Reds Rookies Rock Rays Rhett Lowder And Sal Stewart Shine

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds won their ninth road game of the season at the Tampa Bay Rays renovated home dome.

Sal Stewart took Rays’ starter Jesse Scholten’s full count pitch out of the park with Matt McLain, who doubled on base.

Minnesota.

 Blessed with a two-run lead Rhett Lowder appeared to be in a generous mood as the first four Rays batters reached base safely.

Leadoff hitter, Chandler Simpson, hit a ball into the hole at shortstop. It was feilded by Elly De La Cruz but with one of the fastest men in baseball running a throw was futile. De La Cruz wisely put it in his pocket.

Junior Caminero lined a clean single to left. Lowder walked Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz on 3-2 pitches. 

Reds manager Terry Francona and pitching coach began to worry how they would cover nine innings with the bullpen.

Then Lowder found his range. He stuck out former Red, Jake Fraley, on a called strike three on another full count pitch. The call was confirmed after Fraley’s appeal. Lowder landed a 2-2 pitch that caught Cedric Mullins looking. Nick Fortes grounded out and Lowder escaped with minimal damage and the lead.

Scholten’s, getting a chance at his first start since 2023, had a scoreless five inning relief stint five days ago in a win over the Chicago White Sox. He was nicked for a run in the third inning. TJ Friedl doubled to open the inning. McLain hit a ground ball to third base, fielded by Caminero. He tried to tag Friedl, who probably shouldn’t have tried to advance on a ball into front of him. The attempt allowed McLain to beat the throw to first. De La Cruz singled to score Friedl.

Lowder, who was in danger of having the game blow up on him in the first inning allowed three hits, including Fraley’s leadoff double in the fourth. He navigated five scoreless innings and ended with a quality start. It saved the Reds bullpen.

De La Cruz made an outstanding stop on Caminero’s bid for a second hit and popped up with and threw him out. Aranda singled after that then the Reds turned a double play on Diaz’ground ball.

The Reds got to Scholtens again in the sixth. Eugenio Suarez singled with one out in the sixth. Scholtens hit Spencer Steer with a pitch. Another head scratching decision by Caminero. Tyler Stephenson hit a one hopper that Caminero had to charge. He appeared to be able to step on third to force Suarez and throw out the slow footed Stephenson for a double play but elected to just throw out the Reds catcher at first. Rece Hinds, struggling since his recall last week, doubled for the second straight game.

Trevor Martin made his major league debut in relief of Scholtens. He surrendered a two-out double to Stewart. Martin didn’t give Stewart a look. Stewart bucked common wisdom and stole third. He ran for third with two outs when he was already in scoring position. It was the third questionable baseball decision that worked out for the Reds. Stewart scored on a wild pitch to put the Reds up 6-1. 

The Reds MLB leading bullpen finished off the Rays.

Brock Burke, Pierce Johnson and Connor Phillips pitched a scoreless inning apiece.

Phillips walked two to load the bases with two outs but Simpson hit a soft line to Stewart at first to end the game, sealing the Reds fourth straight win.

The Reds are 9-2 in road games so far.

The 1990 Reds was 12-2 in their first 14 road games. That team led the National League from the first game to the final game, wire to wire on their way to their last World Championship.

The Reds bullpen has an 0.43 ERA in the last seven games. They lead the Major League at 2.23.

Rhett Lowder Gets The Ball Trying To Extend Reds Road Success

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Rhett Lowder is charged with keeping the Big Road Machine going,

The Reds swept the Minnesota Twins in the cold last weekend. It was their second sweep on the road after doing in the Texas Rangers two weeks ago.

 

Opposing Lowder, is 32-year old right hander, Jesse Scholtens.  The Fairfield, California born pitcher, who finished his collegiate career at Wright State in Dayton will attempt to counter the Reds magic.

Scholtens started at Reds’ manager Terry Francona’s Alma mater, Arizona before transferring to Wright State. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the ninth round of the 2016 draft. He toiled in the Padres minor league system until after the 2022 season when the Chicago White Sox signed him as a free agent. 

Scholtens made 26 appearances in 2023 for the Sox with 11 starts. He had a 1-9 record with a 5.29 ERA. He missed all of 2024 with injury and was claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay last August. He was recalled by the Rays on April 11. This will be his first start in what could be a bullpen day for the Rays. He pitched five innings in relief on April 15, getting a win over the White Sox with five innings of scoreless baseball allowing one hit and two walks.

Powder is starting for the fifth start of the season. He is 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA. His last start was a 6 2/3 winning effort against the San Francisco Giants in which he allowed three runs on five hits and a walk. He struck out four.

The Reds attack Scholtens with:

TJ Friedl CF

Matt McLain 2B

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 1B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Spencer Steer LF

Tyler Stephenson C

Rece Hinds RF

Ke’Bryan Hayes 3B

Lowder will face:

Chandler Simpson LF

Junior Caminero 3B

Jonathan Aranda 1B

Yandy Diaz DH

Jake Fraley RF

Cedric Mullins CF

Nick Fortes C

Richie Palacios 2B

Taylor Walls SS

Reds Turn Hot In Cold Minnesota Sweep Twins

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds used every bit of drama they could muster in sweeping the Minnesota Twins with a 10-inning 7-4 win.

The Reds overcame all the odds and used every position player to nail  it down.

Cincinnati trailed 3-1 but scored three in the ninth and three in the 10th.

The Reds came all the way back to take with a ninth inning rally against Andrew Morris left in because the Twins normal progression of  relievers were used extensively in the first two games of the series.

Spencer Steer singled to start the ninth. Tyler Stephenson followed with a clutch single to right. Dane Myers walked to load the bases after Rece Hinds flied out to right. TJ Friedl, hitting .147 without an extra-base hit drilled a double to the gap in right center field. Matt McLain flied out against Garrett Acton in his first appearance in the series. Elly De La Cruz grounded out on a nice stop by Cody Clemens at first base.

Emilio Pagan came in to close the game. James Outman, who snapped an 0-for-19 slump earlier, doubled to lead off the bottom of the ninth. 

Pagan was a teammate of the next hitter Byron Buxton with Minnesota two years ago. Buxton popped up to first. Austin Martin doubled to tie the game. Pagan kept it right there by retiring Victor Caratini to end the inning.

De La Cruz was the ghost runner to start the 10th. Sal Stewart scorched Acton’s pitch but it was right at Martin in left. Eugenio Suarez hit a ball into the hole between short and third. The ball ticked off Brooks Lee’s glove into shallow left De La Cruz went to third and dashed home when Martin dropped the ball. Steer struck out but Will Benson, who ran for Stephenson in the ninth was walked to pitch to Hinds, hitting .063. Hinds spoiled the strategy belting a two run double down the line in left.

Graham Ashcraft, a starter all his career before last season, started the inning with ghost runner Caratini on second. Clemens lined out to right. Luke Keaschall hit a ground ball between the legs of the second base umpire. McLain fielded it and threw him out. Ashcraft walked pinch hitter Ryan Jeffers to bring up the tying run personified by Lee. On a 2-2 pitch Ashcraft earned his first save on any level when catcher PJ Higgins, who developed a reputation for challenging pitches with the ABS system took advantage of the addition of a challenge extra innings, turned it into a called third strike to seal the sweep.

The Twins scored first. Byron Buxton hit a slow ground ball to Gold Glove third baseman, Ke’Bryan Hayes. Hayes throw was short to Sal Stewart at first the in-between-hop rolled up Stewart’s arm and Buxton reached second, ruled a hit and an error. Trevor Larnach walked. Fly outs by Josh Bell annVictor Caratini sent Buxton home.

The Twins added two more in the third.

1963.

 Buxton walked, Larnach, Bell and Caratini singled to extend the lead.

The Reds countered in the fourth.

Elly De La Cruz led off with a double into the right field corner. James Outman fumbled the ball allowing De La Cruz to take third. He scored on Stewart’s ground ball out up the middle.

Singer pitched out of a first and third jam in the bottom of the frame. Buxton popped up in the infield for the second out. The Twins tried a delayed double steal. Outman broke late for second. Catcher Tyler Stephenson threw toward second. De La Cruz cut it and returned the throw to easily beat Brooks Lee at the plate to end the inning.

Twins starter Bailey Ober allowed just three hits in 6 1/3 innings but walked Spencer Steer and Rece Hinds before Twins’s manager, Derek Shelton, relieved him with left hander Taylor Rogers, who pitched for the Reds last year.

Reds skipper, Terry Francona, burned announced pinch hitter Nathaniel Lowe by replacing him with right handed hitter, Dane Myers, who popped up to third to end the threat.

Singer ended up with a quality start with six innings. He allowed five hits. Four walks contributed to the Twins offense.

Connor Phillips walked one in a scoreless eighth.

Matt McLain walked against Andrew Morris but he struck out De La Cruz. Stewart flied out and Suarez stuck out after a contested call after they were out of ABS challenges.

Brady Singer Looking For Sweep

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Brady Singer will try to continue the momentum from his last start against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday (041926).

The Twins will send 30-year old righthander, Bailey Ober, to try to stop the Reds from sweeping.

 Ober is 2-0 with a 5.49 ERA over his first four starts. He allowed four runs in his last start, a winning one against the Boston Red Sox. It was the longest start of his season so far. He is 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA against the Reds, lifetime.

Singer is 1-1 with a 5.60 ERA in his four starts. The last time out, Singer pitched a season high six innings against the San Francisco Giants, allowing one run.

Singer has struggled against Minnesota. He is 3-7 in 13 starts with a 5.63 ERA.

The Reds send this lineup to go for the sweep:

TJ Friedl CF

Matt McLain 2B

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 1B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Spencer Steer LF

Tyler Stephenson C

Rece Hinds RF

Ke’Bryan Hayes 3B

The Twins try to avoid the sweep with:

Byron Buxton CF

Trevor Larnach LF

Josh Bell DH

Victor Caratini C

Cody Clemens 1B

Luke Keaschall 2B

Tristan Gray 3B

Brooks Lee SS

James Outman RF

Reds Scrape And Scrap For Another One Run Win

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds won their sixth one-run game with a dramatic 5-4 win over the Minnesota Twins

Spencer Steele led off the ninth inning against Cole Sands. Nathaniel Lowe singled down the line in right. TJ Friedl bunted Steer to second and Dane Myers broke the tie with a single that dropped into no-man’s land. 

“Spence made an unbelievable read on the ball,” said Tyler Stephenson who drove in two runs in the game.”

 Andrew Abbott was better even after a rough start.

The Minnesota Twins parlayed a walk single and triple into two runs in the first inning.

The Reds got a run back in the second inning Sal Stewart walked against Twins’starter Taj Bradley. Nathaniel Lowe doubled Stewart to third. Tyler Stephenson hit a line fly to right to plate the run.

The Reds had three calls go against them in the third inning that cost Abbott an unearned run. Austin Martin hit a ground ball to Elly De La Cruz at shortstop. He bobbled the ball briefly but Martin was called out at first. The Twins challenged and the call was overturned. Josh Bell hit a one hop ground ball to Lowe at first. He stepped on the base and threw to Stewart at second. Martin was ruled safe but the Reds thought he came off the base on the slide. They challenged and that call was upheld. Luke Keaschall singled him home with two outs.

“It was a weird inning,” Stephenson said. “He (Abbott) didn’t have his best stuff but gave us some length for five innings.”

The Reds got another run in the fourth. Eugenio Suarez doubled. With two outs, Stephenson singled Suarez home.

The frustration continued for Abbott as the twins scored again in the Josh Bell opened the fifth with a single. Abbott got two fly outs, then fell behind Trevor Larnach 3-0. Larnach took a called strike. On the next pitch Larnach hit a foul ball toward the third base dugout. Stephenson just missed the catch at the railing. Larnach walked and Sam Moll took over for Abbott. Brooks Lee singled in the Twins fourth run.

Abbott pitched 4 2/3 innings gave up four runs, three earned on six hits and three walks.

Moll closed out the inning b.

Pierce Johnson gave up a lead off single in the sixth but turned in a scoreless frame.

The Reds stayed close with a run in the seventh off Justin Topa. Rece Hinds singled for his first hit of the season. He was recalled Tuesday from Louisville. Hinds stayed out of a double play by running on a pitch to Ke’Bryan Hayes ground out to short. Friedl struck out and Myers was hit by a pitch. Elly De La Cruz singled up the middle to make it 4-3. Stewart lined out against the wall in right to allow the Twins to keep the slim lead.

Brick Burke pitched out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh. Keaschall doubled. Larnach grounded out to Burke. Lee walked. Kreidler popped out. Burke struck out Tristen Gray to end the inning.

The Reds pulled even in the eighth against Eric Orze. Suarez singled. Nathaniel Lowe singled him to third. Matt McLain ran for Lowe. Hinds flies to center. McLain intentionally forced the throw to be cut off and got into a rundown to make sure Suarez scored the tying run.

Kyle Nicolas struck out the side in the eighth inning and earned his first win of the season when Tony Santillan struck out Matt Wallner for the last out of the game

Santillan earned his first save of the season by turning in his 10th scoreless inning in 10 appearances.

Andrew Abbott Eager To Get Back To All-Star Form

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Andrew Abbott was frustrated by his spring training performance.

 After his last outing he allowed seven earned runs in three innings. A lot of them were not hit very hard but eluded infielders. At least that was the positive spin the left hander put on it.

“I was locating pretty well in the first inning. I got some soft contact which found holes. I just didn't make pitches when I had to. We talked about getting more groundballs and we've done that. To this point they haven't been to our guys. There is nothing wrong with it. It is still soft contact. I think I gave up two hit balls over 95. I'm doing what I need to do. It's just luck of the draw. Today was not a good day.". I got some soft contact which found holes. I just didn't make pitches when I had to. We talked about getting more groundballs and we've done that. To this point they haven't been to our guys. There is nothing wrong with it. It is still soft contact. I think I gave up two hit balls over 95. I'm doing what I need to do. It's just luck of the draw. Today was not a good day."

His job against the Minnesota Twins is to get ground balls to cooperate and go to his fielders.

Abbott pitched a scoreless six innings against the Boston Red Sox as the opening day starter. 

He goes into the game Saturday (041826) with an 0-2 record and 5.85 ERA.

The Reds will face 25-year old right hander, Taj Bradley.

Bradley was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth round of the 2018 draft out of Reagan High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

He came to the Twins in July of last year in a trade for Griffin Jax.

In his last start against the Toronto Blue Jays he allowed one run in five innings on five hits. His downfall was four walks that prevented his third consecutive quality start. Prior to that he pitched six innings and 6 1/3 innings and allowed a total of one run.

The lineup facing Bradley is:

TJ Friedl CF

Will Benson LF

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 2B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Nathaniel Lowe 1B

Tyler Stephenson C

Rece Hinds RF

Ke’Bryan Hayes 3B

Abbott will try to induce ground balls from:

Byron Buxton DH

Austin Martin RF

Josh Bell 1B

Ryan Jeffers C

Luke Keaschall 3B

Trevor Larnach LF

Brooks Lee SS

Ryan Kreidler CF

Triston Gray 3B

Brandon Williamson Pleases Family And Friends In Hometown With A Win

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Brandon Williamson triumphantly returned to Minnesota and battled wildness but shut down the team he rooted for as a child.

Wlliamson allowed one run on three hits. He are 5 1/3 innings to defeat the Minnesota Twins, 2-1.

Four walks threatened his longevity. He only struck out two but used the ballpark to his advantage. 

His defense also bailed him out of a self induced jam and he turned a lead over to an more than capable bullpen.

Eugenio Suarez provided all the offense the Reds needed with a two-run double in the fourth inning

Normally the designated hitter, Suarez started the double play that extricated Williamson from the bottom of the fifth jam.

Elly De La Cruz doubled in the fourth. Sal Stewart hit a smash to third baseman, Ryan Kreidler. His throw to Josh Bell was low and bounced away enough for De La Cruz to obtain third. Stewart stole second baseman. Suarez shot a drive to the left field gap and the Reds had a 2-0 lead.

Williamson was cruising but walked Brooks Lee, Kreidler and Byron Buxton with no outs. Austin Lee hit a line fly to right that Will Benson made a sliding catch on as Lee scored and Kreidler went to third. Luke Keaschall hit a hot one hop ground ball toward the line. Suarez snared it made a quick pivot to Matt McLain who turned the inning ender.

Minnesota starter, Joe Ryan pitched two more scoreless frames.

Williamson got the first out of the sixth. Veteran Josh Bell hit his second single of the game.

Manager Terry Francona brought in Connor Phillips.  Phillips struck out Victor Caratini and got Matt Wallner on a weak ground ball to the first base side of the mound.

The Reds were now set up with Graham Ashcroft pitching a scoreless seventh. He walked Trevor Karnach with one out. Buxton flied out to right. Martin singled but Keaschall tried Suarez again and was unsuccessful.

Tony Santillan allowed a inning opening single to Ryan Jeffers but got three routine flies.

Emilio Pagan, who dodged a tight hamstring injury, made quick work of his former teammates on 13 pitches to seal the Reds 12th win in 20 games.

The Reds are 9-0 in games decided by two runs or fewer. They are 11-0 in games in which they take a lead into the seventh inning.

 

Brandon Williamson Returns Home To Face The Minnesota Twins

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Brandon Williamson, a Minnesota native, will make his fourth start of the season against the Twins, continuing his comeback.

 In his last start against the Los Angeles Angels, he only allowed three hits but walked six in four innings. He allowed all three runs in the Reds’ 7-3 win and the bullpen picked him up.

In his second start of the season against the Miami Marlins he got credit for the win with 6 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball.

It will be his first start against the Twins.

 

Joe Ryan will start for Minnesota, his fifth. He is 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA. 

In his last start, Ryan pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk. He struck out five.

He has one start against the Reds. He is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA. He gave up four runs in five innings against the Reds on September 18, 2023.

The lineup against Ryan is:

TJ Friedl CF

Matt McLain 2B

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 1B

Eugenio Suarez 3B

Nathaniel Lowe DH

Spencer Steer LF

Will Benson RF

Tyler Stephenson C

Williamson will challenge:

Byron Burton CF

Austin Martin LF

Luke Keaschall 2B

Ryan Jeffers DH

Josh Bell 1B

Victor Catarini C

Matt Wallner RF

Brooks Lee SS

Ryan Kreidler 3B

Reds Error Aids Giants To Avoid Sweep And Tempers Flare

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Elly De La Cruz booted a ground ball that led to the San Francisco Giants three-run seventh that handed the visitors a 3-0 win after the Reds won the first two games. The Reds managed a harmless single to drop to 11-8 on the season.

Chase Burns for the Reds and Landen Roupp for the San Francisco were stingy on Thursday at Great American Ball Park.

Burns was a better host, allowing two hits through six innings. Roupp played the part of the free loading relative that brought nothing to the picnic. He allowed no hits in the first five frames.

"Their guy in this day and age, guys kind of throw the ball ripping it and riding it (up). He sunk it and then he threw a curveball off of it. It gave us a really tough time," Terry Francona said. "At times generating offense has been a lot harder for us than we want it to be. Today was one of those days."

Burns pitched to the minimum 18 batters. Willy Adames singled in the first inning but catcher P.J. Higgins threw him out attempting to steal the silverware at second base. The Reds turned double plays after Drew Gilbert walked in the third inning and Jung Hoo Lee singled int he fifth.

"We were getting ahead. We kind of knew there were a couple guys taking the first pitch. We just kind of tried to get strike one and go from there," Burns said. "I get kind of pumped up to go out there to throw, that could be a con for me sometimes. I'm just trying to stay smooth."

Burns pitched for Giants manager at the University of Tennessee before he transfered to Wake Forest. 

"I don't talk to him,"Burns said. "There are some guys over there like the strength coach, I chatted with him. There were no thoughts about facing him really. I just tried to go out and do my job."

Higgins, one of the best players in minor league baseball at challenging calls through the ABS system, saved Burns a walk by challenging a 3-2 pitch called a ball by home plate umpire, Junior Valentine. Patrick Bailey became a strike out victim instead. 

Higgins then singled to open the bottom of the sixth for the Reds first hit. TJ Friedl was hit by a pitch and the Reds had their first two batters on. Matt McLain struck out. Elly De La Cruz hit into a double play to end the threat.

Brock Burke came in to face the left handed Giants' lineup designed in an unsuccessful attempt to rattle Burns.

Luis Arraez reached base on an error by De La Cruz to open the seventh. Burke caught Adames and Rafael Devers looking at third strikes but Matt Chapman delivered the unearned run with a double to left centerfield. Lee's second single made it 2-0. When right handed Heliot Ramos was announced to pinch hit for Will Brennan, Reds' manager, Terry Francona, brought Connor Phillips into the game. Ramos walked and Casey Schmitt singled home the Giants' third run.

Burns finished with six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk and striking out four.

"I keep saying he's learning," Francona said. "There's nothing wrong that because he is. It gets exciting in a hurry."

Ryan Walker relieved Roupp, who pitched six scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks. He hit two batters and struck out six. One hit batter raised eybrows when he hit Steer in the second inning. The Giants thought a pitch was too close to Ramos on Wednesday.

With two outs in the eighth inning, Phillips hit Adames with a pitch. Adames stepped toward the mound but Valentine cut him off as he ejected Phillips from the game. Sam Moll replaced Phillips on the mound. Devers fouled out to Steer in left.

Keaton Winn took over for the Giants in the bottom of the eighth. Erik Miller started the ninth to attempt the save.

Miller walked McLain but had three stikeouts, including Sal Stewart to end the game.

The teams had a discussion around home plate with the umpire crew prepared to referee.

"I actually missed it," Francona said after the game. "Cause when he struck out I usually Once Sal was called out I usually put my head down and sulk back off to the tunnel. I kinda was on the late show."

There was foreshadowing by Giants' first year manager Tony Vitello on Tuesday. He came straight out of the college coaching ranks at Tennessee to take over the Giants.

"These guys (Major Leaguers) play with each other on travel teams but in the SEC when you play a three-game series on the weekend by the end the two teams hate each other," Vitello said.

Stewart was upset beyond the strike out and was animated right after and was confronting Miller.

"I had my at bat. I struck out. He came down the mound and was looking at me, pointing at me. Tempers flared. Things happened and it's all good," Stewart said. "We won the series, tough game today and we're going to Minnesota and play, so I'm not going to talk more about that."

Phillips was questioned about why he was ejected.

"A win today would have been really nice. We weren't able to do that," Phillips said before explaining the incident that got him ejected. "We tried to go in the first one. Obviously, I missed. I tried to go in again and hit him. No warnings, you know. It is what it is. I guess, you know, its the same crew from last night. They know what happened. They come in and hit Spence. Maybe, there trying to let the game get out of hand.

Chase Burns Takes On His College Coach As Reds Try A Sweep

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Tony Vitello recruited Chase Burns and coached him for two years before he transfered to Wake Forest.

Today the are at the very beginning of their Major League careers facing off at Great American Ball Park.

Vitello will send right hander Landen Roupp to counter the Reds top pick in the 2024 draft.

"I will obviously throw as much at him as I can from the left handed side," Vitello said. Indeed the Giants' lineup has five dedicated left handed hitters in the lineup, plus switch hitting catcher Patrick Bailey. "He has always been a strike throwing, although walks are up a little bit. I think our guys can see it well from him from the left side."

Burns is making his fourth start of the season. Like all of the Reds starters on the third round of the rotation, had a rough start the last time out. The 23-year old gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels his last time out. Prior to that he earned his first career win against the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching five scoreless innings in a 2-0 whitewash. He allowed just one run in six innings, a home run by Joc Pederson, in the Reds 2-1 win over the Texas Rangers.

Roupp is in his third season with the San Francisco Giants. He was the 12th choice of the club in the 2021 draft out of UNC-Wilmington. He is 2-1 in three starts with a 3.24 ERA. He has two quality starts pitching six scoreless innings in his first effort against the San Diego Padres and a six inning stint in which only one run crossed the plate in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles.  In between he suffered a 4 2/3 inning game against the New York Mets, allowing seven runs, five earned, absorbing the loss.

He has the reputation of being a tough competitor.

"He as competitive as anyone we have. We need him to be like the roadblock he was in San Diego," Vitello said.

The Reds will test his competitiveness with:

TJ Friedl CF

Matt McLain 2B

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 1B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Spencer Steer LF

Rece Hinds RF

Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B

P.J. Higgins C

Burns will counter:

Luis Arraez 2B

Willy Adames SS

Rafael Devers 1B

Matt Chapman 3B

Jung Hoo Lee RF

Will Brennan LF

Casey Schmitt DH

Drew Gilbert CF

Patrick Bailey C

Arraez, Devers, Lee, Brennan and Gilbert bat left handed. Bailey is a switch hitter.