MLB Preview: Cincinnati Reds (34-35) at Houston Astros (39-30)

CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:

TRANSACTIONS

• The Reds today returned from a rehabilitation assignment and reinstated from the 10-day injured list IF/OF Nick Senzel and optioned to Louisville IF/OF Jose Barrero.
• Senzel on 6/6 went on the 10-day injured list with a right knee injury… Tue and Wed he made 2 rehabilitation apps for Louisville vs St. Paul (1gs at 3B, 1gs in LF, 2-7, .286, 1bb, 2k, 2r).

RED HOTS

• Reds baserunners in 58 attempts have scored 57 runs from second base on singles…both lead the Major Leagues.
• Reds batters are tied for second in the Major Leagues with 70 stolen bases (TB 91, Pit 70), their highest total since 2019 (80sb)…recorded 58 stolen bases all last season…have been successful on 30 of their last 32 attempts.
• Reds batters have 57 HR, third-fewest in the Major Leagues and their lowest total through 69 games since 2001 (54hr)…from 4/18-4/25, this year’s team did not produce a home run in a season-high 8 consecutive games, their longest team homerless streak since 1992.
• In Wed’s 7-4 at KC, the Reds tied their season high with 4 home runs (Spencer Steer, Stuart Fairchild, Matt McLain, Jonathan India)…became
  only the fourth visiting team over the last 3 seasons to hit 4 HR in a game at Kauffman Stadium.
• 9 Reds players have made Major League debuts this season (RHP Casey Legumina, RHP Levi Stoudt, IF Matt McLain, LHP Brandon Williamson, RHP Eduardo Salazar, OF TJ Hopkins, LHP Andrew Abbott, IF Elly De La Cruz, RHP Ricky Karcher)…12 rookies played in at least 1 game for the Reds.
• The starting time for the Reds’ game on Fri, 6/30 vs SD has been changed to 5:10 p.m. ET (from 7:10) to help alleviate the congestion anticipated from the crowd of approximately 100,000 expected to attend events on the riverfront, including a sold-out concert by superstar entertainer Taylor Swift.

TONIGHT’S GAME

• Is Game 1 of a 3-game series vs Dusty Baker’s Astros and Game 7 (5-1) of a 10-day, 9-game road trip to StL (2-1), KC (3-0) and Hou (0-0) that included yesterday’s hot off day here.
• With a 3-0 series win at KC, the Reds are coming off their third series sweep of the season (3-0 vs Tex, 4/24-4/26 & 3-0 at Cubs, 5/26-5/28) and their second 3-game series sweep of the Royals (1999).
• Following this series the Reds return to Great American Ball Park for a 6-game homestand vs the Rockies (3g) and Braves (3g)…went 3-4 on their most recent homestand (1-3 vs Mil, 2-1 vs LAD).

SERIES NOTES

• The Reds and Astros are meeting for the fourth time since Houston joined the American League in 2013.
• Cin and Hou most recently met in 2019 at Great American Ball Park, a 3-game series sweep by the Reds.
• The teams are playing at Minute Maid Park for the first time since an Astros 2-1 series win here in June 2016.
• The Reds went 10-5 in the Astros’ final National League season in 2012 and 41-20 in Hou’s last 4 seasons in the NL.
• Overall, the Reds have won 45 of the last 64 games vs Hou and 17 of the last 20 series.

INTERLEAGUE NOTES

• Before the interleague schedule expanded this season to include games vs all 15 American League teams, from 1997- 2022 the Redlegs went 188-247 vs the American League, at .432 the lowest interleague winning percentage of any Major League team…in 2022 the Reds went 12-8 vs AL teams…last season’s was their first winning record vs the American League since 2013 (11-9)…in the 8 seasons between the 2013 & 2022 season series wins, the Reds went 61-99 vs AL teams (.381).

THE ONLY RED

• In Mon’s 10-inning, 5-4 win at KC, RHP Ricky Karcher became the only Reds pitcher since 1969, when the save became an official statistic, to record a save in his Major League debut…was the third pitcher in the Major Leagues this season to record a save in his Major League debut, joining TB’s Braden Bristo (4/13 vs Bos) and Min’s Brent Headrick (4/19 at Bos)…SF’s Keaton Winn joined that short list on 6/13 at StL

Tonight’s Pitcher – #41 Andrew Abbott, LHP

• Tonight is making his third Major League appearance and start.
• Since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893, is the only Reds pitcher to begin his career with consecutive scoreless starts of at least 5.0 innings.
• His 11.2-inning scoreless streak to begin his Major League career is the third-longest such streak by a Reds pitcher since 1893, when the mound was moved to its current distance, behind only Amir Garrett in 2017 (12ip) and Wayne Simpson in 1970 (15ip)…courtesy @EliasSports.
• Is the first Reds pitcher to win each of his first 2 Major League starts since LHP Reiver Sanmartin (RAY-ver sanmar-TEEN) did it on 9/27 & 10/3, 2021.
• Is trying to become the first Reds pitcher to win each of his first 3 Major League starts since RHP Wayne Simpson did it from 4/9-4/19, 1970.
• Joined the Reds’ Taxi Squad on 6/4…the next night vs Mil made his Major League debut after just 41 minor league apps (39gs, 14-7, 3.45)…when promoted led minor league baseball in strikeouts (90k, 54ip).
• In his Major League debut, threw 6.0 scoreless innings to earn the 2-0 win vs Mil and snap the Reds’ 4-game losing streak…became the only Reds pitcher since 1893, when the mound was moved to its current distance, to produce in his Major League debut at least 6.0 scoreless innings while allowing fewer than 2 hits… didn’t allow a hit until Joey Wiemer doubled with 1 out in the top of the fifth inning…first career strikeout was Christian Yelich…became the first Reds pitcher to win his Major League debut since Hunter Greene did it on 4/10/22 at Atl (6-3 win) and the first lefthander to do it since Reiver Sanmartin did it on 9/27/21 vs Pit (13-1 win)

HOUSTON ASTROS NOTES:

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Astros will open a three-game set tonight against their former NL Central rival, the Cincinnati Reds… tonight’s pitching matchup features a pair of rookies in RHP J.P. France opposite LHP Andrew Abbott…France is making his eighth Major League start, while Abbott is making his third… the Astros enter tonight 12-4 in their last 16 home games.

THE FRENCHMAN:RHP J.P. France has been solid in his first seven Major League starts, limiting his opponents to one-or-fewer earned runs in four of those outings…he’s pitched into the 7th in each of his last two outings, tossing 6.2 innings of three-run ball in his last outing on Saturday at CLE…the 28-year-old rookie, and the former 14th-round pick by the Astros, earned his way to the Major League rotation after having a strong start to the season at Triple A Sugar Land, going 2-1 with a 2.33 ERA (5ER/19.1IP) in five games (three starts).

GRINDERS: The Astros are within a streak of playing 26 games in 27 days (since May 26), and are 11-9 within this streak…on Sunday, the Astros completed a streak of playing games on 17 consecutive days, which is their longest streak of the season.

VS. THE REDS: The Astros and Reds have a long history with each other, as the two clubs have played on 848 occasions, the most games played by the Astros against any single opponent… Houston is 401-446-1 in those all-time matchups…the Astros and Reds have not played since the 2019 season, a three-game sweep by the Reds in Cincinnati…the last time the Reds were in Houston was back in 2016, with the Astros winning two of
three from June 17-19.

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Astros fell to 0-5 in extra-inning games last night after a 4-1 defeat in 10 innings to the visiting Washington Nationals…trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the 9th, the Astros tied it up on a pinch-hit single by Yainer Diaz…they went to the 10th tied at 1-1, but a three-run 10th by the Nationals proved to be the difference…RHP Cristian Javier (0ER/6IP) pitched great in his start, allowing just five hits and no walks in the no decision…RF Kyle Tucker had a great game, going 3×4 with a double and a run scored.

ELIAS SAYS: Last night, RHP Cristian Javier recorded a career-high 15 flyball outs and no groundouts, with the only assist in his outing coming on a caught-stealing by C Martín Maldonado in the 2nd inning…the last pitcher in the Majors with a scoreless outing of 6+ IP without recording a groundout was Tampa Bay’s RHP Luis Patiño on July 29, 2021 vs. NYY…Javier is the first Astros pitcher to post a scoreless outing of 6+ IP without recording a groundout in franchise history.

TODAY’S ROSTER MOVE: The Astros have reinstated RHP Ryne Stanek from the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List…to make room for Stanek on the active roster, the Astros \optioned LHP Matt Gage to Triple A Sugar Land following last night’s game.

PEÑA’S PALS: SS Jeremy Peña will host the sixth Peña’s Pals of the 2023 season, this time honoring kids from Southwest Public Schools…Pena’s Pals, a new program developed by Jeremy in partnership with the Astros Foundation, celebrates kids and their development in academics, character building and making healthy choices…tonight’s honorees will be treated to the game courtesy of Peña, and will attend batting practice, receive special Peña’s Pals shirts and more.

INJURY UPDATES: Prior to Wednesday’s game, Astros GM Dana Brown provided several updates on the club’s injured players:

• RHP Lance McCullers Jr. underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair the flexor tendon in his right forearm and remove a bone spur…McCullers will be out for the remainder of the year, but is expected to return at some point during the 2024 season.
• LF Yordan Alvarez has been diagnosed with a right oblique strain and is expected to be sidelined for four-plus weeks.
• RHP José Urquidy (right shoulder discomfort) is still throwing on flat ground, but will likely pitch off the mound this homestand…once he begins throwing off the mound, the Astros will have a clearer timeline for his return.
• OF Michael Brantley (right shoulder surgery) is hitting in the cages and throwing pain free and will ramp up his baseball activities this homestand…his progress over the next two weeks will clear up the timeline for his return.

PITCHING IN: The Astros have the lowest team ERA (3.24) and have allowed the fewest runs (252) in the Majors…the Astros starters rank second in Majors in ERA (3.26), while their bullpen checks in at third in the Majors in ERA (3.20).

Lowest Team ERA – MLB Runs Allowed – MLB

1. Houston: 3.24 1. Houston: 252
2. Tampa Bay: 3.53 T2. Minnesota: 263
3. Minnesota: 3.58 T2. Tampa Bay: 263

TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: RHP J.P. FRANCE
LAST START – 6/10 AT CLE: picked up the 2nd winning decision of his career, striking out 6 batters through 6.2 IP and allowing 3 runs on 7 hits…logged back-to-back quality starts for the 1st time in his young career.

ROOKIE LEADERBOARD: ranks 2nd of AL rookies (min. 40 IP) in ERA (3.54) and 3rd opponent’s batting average (.242)…trails only teammate RHP Hunter Brown (3.35) for the lead amongst AL rookies in ERA (min. 40 IP).

THE FIRST FRANCE: rookie right-hander made his Major League debut with his start on May 6 at Seattle…allowed 1 earned run in 11.2 IP through is first two MLB starts…he became the 4th pitcher in club history to work 5.0-plus innings, allowing 1-or-fewer runs in each of his first 2 Major League starts…joining LHP Dallas Keuchel (2012), LHP Carlos Hernández (2001) and RHP Manny Hernández as the only other Astros pitcher to record this feat.

ON THE ROAD: has posted a 1.88 ERA (5ER/24IP) through the first 4 road starts of his career…has held opponent’s to a .209 batting average (18×86) and .591 in those starts.

VS. CIN: will be making his 1st career start against the Reds and the 3rd interleague start of his career.

REVERSE SPLIT: has held left-handed hitters to a .191 batting average (13×68) and .539 OPS this season.

SLIDE PIECE: opponents are batting .133 against his slider this season (4×30), which has accounted for 15.8 percent of his pitches.

ABOUT FRANCE: was selected in the 14th round by the Astros in the 2018 draft out of Mississippi State…the 2023 season is his 6th in the Astros system.

• pitched for 3 years at Tulane, missed his sophomore season due to injury, before he transferred to Mississippi State…posted a 3.77 ERA in 25 appearances (59.2IP/2GS) as a grad transfer…he played a crucial part in the Bulldogs clinching an NCAA Super Regional berth by throwing 7.0 innings of two-run ball vs. Oklahoma in the Tallahassee Regional.