CINCINNATI REDS NOTES:

TODAY’S TRANSACTIONS

• Prior to tonight’s game, the Reds are expected to reinstate from the COVID-19 injured list LHP Brandon Williamson (#55). The corresponding roster move is TBD.

TONIGHT’S GAME

• Is Game 1 of a 3-game series vs Mark Iacofano’s Tigers and Game 1 of a 6-game road trip that includes an upcoming visit to NYM’s Citi Field. Is the Reds’ first game here since the 2020 COVID-19 season. Following this road trip, the Reds return to Great American Ball Park for their final homestand of the championship season (3g vs Min, off day, 3g vs Pit). Reds are coming off a 5-5 homestand (2-2 vs Chc, 2-1 vs Sea, 1-2 vs StL).

SERIES NOTES

• The Reds are 17-18 all-time vs the Tigers (9-10 at Cin, 8-8 at Det). The Reds beat the Tigers, 4 games to 3, in the 1940 World Series. According to @EliasSports, the teams’ doubleheader during the 2020 COVID-19 season, on 8/2/20 at Det, was the first in the Major Leagues since 1900 in which both games were scheduled for fewer than 9 innings.

BIG ROAD MACHINE

• The Reds are 31-17 over their last 7 road trips covering 15 road series. The Reds won 10 of their previous 15 road series, including a streak of 7 straight road series wins snapped by the Brewers in the last series before the All-Star Game break. From 5/26-7/6, the Reds won at least 7 straight road series for only the third time in their history (1923, 1976).

ROTATION

• Rookie pitchers have made 49 starts for the Reds. The Reds started a rookie pitcher in 4 of the last 5 games, a stretch interrupted by Hunter Greene’s start on Sun, and in 7 in the last 9 games. RHP Lyon Richardson (4gs), who began the season at Class A Daytona, started twice in that 9-game span. LHP Andrew Abbott (18gs), who began the season at Class AA Chattanooga, started twice in that 9-game span. RHP Carson Spiers (2gs), who began the season at Class AA Chattanooga, started twice in that 9-game span. RHP Connor Phillips (1gs), who began the season at Class AA Chattanooga, made his Major League debut in Tue’s 7-6 win vs Sea. Richardson, Abbott, Spiers and Phillips made their Major League debuts this season, along with fellow starters LHP Brandon Williamson (19gs) and RHP Levi Stoudt (2gs), each of whom began the season at Class AAA Louisville.

ROSTER NOTES

• 65 players have appeared in at least 1 game for the Reds, the most of any team in the Major Leagues and 1 player shy of the single-season club record established in 2022. 40 pitchers, including position players C Luke Maile (4 times) and IF Jason Vosler (twice), have appeared in at least 1 game for the Reds, a new single-season club record (38 pitchers, 2022). 17 pitchers have started at least 1 game for the Reds, tying the singleseason club record (2003, 2022). Pending today’s roster move, the Reds have 9 rookies on today’s roster. RHP Fernando Cruz, IF Elly De La Cruz, IF Christian EncarnacionStrand, IF Noelvi Marte, IF/OF Spencer Steer, LHP Andrew Abbott, RHP Daniel Duarte, RHP Connor Phillips and LHP Brandon Williamson. Had a season-high 12 rookies on the 27-player roster for the 8/23 day/night doubleheader at LAA. 16 Reds players made their Major League debuts this season, the most of any team in the majors…listed below in the order in which they debuted: 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, RHP Randy Wynne, RHP Jake Wong, IF Christian Encarnacion-Strand, RHP Lyon Richardson, IF Noelvi Marte, RHP Carson Spiers, RHP Connor Phillips. • 23 rookies played in at least 1 game for the Reds, the most of any team in the Major Leagues and tied for fourth-most in club history (26 in 1909, 25 in 2016, 24 in 1914 & 2017, 23 in 2022)…courtesy @EliasSports.

LET THE KIDS PLAY

• The Reds are the first team in Major League history with 3 rookies, in a single season, with at least 10 HR & 10 stolen bases each (Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Spencer Steer). For the first time since 1890, when Cincinnati joined the National League, 3 Reds rookies have produced at least 10 HR…courtesy @EliasSports.
  With 54 HR the Reds have tied the franchise record for home runs in a season by rookies (Spencer Steer 20, Matt McLain 16, Elly De La Cruz 11, Christian Encarnacion-Strand 6, Noelvi Marte 1)…the 2008 team also recorded 54 home runs by rookies (Joey Votto 24, Jay Bruce 21, Chris Dickerson 6, Ryan Hanigan 2, Paul Janish 1).

Tonight’s Pitcher – #55 Brandon Williamson, LHP
Tonight will come off the COVID-19 injured list to make his 20th career appearance and start, his first since 8/29 at SF. On 9/2 went on the COVID-19 injured list. In his last 11 starts beginning 7/1 went 3-3, 3.15 (60ip, 49h, 21er, 16bb, 58k, 7hr, .222baa). Twice picked runners off second base, KC’s Bobby Witt Jr. (PO/CS 145) and SD’s Fernando Tatis Jr. (PO/CS 165). Once was called for a pitch timer violation, on 5/22 vs StL (Paul Goldschmidt batting). Twice was called for disengagement violations, on 8/7 vs Mia (Jorge Soler batting, Jon Berti to second on the balk) and on 8/29 at SF (Paul DeJong batting, J.D. Davis to second and Patrick Bailey scored on the balk). On 6/26 at Bal walked his second batter, Adley Rutschman, to snap at 10.0 his consecutive innings streak without issuing a walk. On 5/16 at Col, became only the 10th visiting pitcher to make his Major League debut with a start at Coors Field, the first since Hou’s José Urquidy on 7/2/19. Became only the fourth Reds pitcher to make his Major League debut with at least 5.2 innings, 2 hits or fewer allowed and at least 6 strikeouts, joining Tom Carroll (7/7/1974 vs StL, 7ip, 2h, 6k), Mo Sanford (8/9/1991 at SD, 7ip, 2h, 8k) and Johnny Cueto (4/3/2008 vs Ari, 7ip, 1h, 10k). Became only the fourth Reds pitcher in the expansion era (since 1961) to retire at least 14 consecutive batters in his Major League debut, joining Wayne Simpson (16, 4/9/1970 at LAD), Rob Bell (16, 4/8/2000 vs Cubs) and Johnny Cueto (15, 4/3/2008 vs Ari). In that 3-1 win on 5/16 at Col, allowed a single to Charlie Blackmon, his first career batter faced, but didn’t allow another hit until Ezequiel Tovar’s solo HR in the sixth inning snapped the scoreless tie…Williamson retired 14 consecutive batters leading up to Tovar’s home run. 2 of his starts were shortened by rain, a third was suspended & completed the next day and a fourth start was postponed & played the next day. In the top of the third inning on 6/26 at Bal did not return after a 1 hour, 44-minute rain delay. On 7/6 at Wsh, remained in the game following a 1-hour, 43-minute rain delay in the top of the second inning…pitched 3.0 innings. On 7/17 vs SF, the game was suspended with the score tied at 2-2 with 1 out in the eighth inning (completed the next day, 4-2 loss in 10 innings). His start on 8/12 at Pit was postponed 49 minutes prior to the scheduled first pitch…was played the next day.

DETROIT TOGERS NOTES:

TIGERS EARN SERIES WIN WITH 3-2 VICTORY: The Tigers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and held off the White Sox, clinching the series with a 3-2 victory on Sunday. Spencer Torkelson had a pair of hits, including a double, and drove in two, while Andre Lipcius also had two hits and a RBI. Making his Major League debut, Sawyer GipsonLong threw 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with no walks and five strikeouts. The Tigers bullpen combined for 4.0 scoreless innings with Will Vest, Tyler Holton, Miguel Diaz and Alex Lange each pitching an inning. Lange struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 23rd save.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW: Sawyer Gipson-Long made his big league debut on Sunday, tossing 5.0 innings and giving up two runs on four hits with no walks and five strikeouts. He became the first pitcher in franchise history to throw at least 5.0 innings with no walks and at least five strikeouts in his debut. Gipson-Long is the sixth Tigers player to make his debut this season and the fourth pitcher to do so.

START ME UP: Sawyer Gipson-Long allowed two runs in 5.0 innings on Sunday, continuing an impressive stretch for Tigers starting pitching. Detroit starters have allowed three runs-or-less in 14 consecutive games, the team’s longest streak since a stretch of 15 straight games from April 26-May 13, 2014. Over the last 14 games, Tigers starting pitchers have posted a 2.49 ERA (68.2IP/19ER) with 70 strikeouts. Since August 27, Detroit starters lead the American League and rank second in the Majors in ERA and opponents batting average (.200), while also leading the AL and ranking fourth in the big leagues in WHIP (1.08).

VIERLING HEATING UP: Matt Vierling went 1×4 with a run scored in Sunday’s game, extending his hitting streak to a career-long nine games. Vierling’s streak is tied for the longest active streak in the American League. Over his last nine games, Vierling is 13×33 with two doubles, a homer and three RBI.

TORK TIME: Spencer Torkelson continued his hot finish to the season on Sunday, going 2×4 with a double and two RBI. Since June 27, Torkelson has a .900 OPS with 14 doubles, one triple, 19 home runs and 44 RBI in 65 games. During that stretch, he ranks second in the American League in home runs, while he is tied for fourth in extra-base hits (34) and tied for sixth in RBI.

AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers are 2-1 on their current six-game homestand, which includes three games vs. Chicago (AL) (2-1) and three games vs. Cincinnati (September 12-14). Detroit is 31-41 at Comerica Park this season. As a team, the Tigers are hitting .240/.307/.375 at home, while the pitching staff has a 4.75 ERA
(659.0IP/348ER).

TIGERS AND REDS: The Tigers and Reds begin their only series of the season tonight. Detroit and Cincinnati last played in 2021 with the Tigers winning two-of-three games. Detroit has an 18-17 edge in the all-time series, including an 8-5 record at Comerica Park.

INTERLEAGUE ACTION: The Tigers continue their interleague schedule tonight against the Reds. Detroit is 19-21 against National League foes this season, including a 7-6 record against NL Central teams. The Tigers have finished with a winning record against NL opponents in each of the last two seasons.

TIGERS ON THE IL:

• LHP Tyler Alexander (left lat/shoulder strain, 60-day IL on July 4, retroactive to July 3)
• LHP Matthew Boyd (left elbow sprain, 60-day IL on June 27)
• RHP Mason Englert (left hip tightness, 15-day IL on July 24, retroactive to July 23)
• OF Riley Greene (right elbow inflammation, 10-day IL on September 2)
• RHP Matt Manning (right foot fracture, 15-day IL on September 7)
• OF Austin Meadows (anxiety, 60-day IL on April 8, retroactive to April 7)
• RHP Casey Mize (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on February 17)
• RHP Freddy Pacheco (right elbow sprain, 60-day IL on March 27)
• LHP Andrew Vasquez (left calf tightness, 15-day IL on August 29, retroactive to August 28)

TONIGHT’S TIGERS STARTING PITCHER

43 Joey Wentz • 2-11, 6.65 ERA (90.2IP/67ER)

• Wentz will make his 22nd appearance overall and his 18th start of the season tonight in the series opener vs. Cincinnati. His most recent outing came last Tuesday out of the bullpen at New York (AL), throwing 1.1 innings and allowing one run on no hits with two walks and zero strikeouts. Will be making his first career appearance against the Reds tonight… in 16 career appearances, including 14 starts, at Comerica Park, Wentz is 0-6 with a 6.65 ERA (67.2IP/50ER) and 61 strikeouts. In 17 starts this season, he is 1-10 with a 7.17 ERA (75.1IP/60ER) and 67 strikeouts…has also made four relief appearances and has a 1-1 record with a 4.11 ERA (15.1IP/7ER) and 16 strikeouts. Struck out a career-high nine batters on June 17 vs. Minnesota, allowing two runs on two hits with one walk in 6.0 innings. Has also started six games with Triple A Toledo this season, compiling a 2-1 record with a 4.40 ERA (28.2IP/14ER) and 37 strikeouts.