Andrew Abbott Takes The Hill In The Bronx

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Andrew Abbott takes his 4-4 record and 3.95 ERA to the mound against the New York Yankees.

It will be his 16th start. He had three straight quality starts interrupted by an outing in which he allowed one earned run in five innings on four hits and three walks against the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 14.

Abbott has one career start against the Yankees. He pitched against them on July 3, 2024 at Yankee Stadium. He pitched 6 1/3 in a 3-2 win. He allowed one run on three hits and four walks. He struck out two.

 Will Warren a 27-year old right hander will take his 7–1 record with a 3.47 ERA to his 15th start.

The Yankees eighth round choice in the 2021 draft out of Southeast Louisiana University.

In his last five starts he allowed 10 runs in 25 1/3 innings. His last start against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 14, Warren pitched four innings, allowing one run on eight hits and three walks with one strikeout.

Warren, however, has walked just 24 batters and struck out 76 in 72 2/3 innings this season.

He will face the Reds for the first time.

Reds Lineup:

Blake Dunn CF

JJ Bleday LF

Sal Stewart 3B

Nathaniel Lowe DH

Spencer Steer RF

Noelvi Marte RF

Matt McLain SS

Jose Trevino C

Edwin Arroyo 2B

Yankees Lineup:

Ben Rice 1B

Amed Rosario 3B

Paul Goldschmidt DH

Cody Bellinger CF

Jasson Dominguez RF

Jose Caballero LF

Jazz Chisholm Jr 2B

Anthony Volpe SS

Ali Sanchez C

Cam Schlittler Strikes Down Reds

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Cam Schlittler was as advertised, according to Reds’ manager, Terry Francona.

Throwing pitches at 100 miles an hour, the new ace of the New York Yankees allowed very little to hit in his six innings. He allowed four hits and struck out 13 Reds’ batters to set a career high. He did hit Blake Dunn to start the game, then dominated. The result was a 5-0 win in the first game of this three-game series.

It was his sixth scoreless outing out of 16 starts. He allowed just one run in six others.

 The Reds were shut out for the fifth time this season. 

The Reds’ Rhett Lowder was again the victim of walks. He was not hit hard most of the night but his second inning was not ideal. It cost him.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. led off the second inning with a home run, his 11th. Lowder walked Spencer Jones and Anthony Volpe but rallied to strike out Ryan McMahon and retire JC Escarra on a fly to center. Ben Rice belted a 1-1 pitch into the right center field stands , his 21st before Lowder escaped the inning.

Lowder gave up three singles and a walk before turning the ball over to Caleb Ferguson with one out in the sixth.

Lowder finished with 5  1/3 innings allowing four run on six hits and three walks. He struck out five.

Ferguson allowed one hit in 1 1/3 innings.

The Yankees added a run in the eighth against Zach Maxwell on two walks and a single by Volpe.

The Reds record sinks to 35-39.

Elly De La Cruz Completes First Rehab Game

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Elly De La Cruz and Pierce Johnson made rehab appearances for the Louisville Bats against the Gwinnett Stripers.

De La Cruz singled and scored on a home run by Hector Rodriguez. He belted a very long home run with PJ Higgins on base off Garrett Baumann, making his second Triple A start. He walked in his third at bat. He was not challenged by running the bases.

The shortstop made two fairly routine plays in the field.

As planned De La Cruz was replaced after five innings.

 Rehabbing reliever Pierce Johnson threw 17 pitches, 13 strikes in one inning. He gave up a run on two hits, with one strikeout. If he comes through the start without ill effects, Johnson will rejoin the Reds in New York

TJ Friedl, who is trying to play his way back to the big leagues, also homered off Baumann. 

Rhett Lowder Takes On Yankees

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Rhett Lowder is on the big stage in New York City. 

The New York Yankees are not the ‘27 Yankees. That comes next season at Great American Ball Park. The closest Yankee to the Bronx Bommbers of a century ago, Aaron Judge, is out several weeks with a fractured right rib.

 Lowder just two starts removed from shoulder discomfort. In his last start, Lowder pitched 5 2/3 innings in a 2-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. He allowed five hits, two walks and hit a batter. The one run he allowed was a home run to Corbin Carroll, the first batter of the game.

Lowder owns a 3-3 record with a 4.60 ERA in 10 starts. His last win was on April 20, in a 6-1 over the Tampa Bay Rays in which Lowder allowed one earned run in six innings.

It will be the first time Lowder will face the Yankees.

Cam Schlitler, the 24-year old, righthander, was the seventh round choice of the 2022 draft out of Northeastern University. 

Schlittler is 7-3 with a 1.82 ERA. The ERA is even with Christopher Sanchez for the second lowest in MLB. Milwaukee Brewers Jacob Misiorowski is the lowest at 1.34. The Reds Chase Burns is next at 2.01.

It will be Schlittler’d 16th start of the season. His last start against the Toronto Blue Jays  Schlittler pitched seven innings, allowing on run on six hits and four walks. He struck out seven in a no decision, 3-1 win. 

He has nine quality starts on the season. He has four scoreless starts of six innings or more.

Schlittler will face the Reds for the first time in his career.

The Reds lineup:

Blake Dunn CF

JJ Bleday LF

Sal Stewart 1B

Nathaniel Lowe DH

Spencer Steer RF 

Eugenio Suarez 3B

Tyler Stephenson C

Matt McLain 2B

Edwin Arroyo 2B

Yankees lineup:

Ben Rice DH

Jasson Dominguez RF

Cody Bellinger LF

Paul Goldschmidt 1B

Jazz Chisholm Jr 2B

Spencer Jones CF

Anthony Volpe SS

Ryan McMahon 3B

J.C. Escarra C

Key Reds Hunter Greene Elly De La Cruz On The Clock

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

The Reds started the rehab clock on two All-Stars to come to their rescue.

Pitchers are limited to 30-days, position players 20. Hunter Greene was placed on the 60-day injured list after surgery in March to remove bone chips from his right elbow.

Elly De La Cruz was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 1 with a strained right hamstring. 

 Both players were placed on rehab assignments over the last two days.

Greene pitched four innings in the rookie Arizona Complex League. He was scheduled to pitch three innings at Sloan Park against the Chicago Cubs prospects on Thursday (061826). He pitched four innings, he allowed two hits and a walk one and struck out six.

He threw 54 pitches with 39 strikes. Greene threw four pitches over 100 mph.

Now Greene will go on a normal five day, routine with assignments to be scheduled depending on travel and weather.

De La Cruz was going to work out innings on Thursday in Gwinnett, Georgia with the Louisville Bats. The scheduled called for De La Cruz to play five innings  on Friday, DH on Saturday and play Sunday to be ready for the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.

The game was rained out to be made up on Friday. 

Both players met the time obligations to be placed on rehab assignments.

Right handed reliever, Pierce Johnson, is also starting a rehab assignment with the Louisville Bats on Friday, recovering from a inflammation in his right elbow.

Mets Pound Reds In Series To Salvage Finale

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

The New York Mets pounded out 15 hits to route the Reds 9-1 to salvage the final game of the series.

The Reds won the first two by holding the Mets offense when they had runners on.

Bo Bichette, Juan Soto and Francisco Alvarez had three hits, each. 

The Mets stranded 22 men on base in the first two games of the series. They didn't knock the cover off the ball but they made enough contact to plate three runs in the third inning against Nick Lodolo. In this game the still left eight on base giving them 30 for the series. They were 7-for-13 with runners in scoring position. 

Luis Torrens topped a ball down the third base line against Nick Lodolo. A charging Sal Stewart did not have a play. Zack Short bunted to move Torrens to second. Carson Benge grounded out to Matt McLain at short. Torrens decided to try for third base but Stewart didn't handle the thrown cleanly. The throw beat him and it would have ended the inning.  Bo Bichette walked. Juan Soto, Marcus Semien and Mark Vientos singled to put the Mets ahead 3-0.

"The third inning was big in a number of ways," Francona said. "We don't finish that play at third. We don't execute. It cost us three runs. It cost us 19 or 20 pitches. I think that definitely wore on him (Lodolo) a little bit. I don't think his fastball had the same finish after that."

Nolan McLean retired the first seven Reds' hitters. Jose Trevino hit a high chop that backed Short to the outfield grass. His through probably should have been handled by Vientos but Trevino got credit for a hit. It was later changed to an error. Matt McLain hit a sinking line drive to left that got past Soto for a double. Edwin Arroyo was hit by a pitch to load the bases. JJ Bleday hit a line drive to center, Springboro High School grad saved two runs with a diving catch but Trevino scored while the other runners held. Sal Stewart forced McLain at third.

"That's where I was goin the same with the three. They scored three, we have one. If that kid, doesn't make that play. I know you look at the scoreboard but that was a big turning point for them."

The same trio of Mets singled with one out in the fifth to load the bases. Bichette scored on a sacrifice fly to right. Francisco Alvarez' second hit of the game scored Soto. Ewing doubled home to runs, his first hit of the series. It ended Lodolo's outing.

The Reds scored seven runs against McLean on May 25th but managed only an unearned run on three hits against him over seven innings.

"I think we saw the better version," Francona said. "Every one sees the velocity because that's there. Last time it was out of the zone enough. It was good today.

"They had nine or ten singles, they all count," Lodolo said. "I have to stop it. Obviously, I like the swing and miss. I wasn't getting a lot of swing and miss there. I have to make my execution of pitches. Some were hit hard, some weren't. We talked about this. I've got to get better. It starts with location. When you're going through an outing like this, you're always hunting swing and miss. To pitch deep in the game, I have to do things like get ahead. Then you're on the attack the whole time, you're going to do that. That's something I haven't done a great job of."

Chis Paddack took over for Lodolo. Torrens lined out to Arroyo.

Paddack finished the game to save the bullpen. He allowed two token runs in the eighth inning.

Nick Lodolo And Nolan McLean In A Rematch Reds Looking For Sweep

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Nick Lodolo is 2-1 with a 5.21 ERA. His blister a faint memory the 28-year old left hander, is getting back to his normal, effective self after seven starts.

Lodolo pitched 5 1/3 innings in his last start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. He allowed two earned runs on five hits and a walk.

He has two quality starts in his last four outings, including a six inning, one-run effort against the Mets on May 25. He gave up six hits, including a home run to Marcus Semien. He walked one and struck out seven.

His mound opponent, as it was on May 25, Nolan McLean, is 24 years old and the third round pick of the Mets in the 2023 draft out of Oklahoma State University. 

McLean lasted only five innings and allowed the Reds seven runs on five hits and two walks. JJ Bleday and Tyler Stephenson hit home runs against him. He struck out six.

McLean is 3-4 in 14 starts with a 4.01 ERA. In his three starts since his loss to the Reds, McLean allowed four runs in 15 innings. He hasn't allowed a home run since then but he walked 12, including four in four innings in a win against the Atlanta Braves. He only allowed one run but his day was shortened by a 93 pitches of which 38 missed the strike zone.

Reds Lineup:

Edwin Arroyo 2B

JJ Bleday LF

Sal Stewart 3B

Nathaniel Lowe 1B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Spencer Steer RF

Noelvi Marte CF

Jose Trevino C

Matt McLain SS

Mets Lineup:

Carson Benge RF

Bo Bichette 3B

Juan Soto LF

Marcus Semien 2B

Mark Vientos 1B

Francisco Alvarez DH

AJ Ewing CF

Luis Torrens C

Zack Short SS

Sal Stewart Starts Reds Off Brady Singer And Tony Santillan Hold On

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Sal Stewart has both struggled and dominated at different times in his first full season in the Major Leagues. Against the New York Mets, he carried the offense to send the Reds to a 5-3 win that clinches the first series win in the last five.

As of April 25, Stewart was hitting .303 with nine home runs and 29 RBI. Since then he was hitting .214 with four home runs and 14 RBI coming into the game with the Mets.

"I got a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it," Stewart said. "Jesus Christ does things and sometimes I question him. I don't understand why because every thing he does is for my benefit. I enjoy the good things. I know how it felt when I was going bad. I didn't want that, you know, I would pray every night to give me the courage to go out there and keep competing."

The rookie leads the Reds with 14 home runs and 47 RBI. He leads all rookies with 27 extra base hits.

Brady Singer, who has also struggled, persevered and pitched the Reds to the victory with help from the bullpen.

The Reds jumped on Senga in the first inning. The Mets right hander was just activated from the injured list before the game. His best pitch has been named the "Ghost Ball" because it disappears from the strike zone.

The Reds made it disappear from Great American Ball Park in the first inning. Blake Dunn and JJ Bleday walked to open the game against the rusty rightie. Sal Stewart made a phantom of a 2-1 pitch, hitting it off the facade of the upper deck in left field for his team-leading 14th home run. Nathaniel Lowe lined a pitch to center that local Springboro High School alumnus made a exceptional diving catch to turn in the first out of the inning. Eugenio Suarez struck out  but Spencer Steer ghosted another ball into the left field stands. 

"Dunner had a really good at bat and Bleday always has a good at bat. Sal got a pitch he could drive," Francona said. "Sal knows he's a good hitter and that you don't get hits every day. Our message to him from spring training, we also know you're a good hitter. On days you don't get hits, help us win and he's taken to that."

Reds' starter Brady Singer retired the first six batters of the game but hit Brett Baty with a pitch, leading off the third. MJ Melendez beat out the relay on an attempted double play. Francisco Alvarez singled. Carson Benge flied out but Bo Bichette singled home Melendez. Juan Soto walked to load the bases but Jared Young popped to short.

"I felt like the command was good. The first two innings were good, but the third and fourth, there were a lot of free bags that drove the pitch count up. I was happy with the results but without the free bags, I could have gotten deeper in the game," Singer said.

Two walks and a hit batter, Baty for the second time, loaded the base again. Singer played Houdini and escaped for the second inning in a row. 

The Reds added a run against Cionel Perez. Edwin Arroyo doubled for his first career extra base hit. Dunn bunted and beat it out for a hit. Stewart drove in his fourth run of the game with a line single to left.

Singer left the game after a scoreless fifth that ended with a slick double play turned in by Arroyo and McLain. 

"He probably could have gone back out and he wanted to but you know what he had to work so hard in a couple of those innings, I thought that was good enough," Terry Francona said.

The Mets got close in the sixth. Marcus Semien singled and pinch hitter, Mark Vientos hit his eighth home run into the upper deck in left. 

Tejay Antone walked the first two batters he faced in the eighth inning but retired the next three batters to strand them.

Tony Santillan, another player who has been heroic and vilified at different times this season, earned his fourth save of the season in eight chances. He struck out two in the ninth and the one base runner he allowed, Juan Soto, hit a bleeder to reach on an infield single.

Santillan followed a stellar 2025 season with 11 scoreless outings before being charged with three runs in against the Detroit Tigers in and a blown save on April 24. He had two more scoreless outings, then the struggles began. Santillan had 12 outings that netted three losses, four blown saves and a 13.50 ERA. He allowed seven home runs and six walks in 9 1/3 innings during the stretch.

But he has turned things around in his last six games, he has allowed no runs on four hits and saved two games.

"He is such a competitor and he cares so much, he's figuring it out," Terry Francona said. 

Brady Singer To Challenge New York Mets Tries To Clinch First Series Win In June

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

The Reds have not won a series this month in four tries. They have lost the last five series. The last series win the Reds had was in New York against the Mets from May 25-27. 

Brady Singer looks for momentum to swing his way in the start against the Mets. He is 2-6 with a 5.61 ERA in his 13 starts so far. 

A key pitcher in the Reds' rotation last season, has shown signs of turning his fortunes around in the last three starts. He lost two of them but pitched better. He pitched five innings in a lost to Atlanta, allowing three earned runs. Singer followed that in a loss in St. Louis when the defense let him down. He pitched four innings. The Cardinals scored three unearned runs in the contest, then bombed the Reds bullpen. In his last start against the San Diego Padres, he turned in a quality start of six innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and a walk. Singer broke a string of seven games in which he allowed a home run. He allowed 17 this season tied for the fifth highest in MLB.

The good news for Singer is in two career starts against the Mets, he is 2-0 with an 0.64 ERA. He shut them out for eight innings on three hits on August 3, 2023. His last start on September 6, last season he beat the Mets with six strong innings. He allowed one earned run on four hits, four walks and five strikeouts. 

Right hander Kodai Senga will face the Reds with an 0-4 record and 9.00 ERA in five starts. 

The 33-year old from Gamagori, Japan is in his fourth season with the Mets. Senga will be making his first start since April 26. He went on the injured list with lumbar spine inflammation. Senga missed time in 2024 and 2025 with injuries as well. 

The Reds faced Senga once in his career. He has an 0-1 record and 9.00 ERA. That start was on May 11, 2023 at Great American Ball Park. He allowed five runs in five innings on eight hits and a walk. He had seven strikeouts. Spencer Steer homered off him.

Reds lineup:

Blake Dunn CF

JJ Bleday LF

Sal Stewart 1B

Nathaniel Lowe DH

Eugenio Suarez 3B

Spencer Steer RF

Tyler Stephenson C

Matt McLain SS

Edwin Arroyo 2B

Mets Lineup:

Carson Benge RF

Bo Bichette SS

Juan Soto DH

Jared Young 1B

AJ Ewing CF

Marcus Semien 2B

Brett Baty 3B

MJ Melendez LF

Franciscon Alvarez C

 

Elly De La Cruz Could Be Ready By Tuesday

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Dateline: Cincinnati 

Elly De La Cruz could be ready by Tuesday (062326). He is recovery from a strained right hamstring.

The Reds All-Star shortstop will run the bases today and tomorrow.

"He is going to do some striders today and even with the day game tomorrow with the day game, we will get him out there and run the bases pretty aggressively," Terry Francona said. "He will get on a flight Thursday and workout in Gwinnett (Louisville Bats play there). He will play approximately five innings on Friday, DH on Saturday and then play shortstop on Sunday."

De La Cruz missed 13 games already. The Reds are 4-9 with him out of actions and will miss a total of 19 games in the best case scenario, if he returns for the game against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 23.

Pierce Johnson, who missed 17 games with inflammation in his right elbow, will pitch in Gwinnett on Friday and if it goes well will join the Reds in New York.

"We have the right to kind of ask him, check with him and see how he's doing and things like that," Francona said.