CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:
TRANSACTIONS
- The Reds today recalled from Louisville RHP Ricky Karcher (#74) and RHP Joel Kuhnel (#66), optioned to Louisville RHP Eduardo Salazar, placed on the 15-day injured list RHP Graham Ashcraft (left calf contusion) and sent to Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment OF/1B Wil Myers (kidney stone, left shoulder sprain).
- When he pitches, Karcher will become the ninth player to make his Major League debut this season and the 12th rookie to play for the Reds.
- Myers joins Joey Votto (left rotator cuff, left biceps surgeries), OF Henry Ramos (right hip strain) and RHP Casey Legumina (right ankle contusion) on rehab at Louisville…RHP Tony Santillan (left hamstring strain) is scheduled to throw live batting practice today in Columbus and next week could go on a rehab assignment with the Bats.
RED HOTS
- Elly De La Cruz is the second Major League player since 1900 to produce within his first 3 career apps a single, double, triple, homer and stolen base (Bill Bruton, Milwaukee Braves, 1953)…courtesy @EliasSports.
- Reds batters rank third in the Major Leagues with 63 stolen bases (TB 83, Pit 68), their highest total since 2019 (80sb)…recorded 58 stolen bases all last season…have been successful on 23 of their last 24 attempts, including an active streak of 5 straight successful steals.
- The Reds rank 26th in the Major Leagues with 51 HR, their fewest in 63 games since 1989 (51hr)…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.
- Reds baserunners in 55 attempts have scored 54 runs from second base on singles…both lead the Major Leagues.
- 8 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)…11 rookies played in at least 1 game for the Reds.
TONIGHT’S GAME
- Is Game 1 of a 3-game series vs Jacob Mayer’s Cardinals and Game 1 of a 10-day, 9-game road trip to StL (3g), KC (3g) and Hou (off day, 3g).
- The Reds are coming off a 3-4 homestand vs the Brewers (1-3) and Dodgers (2-1).
- Following this road trip the Reds return to Great American Ball Park for a 6-game homestand vs the Rockies (3g) and Braves (3g).
SERIES NOTES
- This weekend the Reds and Cardinals are meeting for the second time this season, including a 2-2 series split from 5/22-5/25 at GABP.
- In 2022, the Cardinals won 12 of the 19 games and 5 of the 6 series.
- In the Reds’ most recent trip here, from 9/15-9/18, 2022, they faced the Cardinals in a 5-game series (3-2 Cardinals series win) for the first time since 7/25-7/27, 1958 (3-2 Reds series win).
ROYALS UP NEXT
- The Reds are 14-18 all-time vs KC, including a 2-1 series win at KC in their most recent meeting (2021).
- The Reds’ first appearance at Kauffman Stadium, a 3-game sweep there in June 1999, was their first appearance in Kansas City since the Red Stockings and Cowboys of the American Association met in 1889.
- The first game of that June 1999 series was postponed because of a power failure…the Reds swept the next day’s doubleheader, 9-4 and 7-4 in 10 innings, before winning the series finale, 14-3…was the first doubleheader in interleague history.
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).
FOREVER YOUNG
- 1B Spencer Steer was National League Rookie of the Month for May… in August 2022 was acquired from the Twins in the Tyler Mahle trade.
- Rookie SS Matt McLain was National League Player of the Week for 5/22-5/28 and International League Player of the Week for 5/1-5/7…was the Reds’ first-round draft pick in 2021 (17th overall).
- LHP Andrew Abbott on 6/5 vs Mil made his Major League debut after just 41 minor league apps…is 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… when promoted, he led all minor league pitchers in strikeouts…was the Reds’ second-round draft pick in 2021. - IF Elly De La Cruz made his Major League debut on 6/6 vs LAD…is the second player in modern Reds history to triple and homer in the same game within his first 2 career apps and the fifth Major League player since 1900 to record a double, triple and homer within his first 2 games (Lloyd Merriman 1949, Bill Bruton 1953, Bill Russell 1969, Starlin Castro 2010)
Tonight’s Pitcher – #59 Ben Lively, RHP
- Tonight is making his second career appearance and start vs the Cardinals.
- Posted a 1.69 ERA in his 2 relief apps (5.1ip, 1er, .238baa) and a 3.33 ERA in his 4 starts (24.1ip, 9er, .193baa).
- In the 9-8 win on 5/30 at Bos threw 5.2 innings in the longest scoreless start of his career.
- Joined the Reds from Louisville on 5/9, when RHP Luis Cessa was designated for assignment…in 5 apps for the Bats went 4-0, 2.33 (4gs, 27ip, 19h, 10bb, 16k).
- Made his Reds debut in the second inning of the 5-0 win on 5/11 vs NYM…relieved spot starter Derek Law and threw 3.0 scoreless innings, still tied for the longest appearance by a Reds reliever this season…was his first Major League appearance since 4/28/19 for KC vs LAA, his only appearance of that season, and his first win since his last appearance of the 2017 season (9/27/19 for Phi vs NYM).
- His start on 5/19 vs the Yankees was his first start in the Major Leagues since since 4/26/18 for Phi vs Ari.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals begin a six-game homestand at Busch Stadium tonight with the opener of a three-game weekend series with the division-rival Cincinnati Reds … The San Francisco Giants make their annual visit to St. Louis for three games beginning on Monday … St. Louis recently went 1-5 over a six-game road trip through Pittsburgh (0-3) and Texas (1-2).
FLIGHT PATTERN: Entering today, the Cardinals are in last place in the National League Central, 8.0 games behind first place Milwaukee and 0.5 games behind fourth place Chicago … Overall this season, St. Louis has spent 44 of 71 days in last place on the 2023 Major League schedule (April 26-May 19 and May 29-present) … This season is the Cardinals 7th-worst start through 63 games and worst since beginning 25-38 (.397) in 1995.
PLUS/MINUS: The Cardinals (+1), Twins (+35, 31-32), and Padres (+16, 29-33) and the only three MLB teams with losing records but positive run differentials.
ROSTER UPDATE: Prior to tonight’s homestand opener, the Cardinals activated outfielder Dylan Carlson from the 10-Day Injured List and optioned outfielder Juan Yepez to Memphis (AAA) … Carlson, who missed the previous 21 games due to a left ankle sprain suffered on May 14 at Boston, hit .333 (3-9) with a double, RBI, and three walks during a recent three-game injury rehab assignment with Memphis this week … Additionally, right-handed pitcher Jake Woodford (right shoulder inflammation) has been activated from the 15-Day Injured List and optioned to Memphis.
RED ALERT!: The Cardinals have won nine of their last 12 over the Reds at Busch Stadium (Sept. 11, 2021-present), however eight of those 12 games were decided by two runs or fewer … St. Louis has finished with a .500 record or better vs. the Reds at home in each of the last 16 seasons (2007-22) and beaten Cincinnati at home (93-53 record) more than any opponent at Busch III.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: The Cardinals have lost the first game in 16 of their 20 series, including a franchise record 11-straight to begin the season … St. Louis is 4-0 when winning the series opener, but just 2-11-3 in series when losing the first game … The last time the Redbirds won a series when dropping the opener was April 10-12 at Colorado (2-1).
HOME IMPROVEMENT: Recently finishing a stretch of playing 13 of their last 15 games on the road across five different cities (5-10 record), St. Louis enters today having played the 4th-fewest home games in MLB (28) … The Cardinals have won seven of their last 10 home games (May 7-present) since starting 5-13 in their first 18 home affairs.
THE FULL MONTY: Jordan Montgomery is attempting to break a streak of a career high 10 straight starts without recording a win (April 13-present), tying Steven Matz for the team’s longest active streak of winless starts … Montgomery’s last win was April 8 in which he fired 7.0 scoreless innings at Milwaukee’s American Family Field … The Cardinals have lost nine of 12 Monty starts by one-run and/or shutout … Johan Oviedo and Daniel Ponce de Leon share the Cardinals record at 19 winless starts in a row.
DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS: Jordan Walker has recorded his first 24 career hits off 24 different pitchers, 4th-longest streak by a player to begin their Cardinals career in the Expansion Era (since 1961) … The highest for any MLB player to debut in the Expansion Era is 8 by Peter O’Brien, whose first 38 hits while playing for Arizona and Miami (2015-19) came against 38 different pitchers
THE COLLEGE GAME: Cardinals watching their alma maters participate in the NCAA Division I College World Series Tournament with this weekend’s Super Regionals include LHP Jordan Montgomery (South Carolina), INF Tommy Edman (Stanford), 1B Luken Baker (TCU), and broadcaster Ricky Horton (Virginia).
TOP PROSPECTS: According to recent prospect ranking updates, both the Cardinals and Reds currently boast two of the top prospects across all of baseball … MLB Pipeline has outfielder Jordan Walker ranked No. 1, while SS Elly De La Cruz is No. 4 … Baseball America has De La Cruz as MLB’s top prospect while Walker is No. 6.
LONDON CALLING: The Cardinals will be taking part in a two-game series in London, England in two weeks (June 24-25) when they host the Chicago Cubs in an international series … The two division rivals were slated to play in London in 2020 before the pandemic canceled much of the MLB season … For the Cardinals, it will mark their first trip to Europe … The Cardinals have previously played in showcase regular season games in Monterray, Mexico (2019) vs. the Reds, Williamsport, Pennsylvania (2017) vs. the Pirates at the Little League World Series, and in Honolulu, Hawaii (1997) vs. San Diego in the Padres Paradise Series.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP JORDAN MONTGOMERY (2-7, 4.23)
TONIGHT’S GAME
NL Leaders: Losses (7, T-1st); Hits (74, T-3rd)
- Makes his 13th start of the season and his 121st career (24th as a member of the Cardinals).
- Needs one strikeout for 600 in his career.
- Is trying to snap a career-high seven-game losing streak, although the Cardinals have been shut out in three of his seven losses. He has had three quality starts among his seven defeats.
- The Cardinals have lost 9 of the 12 games started by Monty by one-run and/or shutout.
- The Cardinals have lost 10 straight starts by Montgomery dating back to April 13 vs. Pittsburgh. He has never gone 10 consecutive starts without a winning decision in his MLB career (9 starts without a win to begin 2022 season w/NYY).
- Posted a 6.04 ERA in the month of May, his highest of any month in his career with more than one start and highest since a 5.90 ERA in five starts with the Yankees in September 2020.
- Has failed to throw 6.0 or more innings in his last five starts after tossing 6.0 or more in 5-of-his-first-7.
- Went seven consecutive starts (4/13-5/16) with three runs of support or fewer and three with zero (4/13, 4/24, 4/29).
- Is 8-10 with a 3.68 ERA in 23 starts as a member of the Cardinals. St. Louis won 10-of-his-first-13 starts, but have now gone 0-10 since.
- Leads all Cardinals pitchers with 121 strikeouts since being acquired at the 2022 Trade Deadline (8/2/22); Miles Mikolas ranks 2nd with 113.
- Has not walked a left-handed batter since being acquired by the Cardinals (75 total batters faced). Is the only pitcher in MLB who has faced 70+ left-handed batters without a walk to a LHB since 8/1/22.
- Has held his opposition to three earned runs or fewer in 78% (94-of-120) of his career starts.
LAST TIME OUT
- Threw a season-low 75 pitches in his 5.2 IP, allowing 4 runs (one earned) as the Pirates posted a 4-3 with three unearned runs in their 6th inn. It was 4th-straight one-run loss for the Cardinals in game started by Montgomery.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
6/3 @PIT L 4-3 L-7 5.2 4 4 1 1 5 1 75-47
2023
- Allowed a pair of runs in a no-decision on 5/28 at Progressive Field as Cleveland scored two in the bottom of the 9th, handing the Cardinals a 4-3 walk-off loss.
- Allowed just two home runs in his first seven starts and back-to-back games with two home runs each at CHI (5/10) and vs. MIL (5/16). His streak of four straight starts with a home run (5/5-22) was the 3rd-longest of his career.
- Prior to his 5/10 start at Wrigley, he’d allowed just one earned run in three road games this season, fanning 22 in 19.2 IP. In nine career road starts with St. Louis, he’s allowed one or fewer earned runs in five of those games.
- Took his first no-decision of the season as the Cardinals fell, 5-4, to the Detroit Tigers on 5/5. It was his team-leading 5th quality start, and 3rd-straight.
- Locked horns with Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers on 4/29 at Dodger Stadium… allowed just one run across 6.2 IP, but was handed his 4th-straight loss (1-0).
- Threw a season-high 107 pitches and limited the SF Giants to just one unearned run over his 6.0 IP on 4/24, but took the loss as Alex Cobb blanked the Cardinals, 4-0. It was just the 2nd road loss for Monty as a member of the Cardinals.
- Established a new career-high with a 15.0 inning scoreless streak from 4/2-13, surpassing his previous high of 14.2 IP.
