After a successful first home run, the Cincinnati Reds (5-1) want to bring their offensive machine on the road as they head to the desert to tackle the Arizona Diamondbacks (2-5) at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. Get ready for a dose of #LateNightReds, folks. The first pitch is at 21:40 EDT. You can watch the match on Bally Sports Ohio or listen on 700 WLW.
How impressive were the Reds’ bats during the first week of the season? The Reds have scored the most runs through the first six games for any MLB team since 1999 and the most runs through the first six games in all of Reds history.
A red-hot start! Get it?@ Rooies | #ATOBTTR pic.twitter.com/vTUranxa5x
– MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) 8 April 2021
Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks started in the opposite direction of the Reds and won only two out of seven games against the Padres and the Rockies on the road. They also allowed 43 runs, including some offensive explosions.
Begin Pitchers
Saturday in its first start of 2021, Tyler Mahle hit well against the Cardinals, allowing three runs on four hits while hitting nine batsmen in five overs. Two of these runs come via Paul DéJong via home races.
Mahle’s speed ball averaged 95.1 km / h on Saturday, compared to 93.9 in 2020. He used all three of his stands about the same as last year, with the four-seam speed ball being used the most, followed by his slider. He only uses his split finger about 11 percent of the time and almost always left-handed batsmen. Mahle’s highest rate on Saturday was actually his chip at 28.6 percent, but his fast ball was 23.5 percent behind. He did come off with more victims from his fast ball, but he also threw his faster ball.
The Diamondbacks will face the right-handed pitcher Taylor Widener, which also makes his second start of the season. Widener pitched on Sunday and closed out the Padres, allowing only three shots with five shots and three runs in six overs. This was his first start in the major. In 2020, his rookie season, he played out of the spot in 12 games.
Widener relies on three places: fast ball with four seams, sliding bar and change. He’s primarily a fast pitcher – he threw it almost 65 percent of the time in 2020 – and uses his breaking lanes as secondary lanes. He will mostly throw the chip to right-handed batsmen. The change is mostly thrown to left-handed batsmen. Widener’s fast ball averaged 94.5 km / h in 2020. In his first game this year, his fast ball speed was slightly lower, averaging just 92.8 km / h. Its breaking heights will average between 85 and 86 mph.
Statistics are from 2020.
| Name | IP | ERA | FIP | xFIP | Whip | K% | BB% |
| Tyler Mahle | 47.2 | 3.59 | 3.88 | 4.59 | 1.15 | 29.9% | 10.4% |
| Taylor Widener | 20.0 | 4.50 | 6.49 | 5.65 | 1.30 | 25.0% | 13.6% |
Lineups
Cincinnati Reds
|
Arizona Diamondbacks |
| LF Jesse Winker | CF Tim Locastro |
| RF Nick Castellanos | RF Kole Calhoun |
| 1B Joey Votto | 1B Christian Walker |
| SS Eugenio Suárez | LF David Peralta |
| 3B Mike Moustakas | 3B Asdrubal Cabrera |
| CF Tyler Naquin | 2B Eduardo Escobar |
| 2B Jonathan India | SS Josh Rojas |
| C Tucker Barnhart | C Carson Kelly |
| P Tyler Mahle | P Taylor Widener |
Kole Calhoun returns to the Diamondbacks series after being on the 10-day injured list to start the season.
News and notes
Sonny Gray can return this week
Ahead of today’s game, manager David Bell said that if Sonny Gray’s simulation game, which he is expected to throw tomorrow, goes well, the right forward will be back in action this week.
Jesse Winker is back in the series
Jesse Winker returns to the Reds series tonight, after being sidelined for several games due to illness. He enjoys the new Reds announcer John Sadak just like the fans.
During his prediction Zoom, Jesse Winker told the new play-by-play broadcaster John Sadak that he really enjoyed himself on TV broadcasts. Winker kyk # Reds games from home when he was sick with the flu earlier this week.
– Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) 9 April 2021
Earlier today at Redleg Nation
Listen to the latest episode of Redleg Nation Radio, where Chad Dotson and Chris Garber discuss the start of the Reds 5-1.
John Ring wrote today about the weakness and excitement that brings the 2021 team to the table, comparing this start to the fast start that other Reds teams have had.
Final thoughts
Hey, look at the Reds, now at the top of Fangraphs’ chance of winning the NL Central. I do not care if it’s the first week of the season. I’m going to enjoy the ride this team is on.
Why hello, new NL Central favorites pic.twitter.com/1469pTv2Sn
– ???? ???? y (@Nicholaspkirby) 9 April 2021