The Cincinnati Reds are riding a wave of momentum as they aim to complete a series sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates today. With the first pitch set for 1:35 PM ET, the Reds have already doubled their season wins against divisional opponents in this series, signaling a shift in their fortunes.
The Reds' lineup is ready to back up their recent success with Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart anchoring the infield, while JJ Bleday and Eugenio Suarez bring power to the outfield and designated hitter spots. The Pirates, on the other hand, counter with a lineup featuring Konnor Griffin and Brandon Lowe in the infield, with Bryan Reynolds and Nick Gonzales adding depth to their batting order.
On the mound, Brady Singer takes the ball for the Reds. His season has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but June has been kind to him.
Singer's recent performances have been stellar, allowing only four earned runs over 22 innings, which equates to a remarkable 1.64 ERA. His last outing was particularly impressive, as he blanked the Brewers over seven innings with seven strikeouts.
However, Singer's splits reveal a vulnerability to left-handed hitters, who are making solid contact and hitting for power against him.
Singer’s pitch arsenal includes a mix of a 4-seam fastball, 2-seam fastball, cutter, and slider, with the 2-seam being his go-to pitch at 47% usage. His velocity is steady, with the 2-seam averaging 91.3 mph.
For the Pirates, Mitch Keller is on the mound, and like Singer, his season has seen its ups and downs. After a strong start to the season, Keller’s ERA has ballooned to 7.19 over his last eight starts.
In his latest outing, he allowed three runs in six innings against Seattle. Keller has been dominant against right-handed hitters, limiting them to a low average and minimal power, but lefties have found more success against him.
Keller’s pitch mix is diverse, featuring a 4-seam fastball, 2-seam fastball, cutter, curve, slider, and split-finger fastball. His 4-seam fastball is his primary weapon, thrown 32% of the time with an average velocity of 93.5 mph.
In terms of team news, the Reds have placed Blake Dunn on the injured list, bringing TJ Friedl back from Triple-A to fill the void. Meanwhile, Hunter Greene is making his third rehab start for Louisville, looking to regain form after an earlier stint in Arizona.
As the Reds and Pirates prepare to clash, the weather could play a role, with rain expected around noon and potential thunderstorms later in the afternoon. The Reds are currently sitting at 39-42 in the division standings, trailing the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers by 11.5 games. With playoff odds at 5.6%, every game counts as they look to climb the standings and keep their postseason hopes alive.
In Other News...
Reds Slide May Force Trade Deadline Calls Fans Wont Like
The Reds recent slide has pushed them toward a familiar deadline lane, one that usually comes with uncomfortable decisions for a club trying to balance the present and the future. With several players carrying expiring contracts, Cincinnati is now being viewed as a seller, even as it keeps the pieces most central to its long-term plan protected from any serious trade chatter.
That makes the next few weeks more about sorting through the edges of the roster than blowing anything up. If another team comes with the right kind of offer, Cincinnati could at least listen on veterans and movable younger players, while keeping its core untouched. For a team still trying to build around a young nucleus, the hard part may not be deciding who stays, but how much short-term pain the front office is willing to absorb to avoid losing value for nothing. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Fans Have Every Reason To Worry About Eugenio Surez
Eugenio Surez gave Reds fans a scare in Pittsburgh when a pitch drilled his left hand and sent him out of the game. He stayed in long enough to try to keep going, but the discomfort eventually forced Cincinnati to turn to a pinch hitter, a troubling turn for a player who had just delivered a game-winning home run the night before.
The timing only added to the concern, especially with the visible damage that followed the hit and the fact that the club had to wait on further evaluation after the game. For a Reds lineup that leans on Surez for power and presence in the middle of the order, any hand injury is the kind of development that can hang over the next few days until there is a clearer read on what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Let Another Winnable Game Slip As Brewers Pressure Builds
The Reds had another chance to bank a series win Sunday, but a rough outing from Brady Singer helped turn the finale at PNC Park into a 9-4 loss to the Pirates. Singer worked 4.1 innings and was tagged for five earned runs, a performance that put Cincinnati in an early hole and made a comeback increasingly difficult as Pittsburgh kept adding pressure.
The trouble deepened after the rain delay, when the Pirates broke the game open with more power and sent the Reds home at 39-43. For a club trying to stay afloat in a tight stretch of the season, this was the kind of missed opportunity that stings because it felt winnable for a while, then slipped away before Cincinnati could really settle back in. [Read more 🡒]