence from a player theyve had to count on in multiple roles. For a club trying to keep momentum while navigating injuries and roster churn, this is the kind of situation that could force a difficult decision soon. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Face An Elly De La Cruz Question They Cant Ignore
Terry Francona has made it clear he would rather not keep Elly De La Cruz in the leadoff spot, even with the switch-hitting star still giving the Reds all the traits that normally make a lineup look better at the top. De La Cruz brings speed, plate discipline and the kind of dynamic threat Cincinnati can build around, but the way he has been used has also put extra pressure on both him and Sal Stewart in the heart of the order.
The bigger question is whether the Reds can find a cleaner answer before next season, because this is not a problem that looks likely to solve itself. De La Cruzs slump has come at the same time the club has struggled, and a more traditional table-setter would make sense in theory, but the available choices may not fit Cincinnatis budget or roster needs all that well. [Read more 🡒]
Tommy Pham Just Piled Onto A Reds Frustration Fans Already Feel
A dropped fly ball was bad enough for the Reds to absorb in a game against the Cardinals, but the noise around it only grew after Tommy Pham took the criticism public on social media. Pham, who spent time with Cincinnati before moving on and is now in the minor leagues in the Phillies organization, took aim at Dane Myers and suggested the outfielder had put personal numbers ahead of the team, a charge that immediately stirred debate.
For Reds fans already bracing for another round of frustration, the episode added an unwelcome layer to a loss that might otherwise have faded quickly. Phams limited role this season gives his comments a certain awkwardness all their own, but they still landed in a familiar place for Cincinnati: another distraction attached to a team trying to sort out the basics while the conversation turns somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]