St. Louis Cardinals (19-18) @ Cincinnati Reds (17-20)
The Reds have been irrelevant since 2017, and they have made the playoffs only four times in the past 30 years. They have modest “.500 ball” expectations this season. Aging stars Joey Votto, Mat Latos, and Jay Bruce dominate their payroll, but not their leaderboards. The Reds play at Great American Ballpark, which seats 42,059 and favors hitters. The Reds are managed by Demarlo Hale, in his third season at the helm.
Pineda and Perdomo will each take another turn in the rotation during this series. I need to make up my mind about trading for a top-shelf starting pitcher.
May 17, 2021: G038 (19-19, 0.5 GB, 2nd)
Star: CIN DH Beau Kline 3-5, DBL, HR, 3 RBI
It was not a good day for Pineda: 5 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 4 HR, 3 BB, 3 K
Reliever Alex Reyes became the ninth player to be placed on waivers and designated for assignment this season. The converted starter just doesn’t have the stuff to be a short reliever and I have two long men already. My bullpen is #9 in the league (with a 3.56 ERA) and it needs to improve. I called up veteran reliever Ryan Rodebaugh, recently acquired from Kansas City in the Kyle Hald trade, to share seventh inning duties with lefty Dalton Friend.
May 18, 2021: G039 (19-20, 1.5 GB, 2nd)
Star: CIN SP Mat Latos 8 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K
Our offense made this washed-up pitcher look like Walter Johnson.
Seattle SP Taijuan Walker turned in a gem vs. Oakland today: 9 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K.
On Wednesday morning, we learned that SS J.P. Crawford has been diagnosed with chronic back soreness and will be out for a month. Our infield defense is killing us right now between errors and a general lack of range with Wong at SS and T-Mick at 2B. Rios will return in a couple of days to play shortstop, but I need a utility infielder again. (Why did I waive Navarro?) Crawford was placed on the 15-day D/L and Gilbert Griffin was called up from Memphis simply because he is already on the 40-man roster. I am working on a more permanent solution.
May 19, 2021: G040 (19-21, 2.5 GB, 3rd)
Star: CIN SP Daniel Corcino 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
The sweep drops us into third place behind the Reds.