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.

Reds Show No Mercy To Former Mate Tyler Mahle

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Sal Stewart hit two three-run home runs in the first two innings to launch the Reds to an 8-3 win, taking the first two games from the San Francisco Giants.

The Reds treated their old teammate, Tyler Mahle, very disrespectfully in the first inning. It was the first time he faced the Reds since leaving in the trade with Minnesota.

TJ Friedl, one of Mahle's old mates, singled to open the bottom of the first. Matt McLain walked. Mahle struck out Elly De La Cruz looking. Stewart lined his sixth home run of the season into the right field bleachers. 

Eugenio Suarez followed with a home run into the seats in right.It was Suarez' 192nd home run as a Red, breaking a tie with Brandon Phillips, who will enter the team's Hall of Fame on April 25, for 12th place. He is six behind Barry Larkin's 198 for 11th place.

Tyler Stephenson and Tony Santillan were with Mahle on the Reds when he was traded for Spencer Steer in August 2022. Steer lined a pitch off Mahle to record a single. Mahle struck out Stephenson to end the inning. 

The Giants got off the mat in the second inning against Rhett Lowder. Matt Chapman singled and Jung Hoo Lee walked. Daniel Susac doubled inside the third base bag into the right field corner to score both runners.

"That second inning, he gave up an 0-2 hit and a walk but he was pretty good," Francona said. "He just threw the ball really well."

Stewart struck again in the second inning. With two outs, McLain and De La Cruz walked. Stewart hit his second three-run home run of the game to give him seven on the season, three is the series. 

"I am happy I had a good day. But it is over now. We have to come back tomorrow and get a sweep. What I did today, won't help me tomorrow," Stewart said.

He has three home runs in two games all to right center.

"I can be as complete as I can be when I'm using the whole field," Stewart said. "I try to stay gap to gap right center to left center. I feel like that allows me if I'm late, I shoot it to right. If I'm early, I hook it to left. It makes me a complete hitter. I'm glad I got a good pitch to hit and stuck with my game plan."

"He is driving the ball the other way and getting rewarded," Terry Francona said. "That's a good recipe."

De La Cruz joined the party with a 442 foot rocket to straight away center field. It was his sixth home run of the season.

"I'm feeling really good, really comfortable," De La Cruz said. "I try to get better every time. There is always something to get better at. Everybody is bringing good energy and good vibes. We have no pressure even on bad days."

It ended the torture for Mahle who finished four innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits and five walks. Four of the eight hits were home runs. Mahle struck out six. He has given up 65 home runs at Great American Ball Park over his career.  

Lowder retired 12 Giants batters in a row before Luis Arraez singled with one in the sixth inning. He was quickly erased when Casey Schmitt hit into a double play.

Lowder gave up a leadoff single to Rafael Devers in the seventh. He retired the next two hitters on hard outs, then Susac's second hit put runners on first and third.

"The ball was coming out a lot better. I was executing a lot better," Lowder said. "I was getting ahead and the times I didn't I was able to throw soft stuff in there and get weak contact. I flipped a couple counts. That was huge for me."

Brock Burke came in and gave ups singles to pinch hitters Heliot Ramos and Jerar Encarnacion for one run. Willy Adames struck out for the fourth time with the bases loaded.

Lowder was charged with the three runs on five hits, one walk and four strikeouts. 

Graham Ashcraft pitched a scoreless eighth. Pierce Johnson started the night in a non-save situation. He gave up a leadoff double to Lee but stranded him on third base to end the game.

Emilio Pagan Tests Hamstring

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Emilio Pagan winced as he threw the final pitch of the game that retired Daniel Susec on Tuesday.

The camera caught him and he was examined post game as his left hamstring tightened.

Pagan tested it on Wednesday afternoon after which the Reds staff debated whether it was safe for him to pitch the night game. And if not who would assume the closer's role if they ruled that he would not be available.

"I think the worry was he would be sore. He went out and threw from flat ground," Francona. "That was pretty encouraging. It depends on how we get to the ninth. It could depend on where we are in the order, how much guys have pitched. There are a lot of factors."

He felt the hamstring tug at him the batter before but wasn't worried about it.

"During the Ramos at bat. It felt a little tight," said Pagan, who struck out Heliot Ramos for the second out of the ninth. "I threw the first pitch to Susec and it felt pretty good. On the last pitch, I felt it in my left leg. It didn't feel good. It didn't pop or anything. I think the camera caught me wince a little bit. I saw doc, there was no bruising or anything. I came in this morning and there was no bruising, making sure it didn't get any worse. There is not any pain but it is very tight. I did some treatment already this morning and played some catch. It went fine, so it's looking like we kind of dodged the bullet."

"They are going to meet to see if I'm available or not. I want to pitch. I always want to pitch. But I understand, we don't want to turn a couple day thing into a couple weeks. If they want me to throw on the side first, I'll probably do that tomorrow. I threw catch more aggressively than I normally do, to see where we're at. I wouldn't put this in an injury category. There is a difference between an injury and hurt. It hurt a little bit but I wouldn't say that I was injured. My whole career, I've been considered durable."

Pagan earned his fifth save second in the Major Leagues to Arizona's Paul Seward's six. He gave up four runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 1 but since has turned in six straight scoreless outings. He retired the Giants last night on seven pitches.

"That's probably the best I've pitched all year. The most strikes I've thrown to the areas that I wanted to. The slider I missed was a good miss. That might have been why my hamstring got tight because I was activated more than I have been," Pagan said.

The Reds have two other pitches with saves, Connor Phillips and Brock Burke both of whom earned the first save of their career. Tony Santillan, who has eight scoreless appearances, this season could be an option to fill in. Graham Ashcraft has allowed two earned runs in nine appearances also has the stuff to close out games.

Rhett Lowder Opposes Former Reds' Starter Tyler Mahle

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Reds right hander Rhett Lowder will try to reverse his fortunes against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday (041526).

Lowder is making a comeback from missing the entire 2025 season with shoulder and oblique problems. His first two starts were good ones. He allowed two runs in five innings against the Boston Red Sox. He picked up a win with six scoreless innings against the Texas Rangers. His last outing was forgettable. Lowder surrendered five runs, four earned in 5 1/3 innings against the Miami Marlins and was charged with an 8-1 loss. Still he has a respectable 3.31 ERA over 61 1/3 innings with 11 strikeouts.

Tyler Mahle broke in with the Reds in August 2017. He pitched a no-hitter in the minor leagues while in the Reds system. Mahle was drafted by the Reds in the seventh round in 2017. He pitched for the Reds for six season and was 31-38 in 113 starts with a 4.49 ERA. 

Mahle was traded to the Minnesota Twins on August 2, 2022 for Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Spencer Steer, who is in the Reds lineup.

This season Mahle made three starts. He is 0-2 with a 4.30 ERA. He gave up two runs to the New York Yankess in four innings in his first start. In his second start against the New York Mets, Mahle five runs in five innings and took the loss both times. His last start was against the Philadelphia Phillies, he pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and four walks. He struck out six and did not get a decision in the Giants 5-0 win.

The lineup Mahle faces is:

TJ Friedl CF

Matt McLain 2B

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 1B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Spencer Steer LF

Rece Hinds RF

Tyler Stephenson C

Ke' Bryan Hayes 3B

Lowder will take the hill against:

Willy Adames SS

Luis Arraez 2B

Case Schmitt DH

Rafael Devers 1B

Matt Chapman 3B

Jung Hoo Lee RF

Daniel Susec C

Will Brennan LF

Drew Gilbert CF

The Giants placed Jared Oliva on the 10-day injured list with a left wrist hamate fracture and Harrison Bader on the 10-day IL with a left hamstring strain.

The Giants recalled Brennan and Gilbert from Triple A Sacremento.

Reds Solo Home Runs Stand Up As Brady Singer Bests Robbie Ray

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Spencer Steer and Sal Stewart swatted home runs off Robbie Ray to stake the Reds to a 2-0 lead after four innings. It was the third of the season for Steer and the fifth for Stewart. 

Brady Singer and the bullpen made the home runs stand up in a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

The Reds only got three hits as Elly De La Cruz singled in the sixth inning but pushed Ray's pitch count to 94, nine of them on Stewart's home run at bat.

"In an era of baseball when you're not supposed to talk about the top hand, he has a great top hand," Terry Francona said. "He can really get on top of the ball. I know it's not a popular term in today's game but I love it. Everybody is talking about doing this (swinging up at the ball). If he'd have done that he'd have missed it. It is easy for me or somebody else to say go that way (hit to the opposite field) and get rewarded for it. You're doing something really good when you hit the ball that way. But to hit about out, that's not easy to do. It was a great at bat."

The pitch by Ray was up in the strike zone. He won the American League Cy Young award in 2021 pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays.

"It was a good pitch by him. I was able to get a good swing on it," Stewart said. "He's a good pitcher. He's Cy Young for a reason. We had a lot of good at bats. People will say we only got three hits. He had 97 pitches in five innings. If that's not a testament to having good at bats, I don't know what is."

Singer, who allowed six runs in 2 2/3 innings in his last start which was against the Miami Marlins, scattered four hits in the first four innings, one in each frame. 

"The X-rays came back negative. Obviously, it hurts a little bit but we're good," Singer said. "The shape of the slider was a lot better. The velo (velocity) back better than it was the last time in Miami. We did some good mechanical work this round in the bullpen. I liked the command and location too. I was able to attack hitters. I was able to get some ground balls the defense did a good job tonight, too."

"Getting through the sixth was huge," Singer said. "I've had some short outings this year. The last two pitches after the football was kind of tough. Sal made a great play on it too. If I can keep kicking it to people, I'll take it. The last three guys out of the bullpen were incredible."

Willy Adames cut the lead in half with his solo home run with two outs in the fifth inning off Singer. It was his third of the season and the 20th home run against the Reds in his career, more than he's hit against any other team.

Jung Hoo Lee hit a sharp line drive off Singer's leg that bounded to Stewart at first. He was checked by the trainer, Sean McQueeney checked him but he stayed in the game to complete the sixth inning.

"He got hit pretty good on the right foot. He had an X-ray and it came back negative. We have to keep an eye on him the next couple days," Francona said. "I didn't look at the velocity. I looked at the crispness of his pitches. He i thought he was crisp. I thought he threw his breaking ball good. We turned some double plays."

"I was a little nervous when I went out there. He said something like, I've got this last hitter or something like that. I told DJ (Derek Johnson) we better get somebody up," Francona said. "I knew he was hurting."

Ray only allowed the two hits in his five innings, along with four walks. He struck out six.

Singer dropped his ERA by over two runs per game to 5.60 with six solid innings. He allowed six hits, and hit a batter but issued no free passes and struck out one.

Graham Ashcraft took over for Singer to start the seventh inning. Ashcraft struck out two batters in a perfect inning. Tony Santillan allowed a single and a walk but the Reds turned a double play to take the lead into the bottom of the eighth.

Emilio Pagan came out to save his fifth game in six tries. He finished off the Giants on seven pitches, striking out one but winced on his last pitch.

"His hammy grabbed him a little bit on that last pitch," Francona said. "He's being checked out right now."

Brady Singer Will Face Veteran Robbie Ray In Opener Of The Three Game Series

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds open a three-game series with the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday (041426).

Brady Singer will make his fourth start of the season with a 0-1 record and 7.71 ERA. Singer's first two starts weren't that bad. He allowed three earned runs in four innings against the Boston Red Sox and two runs in five innings against the Texas Rangers, both were Reds' wins. His last start, however, was a tough one. He gave up six runs, five earned in 2 2/3 innings against the Miami Marlins and was tagged with the loss. He is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts against the Giants.

Robby Ray his mound opponent is in his 13th season. This will be his fourth start. The left hander is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA. In his last start he pitched 6 2/3 innings in a 6-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Ray has eight career starts against the Reds. He is 3-2 with a 4.42 ERA. His last start against the Reds was on March 30 of last season, a 6-3 Giants win.

Ray will face this Reds lineup:

Dane Myers CF

Matt McLain 2B

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 1B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Rece Hinds RF

Spencer Steer LF

Tyler Stephenson C

Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B

The Giants will send the following lineup against Singer:

Willy Adames SS

Luis Arraez 2B

Matt Chapman 3B

Rafael Devers 1B

Casey Schmitt DH

Jung Hoo Lee RF

Heliot Ramos LF

Patrick Bailey C

Jared Oliva CF

Reds Injury Updates On Nick Lodolo, Caleb Ferguson And Jose Trevino

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds are still waiting for Nick Lodolo, Caleb Ferguson and Jose Trevino to return to active duty.

Manager Terry Francona gave an update before the Reds series opener against the San Francisco Giants.

Lodolo missed time three straight years now with a blister on his left index finger. The goal was to develop a callous so that he wouldn't feel discomfort when throwing is best pitch, the back foot slider. It is such an effective pitch that breaks in on right handed hitters and dives toward their back foot. Several times batters have swung at pitches that actually hit their right foot.

"Nick will throw a small side (session) today, kind of touch and feel," Francona said. "He will throw to hitters on Friday in Minnesota. He hasn't thrown any breaking pitches, yet."

Ferguson has a strained right oblique.

"Ferguson is going to throw a side on Wednesday," Francona said.

Trevino has a bulging disc in his back.

"He's going to do some catching today and hit some soft toss in the batting cage," Francona said. "Sunday was just ok. So we want to take it where we don't give him too much and slow him down. There's a chance depending on how the week goes that he faces Lodolo on Friday. We don't want to give an artificial time table. We want to let his body tell him where he is."

Louisville right hander Julian Aguiar was placed on the injured list. He missed all of last season due to surgery.

"He had some swelling. Dr. (Timothy) Kremchek was going to take a look at him but I did not get an update."

Reds Trade Christian Encarnacion-Strand

 

Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds cut ties with hitting prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand on Monday. 

He was designated for assignment on April 8 when Jose Trevino was placed on the injured list. The Reds selected the contract of P.J. Higgins to back up Tyler Stephenson.

The Reds could not find a position for Encarnacion-Strand and the addition of Eugenio Suarez is expected to use up time as a Designated Hitter.

CES played in 128 games for the Reds. In those games he hit 17 doubles and 21 home runs. He drove in 72 runs.

The 26-year old missed a lot of time over the last two seasons with severe hand and wrist injuries. Offense wasn’t a problem as long as he stayed in the strike zone. He was just expendable because he lacked a defensive position.

Before the Reds designated CES for assignment, he hit .222 for Louisville with a double, triple and two home runs. He drove in eight runs in 10 games.

This spring Encarnation-Strand had five hits in 15 at bats with two doubles. He was sent to minor league camp in the first round of cuts.

13 Lucky For Pete Rose

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Pete Rose got his first Major League hit on this date, April 13, 1963.

It was a triple off Bob Friend in a 12-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. At the end of the game he was hitting .071. It was the day before his 22nd birthday.

Was there anyone in the stands at Crosley Field that night who would predict that he would break Ty Cobb’s record of 4,192 hits or finish his career in 1986 with 4,256 hits.

The “Hit King” had another momentous event on April 13, 1984. 

Rose hit a double off Jerry Koosman of the Philadelphia Phillies in a 5-1 victory for the Montreal Expos at Stade de Olympique in Montreal.

Rose was hitting .270 after that game.

Current Reds’ manager Terry Francona did not play that day but witnessed from the dugout.

Noelvi Marte Optioned Rece Hinds Recalled Perhaps

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Noelvi Marte was optioned to Triple A Louisville after the game Sunday with the Los Angeles Angels.

Although the Reds did not announce a corresponding move. It would be a good bet that Rece Hinds will be promoted to replace him on the roster.

Marte was struggling out of the gate. 

“He is trying to hit everything,” manager Terry Francona said Sunday.

Marte had four hits in 29 at bats and at least two of those were infield hits. He wasn’t driving the ball. One day after his wall catch from last year was commemorated by a bobblehead this weekend he was sent down to make adjustments.

Hinds had a fantastic spring.

He hit .410 in 39 at bats with four doubles, a triple, five home runs and 11 RBI.

Hinds slashed .354/.457/.771 at Louisville with three doubles, a triple, five home runs and 16 RBI in 13 games. 

He is just returning from the bereavement list.