Chase Burns Signed Long Term

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Nick Krall, the Reds President of Baseball Operations, announced today that the 23-year old All-Star right handed pitcher, signed an extension through 2033 for $105 million.

The seven year deal gives tge Reds two starting pitchers locked up long term.

 Hunter Greene signed a six-year deal with a team option for 2029 for $53 million.

Greene is 26.

The Reds players refer to him informally as the Franchise.

He was named to the 2026 Bational League All-Star team with an 11-1 record and a 2.54 ERA. 

Brady Singer Pitches Spencer Steer Slams And Scrams

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Brady Singer pitched seven innings for the third time in five games. Spencer Steer homers twice once over the wall once inside the wall in Reds 7-2 win over the Colorado Rockies in Denver. 

The start of the second half got off quickly for the Reds. Elly De La Cruz singled on the first pitch from rookie Gabriel Hughes. Sal Stewart drove in his team leading 66th run of the season.

 Singer pitched four perfect innings until TJ Rumfield touched him with a single to left in the fifth. Kyle Karros grounded into what appeared to be a double play but De La Cruz relay pulled Stewart off the base at first. Willi Castro singled Karros to third and Troy Johnston tied the game with a sacrifice fly. 

Hughes walked JJ Bleday one out into the sixth. Jimmy Herget, who broke in with the Reds, gave up a two-run home run to Steer. It was his 15th. Eugenio Suarez followed with his 12th the ninth set of back-to-back homers hit by Reds batters.

In the seventh Ke’Bryan Hayes reached second on a throwing error by Ezequiel Tovar. De La Cruz singled him to third. Stewart’s 67th RBI came on a sacrifice fly.

Castro’s eighth home run in the seventh kept Colorado in the game.

Singer left after the inning. He pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He issued no walks but hit a batter and struck out six.

Steer led off the eighth against Jeff Criswell. Steer hit a drive to the right center field gap. It hit off the base of the wall and took a hard left turn past Jake McCarthy. By the time right fielder Tyler Freeman ran it down, Steer was well around second base and dived into home with his 16th home run.

De La Cruz’s fourth hit of the game was his 16th home run. He increased his average to .282.

Brock Burke pitched a scoreless eighth and Tejay Antone a scoreless ninth.

Brady Singer Opens Second Half

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Brady Singer will open the second half of the season on Friday against the Colorado Rockies. 

Singer was 3-9 with a 4.72 ERA in the first half.

He closed out the last five games with a 1-3 record and 28 2/3 innings, included starts of seven innings and 7 1/3. He allowed nine runs for a 2.83 ERA. 

Singer pitched 7 1/3 innings in his last start o  July 9 against the Philadelphia Phillies. He allowed the only run in a 1-0 loss on four hits, a walk and two hit batters while striking out five.

He is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in three career starts against the Rockies. His last start against them was on July 12 last year. He gave up three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven. Singer allowed a home run to Ryan Ritter.

Gabriel Hughes, a 25-year old righthander will pitch for the Rockies. He was the Rockies first pick (10th)in the 2022 draft out of Gonzaga University.

Hughes is making his second career start since he made his first appearance on July 3. He has no record and a 3.00 ERA. He pitched six innings as a starter against the Los Angeles Dodger and gave up three runs on four hits and two walks.

It is his first game against the Reds.

Dane Myers Activated

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

The Reds activated Dane Myers from the 10-day injured list. 

Myers injured his left shoulder making a catch in Milwaukee on June 29. He missed 11 games in which the Reds had a 4-7 record.

Ivan Johnson was optioned to Triple A Louisville.

Reds Close Out First Half On The Frowning Side Of The Scoreboard

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Alex Bregman took out a season of frustration out on the Reds this weekend, closing out the first half with an 8-4 win over the Reds.

It is the sixth win in seven games for the Cubs against the Reds. The Reds limp into the break with a  43-52, the season low point at nine games under .500.

The Cubs finish the first half with a 54-42 record, 10 1/2 games ahead of the Reds, who have dropped 22 of 18 games against National League Central Division rivals.

"It is always big when they score after you take the lead. I know it happens but when you score, you've got to shut them down," Terry Francona said. "The guys need to get away and rejuvenate. Our record certainly anywhere near what we want it to be. We know that. Still, it's a good group and they play hard. They're exhausted. This will be good for them."

Andrew Abbott walked Pete Crow-Armstrong to start the game. The Cubs center fielder stole second and raced to third on a fly out to center by Seiya Suzuki. Alex Bregman lofted a bloop into shallow center field with the infield playing in. Spencer Steer making his second start, ever in center got a glove on it but couldn't catch it. Michael Busch doubled off the base of the right field fence for an RBI double.

Walks have haunted Abbott all season. He has walked four per game and 10.3 percent of batter faced. It is worse than his rookie campaign which was 3.6 per game and 9.6 percent. Those numbers improved each year until this season.

The Reds tied and passed the Cubs in the bottom of the third against Matthew Boyd. Ke'Bryan Hayes singled on the first pitch of the inning. Elly De La Cruz forced him at second just beating the relay from Nico Hoerner. Sal Stewart hit his 22nd double of the season with De La Cruz holding third.

Stewart is for off the pace of the Major League lead in doubles and it is the most by a rookie.

Steer grounded out to shortstop as De La Cruz scored. JJ Bleday singled to left to tie the game and went to second on the throw home. Eugenio Suarez hit his 11th home run of the season into the upper deck in left to give the Reds a 4-2 lead. 

It was Suarez' 200th home run of the list. He is 11th on the Reds list. Eric Davis is 10th with 203.

Walks spooked Abbott again. He walked Carson Kelly. Busch hit his second double in nearly the same spot of his first. Hoerner grounded out to Edwin Arroyo behind second base. For some unknown reason Kelly held third as Hoerner was retired. Abbott loaded the bases when he walked Ian Happ. Dansby Swanson struck out swinging. Kevin Alcantara hit a ground ball up the middle with Arroyo poised to field it but the ball hit second base and bounded into center for a game tying, two-run single. Crow-Armstrong was ruled safe on a ground ball to Arroyo but instead of putting the Cubs up a run, Crow-Armstrong was called out after a Reds' challenge.

"We had some walks. We started the inning. We were unlucky with the ball hitting the base but if we don't have the walks it doesn't matter," Francona said. "Command was a challenge for him. He was at 79 pitches after four. That's a lot. When you see four straight fastballs missing the zone, that's when he's not feeling his best."

The Cubs have 417 walks as a team the most in Major League Baseball.

"They're a good group. We got unlucky there with a bad bounce. It was the third time through the lineup. We were looking for matchups," Abbott said. "I was trying to keep us in the game. With 79 or 80 pitches it saps you of your energy."

In his last start Abbott didn't walk anyone.

"I fell behind some guys. I started nibbling, like my dad would say. I don't want to make a mistake and throw it right down the middle," Abbott said. "I think it is a testament to who they are too. They never come off their approach. They're going to make you throw strikes. They don't chase a lot either. You saw what Hunter (Greene) and (Nick) Lodolo did. They didn't fall behind. I fell behind and really had to grind to get them out."

Chase Petty, called up today when Nick Lodolo was placed on the injured list with a blister, relieved Abbott.

Abbott pitched four innings, allowed four runs on four hits and a costly three walks. He struck out three.

Petty pitched two scoreless innings but left after a leadoff double by Dansby Swanson in the seventh. Sam Moll came on to strike out pinch hitter Pedro Ramirez. Crow-Armstrong singled to put the Cubs ahead 5-4. Suzuki reached on an infield single. 

Pierce Johnson relieved Moll.

Alex Bregman hit a three-run home run his ninth of the season to extend the Cubs lead to 8-4. It was his second home run in two days.

"We didn't get the guys out that we were supposed to," Francona said. 

Nick Lodolo's Blister Puts Him On The Injured List Chase Petty Recalled

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Nick Lodolo left the game with the Chicago Cubs in the sixth inning on Saturday (071126). 

The Reds placed him on the 15-day injured list on Sunday. They brought starter/reliever Chase Petty back from Louisville.

 

The Reds resume the season on Friday in Colorado.

Brady Singer will pitch the first game. Lodolo was scheduled for the second game but Rhett Lowder will return to the rotation. Hunter Greene will close out the Colorado series. Andrew Abbott will open the series in Seattle with Chase Burns following him.

Burns will attend the All Star game but will not pitch. He has some tightness in his legs from covering home plate on a wild pitch.

The Reds and Burns are being cautious. They don’t want the adrenaline of appearing in the Mid Summer Classic will cause an over extension making the injury worse.

Outfielder Dane Myers is going to work out in Arizona during the break to be ready for the second half.

Blake Dunn’s elbow feels better and is getting closer to a return.

Andrew Abbott Closes Out First Half Reds Look For Better 2nd Half

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Last years All Star Andrew Abbott will close out the first half like he started it.

He will put his 5-5 record and 3.92 ERA on the line in his 20th start of the season against the Chicago Cubs.

Abbott has given up three or fewer runs in each of his last five starts but only went six innings once, his last start against the Philadelphia Phillies. He gave up three runs on five hits. He didn’t walk anyone, which allowed him to stay in longer. He struck out eight.

He is 3-1 with a 2.23 ERA in eight career starts against the Cubs. He pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his last start against them on May 5, a 3-2 10-inning loss in Chicago.

Matthew Boyd who is 4-1 with a 4.31 ERA. 

Boyd is a 35-year old left hander who was drafted by the Reds in the 13th round of the 2012 draft out of Oregon State University. He elected to return to college and then signed with the Toronto Blue Jays after they made him their sixth pitch in 2013.

Boyd has two quality starts among his last five. 

He is 1-3 in five starts against the Reds with a 6.48 ERA.

Boyd gave up four runs on eight hits in four innings at Great American Ball Park on May 23, last season. He walked two and struck out three. The Cubs won 13-6.

He broke in with the Blue Jays but pitched for the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians. Boyd signed with Cubs as a free agent in December 2024.

Reds lineup:

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart 1B

Spencer Steer CF

JJ Bleday LF

Eugenio Suarez DH

Tyler Stephenson C

Noelvi Marte RF

Edwin Arroyo 2B

Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B

Cubs Lineup:

Pete Crow-Armstrong CF

Seiya Suzuki RF

Alex Bregman 3B

Carson Kelly C

Michael Busch 1B

Nico Hoerner 2B

Ian Happ LF

Dansby Swanson SS

Kevin Alcantara DH

Nick Lodolo Leaves Start With A Blister IL Probable

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Nick Lodolo's start to the season was delayed by a blister on his left index finger. His start against the Chicago Cubs ended in similar conditions and cost the Reds a 5-3 loss.

Carson Kelly clubbed his sixth home run of the season to tie the game and Lodolo exited right after the blow.

"It's a blister again. It might be slightly over from from where it was before. He was feeling so good about what they were doing. I know he's really frustrated. I would say another IL is probable," Terry Francona said.

The Reds took an early lead on back-to-back home runs by Nathaniel Lowe his 10th of the season and his first since May 29, which was a drought of 38 games. Eugenio Suarez followed with his 10 of the season. Both came against Cubs starter, Javier Assad. 

Suarez past Barry Larkin for 11th on the Reds home run list with 199.

Earlier the Reds had chances to take the lead. Elly De La Cruz led off the bottom of the first and Sal Stewart singled up the middle to send De La Cruz to third with no outs. Assad struck out JJ Bleday and Spencer Steer grounded into a double play.

TJ Friedl opened the third inning with a single and De La Cruz followed with his second hit but he was picked off first and Stewart and Bleday flied out.

"I think it is different in every situation. We had a chance in the first inning and didn't cash in," Francona said. "When you don't have a lot of chances, it is more glaring."

Lodolo was cruising with four scoreless innings but as the blister developed, he gave up a two-out single to number nine hitter, Miguel Amaya. Pete Crow-Armstrong walked and Seiya Suzuki singled to plate Amaya.

After Kelly's home run tied the game, leading off the sixth. Lodolo left with five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out four.

"It was in the sixth I felt it," Lodolo said. "I threw those three pitches to Kelly. After the first one I started feeling it but I didn't see anything," Lodolo said. "Frustration is extremely high. I thought with what we were doing now, we were in the clear. I've got to keep trying to figure it out, change my grip or something."

Reliever Caleb Ferguson gave up a single to Michael Busch and Ian Happ doubled him home.

Left hander Drew Pomerantz relieved Assad and left handed hitting Bleday hit his 16th home run to tie the score at three, leading off the sixth. Lowe singled and Suarez walked but Jose Trevino hit into another double play.

"We had some good at bats. I thought Bleday hit another one," Francona said.

Julian Garcia started the seventh by striking out Crow-Armstrong but he walked Suzuki. Alex Bregman put the Cubs ahead with his eighth home run.

The Reds had runners on with one out in the seventh and eighth but didn't move them.

The Cubs sent left hander Ryan Rollison out for the ninth inning. The Cubs' bullpen has seven blown saves since June 14. 

Pinch hitter Tyler Stephenson singled to right to start the ninth. He moved to second on a wild pitch. Edwin Arroyo drove the ball to the right center field wall but Suzuki was able to make the catch as Stephenson took third. Pinch hitter Noelvi Marte struck out but Rollison walked De La Cruz, who stole second with Stewart, who leads the Reds in RBI with 65. Cubs manager Craig Counsell went to Trent Thornton. Stewart grounded out the Nico Hoerner at second base to end the game. Thornton picked up his third save of the season.

"I thought Arroyo's was going to hit off the wall," Francona said.

The Reds were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Reds Choose Alabama Shortstop

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Justin Lebron got the call that he was chosen by Reds with the first pick in the 2026 draft.

"I'm filled with every emotion in the world," Lebron said. "I'm ready to get to work and to see what I can bring to the table."

The 21-year old was born in the Bronx, New York but grew up in Miramar, Florida, graduating from Archbishop McCarthy High School. He just finished his junior season at Alabama. The Crimson Tide was eliminated by the Texas Longhorns on June 15 at the College World Series in Omaha.

"I just think he was the most powerful player," Reds director of amatuer scouting, Joe Katuska said. "We've tracked him for a long time. He has tremendous physical ability. He can impact the game in many different ways. The best player available is what we start with. He fits that to a T."

Lebron hit .277 for Alabama with 13 doubles, 16 home runs and 48 RBI in 61 games. He drew 27 walks for a .386 on-base-percentage. He struck out 56 times. He stole 42 bases in 43 attempts. His OPS was a robust .920. 

"He can drive the ball," Katuska said.

"I definitely think this season was fun," Lebron said. "It was a roller coaster for sure. I didn't have the season that I wanted but I helped get the team to Omaha. That hasn't happened in 20 years."

The Reds Hunter Greene contacted Lebron soon after he was selected. 

"He congratulated me and told me to get ready for work," Lebron said. "It's going to be a fun journey. I had never spoke to him or met him. He must have asked someone for my number."

Off the field, Lebron is involved with the Miracle League for kids with physical challenges. His brother Jayden has Williams Syndrome, a genetic defect where the patient is missing a portion of his electric gene.

"Jayden acted like it was his day," Lebron said. "It was one of those things where he lived through me and played through me. It is like we are going through this together. He was so excited."

"Lebron paid for his parents to come to see him," Katuska said. "He had to deal with some things off the field. He was instrumental in taking care of his brother, in being the big brother."

"He has had his challenges on the field but he has the ability to make adjustments and get here quickly."

Chase Burns Will Not Pitch In All Star Game

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Dateline: Cincinnati  

Chase Burns went to Reds management and reported that he tweaked his groin a little bit in his last start, when he covered home on a wild pitch.

"He came to me and said that he tweaked his groin and didn't know what to do," Terry Francona said. "We set it up where he pitched a few days ago and was coming out (of the break) last. It's not like we're trying to manipulate it so, I thought he showed a lot of maturity. He can still go and enjoy himself but he won't pitch."

Burns and Sonny Gray now with the Boston Red Sox are 11-1 and leading starting pitchers in wins. They both have an ERA of 2.54 although Burns has one more start.

"There was contact. We all saw the play but he never said anything. Then he came in and said it got a little stiff. He's ok. He understands where he's at in his innings compared to last year. He thought it out. We didn't want to take something he has earned away from him but we do appreciate him being honest."

Nick Krall, the Reds general manager, talked to the league office and they have picked Justin Wrobleski, a left handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, to replace Burns.

"It sucks. I went to Tito first. It was a tough decision," Burns said. "I know myself. I was going to be pumped up. I just think it is smart for me to work on my recovery. I didn't feel it when it happened. I think adrenaline got me through it. The next day it got tight. I've never had a lower body injury before. It was kind of frustrating."

He will get to go to the All Star Game and participate in the pageantry and be among the other stars in the game rather than take the time off. 

"I'm going to throttle down and take it all in. It's going to be tough to see guys out there throwing," Burns said.

Andrew Abbott was not named to the All Star Game on the first selection but was picked after another pitcher had to bow out under similar circumstances. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was not able to pitch. Abbott faced the minimum three batters, Jazz Chisolm Jr., Riley Greene and Randy Arozarena in a scoreless inning. 

Shohei Ohtani has inflammation in his left knee and was replaced by St. Louis Cardinals Ivan Herrera.