CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
RED HOTTEST
- The Reds’ 5-game winning streak ties both their season high (4/24-4/29) and their longest winning streak of last year (7/7-7/12)…haven’t produced a winning streak longer than 5 games since 2021, when their season-best streak was 6 straight wins (4/3-4/9, 6/11-6/16).
- In 5 games on this road trip the Reds are hitting .337 with 65 hits and 39 runs scored.
- Last night’s 5-4 win snapped the Reds’ streak in which they had scored at least 8 runs in 4 consecutive games, their longest streak since 7/28- 7/31, 1987 (4g).
- The Reds won each of C Curt Casali’s last 8 starts and 9 of his last 10 starts.
- Stuart Fairchild is hitting .375 in his last 7 apps.
- TJ Friedl is hitting .471 since he returned from the injured list on 5/23.
- Luke Maile in his last 15 apps beginning 4/25 is hitting .297.
- Matt McLain is hitting .429 during a season-high 9-game hitting streak, the longest active streak on the team and tied for the longest by a Reds batter this season (Spencer Steer)…is the first Reds player with at least 7 multi-hit games through his first 14 Major League games since Jay Bruce had 7 multi-hit games in his first 12 apps in 2008.
- Kevin Newman in his last 18 apps is hitting .360.
- Nick Senzel has a 4-game hitting streak (.400), hit safely 7 of his last 8 apps (.367) and produced at least 1 RBI in 7 of his last 8 apps (8rbi).
- Spencer Steer in his last 13 apps is hitting .400 with 7 multi-hit games.
- Reds pitchers in the last 7 games are 6-1, 3.86.
- Reds starting pitchers in the last 7 games are 4-0, 2.77.
- RHP Alexis Díaz didn’t allow a run in any of his last 6 apps (6.1ip)…has converted all 13 save chances, the longest conversion streak of his career and the longest by a Reds pitcher since 2009 (Francisco Cordero, 15sv).
- RHP Buck Farmer in his last 18 apps has posted a 1.21 ERA.
- RHP Ben Lively in his 3 starts has posted a 2.08 ERA.
- LHP Alex Young in his last 9 apps has posted a 1.50 ERA.
RED HOTS
- Reds baserunners in 52 attempts have scored 51 runs from second base on singles…both lead the Major Leagues.
- In the first inning, Reds batters rank third among the Major League team leaders in hitting (.315; Atl .335, TB .315) and hits (70; Atl 80, TB 76).
- The Reds entered today ranked 29th in the Major Leagues with 43 HR (Cle 30th, 33hr), their fewest in 55 games since the 1988 team produced 43 HR through its first 55 games…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.
- Tomorrow night’s game vs the Brewers, followed by the Zac Brown Band concert, will be the largest attended concert in Great American Ball Park’s 21-year history and is threatening GABP’s single-game record for a baseball game (2023 Opening Day, 44,063).
TONIGHT’S GAME
- Is Game 3 (2-0) of a 3-game series vs Joe Cochran’s Red Sox and Game 6 (5-0) of a 6-game road trip to the two oldest ballparks in the Major Leagues, Chc’s Wrigley Field (1914) and Bos’ Fenway Park (1912).
- Tonight the Reds are looking to complete their first undefeated road trip of more than 2 cities for the first time since 7/23- 7/29, 2012 (3-0 at Hou, 3-0 at Col).
- Earlier on this trip, the Reds completed their first series sweep of the Cubs since 7/2-7/4, 2021 (3g at Great American Ball Park) and their first series sweep at Wrigley Field since 8/12-8/14, 2013 (3g).
- Tomorrow the Reds begin a 7-game homestand vs the Brewers (4g) and Dodgers (3g) before hitting the road again for a 10-day, 9-game road trip to StL (3g), KC (3g) and Hou (off day, 3g).
SERIES NOTES
- Regardless of tonight’s outcome, the Reds have won a series vs the Red Sox for the first time since the 1975 World Series and have won a regular season series against a team from Boston for the first time since a 2-1 series win vs the Braves in September 1952…was the opening series of the Braves’ final homestand in Boston.
- The Reds’ 2-1 win on 5/31/22 was their first victory at Fenway Park since Game 7 of the 1975 World Series.
- In the June 2005 series at Fenway, the Reds were outscored by the Sox, 23-4, and hit .167 (15-90, 32k) while posting an 8.25era (.340ba)…gametime temperature on 6/13/05 was 91 humid degrees, dropped to a chilly 54 for Game 2 and then plummeted to a frigid 49 for the series finale.
BREWERS UP NEXT
- In 2022 the Brewers won 4 of this season’s 6 series and 13 of the 19 games.
- Reds pitchers in 2022 allowed 44 HR to Mil, the most by Brewers batters against any team in a single season and the most allowed to any team in a season by Reds’ pitchers…the 2017 Brewers rank third on the Reds pitchers’ list (38hr), behind the 2016 Cubs (42hr).
Tonight’s Pitcher – #21 Hunter Greene, RHP
- In just his second season, tonight is making his 36th Major League appearance and start.
- Is his second career appearance and start vs the Red Sox…is the 1-year anniversary of his only other appearance vs Bos, also at Fenway Park.
- In his last 2 starts recorded 10 and 11 strikeouts…no Reds pitcher, since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893, ever has recorded at least 10 strikeouts in 3 consecutive apps…courtesy @EliasSports.
- In his career has produced 5 starts of at least 6.0 innings with 2 hits or fewer, tied with Bruce Berenyi for the most by a Reds pitcher in his first 35 apps.
- In Fri’s 9-0 win at Wrigley Field, for the second time in his career threw at least 6.0 innings without allowing a hit (1-0 loss on 5/15/22 at Pit, 7.1ip).
- Produced a career-high 29.0-inning homerless streak between home runs by Oneil Cruz on 3/30 vs Pit and Elvis Andrus on 5/5 vs WSox.
- Allowed 1 HR in his first 6 starts (28ip) and 7 HR in his last 5 starts (28p).
- This season has allowed 8 HR in 11 starts 56.0 innings…allowed 6 HR at Great American Ball Park and 2 HR at Coors Field…through the first 11 starts of his 2022 rookie season allowed 15 home runs.
- Has been charged with a team-high 4 pitch timer violations, most recently on 5/10 vs NYM (Pete Alonso walked).
- Was the Reds’ 2023 Opening Day starting pitcher.
- At age 23 years, 236 days became the first pitcher age 25 or under to start for the Reds on Opening Day since 1980, when at age 22 years, 232 days RHP Frank Pastore beat Phil Niekro and the Braves, 9-0…courtesy @EliasSports.
- Became the first second-year pitcher to start for the Reds on Opening Day since 26-year-old RHP Raisel Iglesias started the 6-2 win vs the Phillies in the 2016 season opener…courtesy @EliasSports.
- On 4/18 signed a $53 million contract through the 2028 season that includes for 2029 a $21 million club option and $2 million buyout
BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox have lost their last 3 games…They are 1 game above .500 (28-27). The Sox have been above .500 since 4/29 (14-14). They finished the month of May with a 13-13 record. At 28-27 (.509), the Sox rank 5th in the AL East and are 4.0 games back from the AL’s 3rd Wild Card spot.
SERIES BUSINESS: The Red Sox have lost the 3-game series vs. CIN to fall to 11-6-1 in series play, including 6-3-0 at home. The Sox were swept in 4 of their previous 5 series losses (0-3 vs. PIT, 0-4 at TB, 0-3 vs. STL, 0-3 at LAA). They are 3-3-1 in their last 7 series, beginning 5/9.
SOX AND REDS: The Red Sox have lost their 1st ever regular season series to the Reds…They are 2-4 vs. CIN since the start of 2022 after entering last season 12-1 against the club. The Sox are 1-3 vs. CIN at Fenway Park since the start of 2022…They entered 2022 5-0 in home games vs. CIN.
CENTRAL SCARIES: The Red Sox are 1-3-0 in series against NL Central opponents this season. They beat the 1st-place Brewers in a 3-game series
in Milwaukee from 4/21-23 (2-1), but have lost every game (all at home) against the 2nd-place Pirates (0-3), 3rd-place Reds (0-2), and 4th-place Cardinals (0-3).
NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Tonight concludes a stretch over which 17 of the Red Sox’ 23 games from 5/5-6/1 were against NL teams…They are 7-9 against NL teams during that span (2-1 at PHI, 1-1 at ATL, 0-3 vs. STL, 2-1 at SD, 2-1 at ARI, 0-2 vs. CIN). The Red Sox are an MLB-best 297-208 (.588) all time in Interleague play, but 9-13 this season. The Sox are 4-3-1 in Interleague series this season.
GETTING BUSY: The Red Sox are currently in a span of 26 games in 27 days for the Red Sox, from 5/30-6/25 (0-2 so far). 4 of the Sox’ 8 series during that span are against teams with a record currently below .500 (vs. CIN, at CLE, vs. COL, at CWS)…The Sox are 9-8 against opponents with a sub-.500 record. They will play 3 series against AL East opponents during that span (vs. TB, at NYY, vs. NYY)…Just 1 of their 9 series from 4/28-6/1 were within the division (5/1-4 vs. TOR).
ON THE MEND: Christian Arroyo and Adam Duvall are both on rehab assignments with Triple-A Worcester. Arroyo has made 3 starts at 2B and 1 as the DH…He has recorded a hit in each of his 4 games (5-for-14, 2B). Duvall has made 1 start in CF and 1 as the DH (0-for-6).
HOME COOKING: The Red Sox are 15-13 at Fenway Park…They’re 2-6 in their last 8 games at the venue, after going 11-3 in their previous 14.
The Sox have averaged 10.5 hits per game at home, 0.9 more than the closest team (COL-9.6)…They’ve recorded 10+ hits in each of their last 4 home games.
RED SOX IN HOME GAMES
Stat MLB Rank
6.0 R/game 2nd
10.5 H/game 1st
4.1 XBH/game 1st
124 wRC+ 4th
Stat MLB Rank
.298 AVG 1st
.360 OBP 1st
.489 SLG 3rd
.849 OPS 2nd
COLD STRETCH: The Red Sox are 2-7 in their last 9 games, batting .239 with just 27 runs and 5 HR in that span. 4 of their 7 losses during that span have been by 1 or 2 runs, including each of their last 3 games.
UPS AND DOWNS: The Red Sox are 15-13 in their last 28 games, beginning 4/29…That span includes the Sox’ 2 longest winning streaks of the season (8 games, 4/29-5/6 and 4 games, 5/15-20) and 2 season-high-tying 4-game losing streaks (5/12-15 and 5/21-24). Since snapping their season-long 8-game winning streak on 5/7, the Sox are 7-13 in 20 games, averaging 3.9 runs/game and 0.9 HR/game during that span.
START ME UP: James Paxton allowed 1 run over 5.0 IP last night, holding CIN scoreless through the first 4.0 innings. Red Sox starting pitchers have allowed 2 earned runs or fewer in 10 of their last 12 games…Their 3.19 ERA (21 ER/59.1 IP) during that span ranks 2nd in MLB (TEX-2.58).
Beginning on 4/29 vs. CLE, pitchers in the Red Sox’ current starting rotation (Bello, Houck, Paxton, Sale, Whitlock) are 9-6 with a 3.51 ERA (45 ER/115.1 IP).
SETTING SALE: Chris Sale leads the Red Sox in wins (5). The Sox are 7-3 in Sale’s starts, including 4-1 in his last 5. He’s 4-0 with a 2.23 ERA, .172 opponent AVG, and 8.75 SO/BB in his last 5 starts.
CHRIS SALE’S LAST 5 STARTS
Game (final score) Dec. IP H R BB SO
4/30 vs. CLE (7-1) W 6.1 3 1 0 5
5/5 at PHI (5-3) W 6.0 7 3 1 10
5/13 vs. STL (3-4) ND 8.0 3 1 1 9
5/20 at SD (4-2) W 7.0 3 2 1 8
5/26 at ARI (7-2) W 5.0 4 1 1 3
TOTALS: 4-0 32.1 20 8 4 35
FOREVER AND DEVERS: Rafael Devers recorded his 200th career double last night, and his 500th career RBI on Tuesday. He’s the 13th player ever to record 150+ HR and 200+ doubles for the Red Sox, and 1st to do so before turning 27 years old. Only 13 players have reached 150+ HR and 200+ doubles at a younger age than Devers did (26 years, 219 days).
150 HR AND 200 DOUBLES ≤ 26 YEARS, 219 DAYS OLD
Active Players Retired Players
Rafael Devers Albert Pujols Al Kaline
Manny Machado Adrian Beltre Hank Aaron
Mike Trout Andruw Jones Hal Trosky
Miguel Cabrera Alex Rodriguez Mel Ott
Ken Griffey Jr. Jimmie Foxx
SLUGGING SOX: The Red Sox rank in MLB’s top 5 in runs scored (4th, 285), AVG (4th, .264), OBP (3rd, .333), OPS (5th, .768), doubles (2nd, 124), and XBH (T-4th, 191). The Sox have recorded 10+ hits in 23 games, tied for 3rd most in MLB behind TEX (30) and TB (27). BOS hit 2 HR last night, snapping season-long streak of 9 games without hitting multiple HR.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: 41 CHRIS SALE – LHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO WHIP AVG
2023 5-2 4.72 10 10 55.1 29 8 14 65 1.16 .237
CAREER 119-77 3.08 333 253 1733.1 594 186 401 2129 1.05 .220
Is making his 1st career appearance vs. CIN…Is the only ML team in his career that he hasn’t pitched against.
Earned his 5th win of the season Friday at ARI, allowing 1 run over 5.0 IP (4 H, BB, 3 SO)…The Red Sox improved to 7-3 in his starts (4-1 in last 5).
Has a 2.91 ERA in his last 7 starts (43.1 IP, 14 ER, 32 H, 46 SO), after recording an 11.25 ERA in his first 3 (12.0 IP, 15 ER, 18 H).
Has thrown 5.0+ innings in each of his last 7 starts…Red Sox are 7-3 in his starts.
Has allowed 3 HR over his last 7 starts, all solo (5 HR in his first 3 starts).
Has 5 BB in his last 6 starts (37.1 IP), after issuing 9 BB in his first 4 (18.0 IP).
