Cincinnati has a majors-worst 34 runs this season. Of that total, five have come in extra innings.
Despite the team-wide hitting slump, the Reds are 8-3 because their pitching ranks fifth in the majors with a 2.82 ERA. The Reds’ staff should get even better once two injured starters return: Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo.
The Reds — who have won five straight games — will start right-hander Brady Singer (0-0, 5.00 ERA) on Wednesday night against the host Miami Marlins in the third contest of a four-game series.
Singer represents a big change for the Marlins, who have faced four consecutive left-handed starters. The Marlins are 3-3 against southpaw starters this season and 3-2 vs. right-handers.
As for Singer, he is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in three career starts against the Marlins.
Singer, a former University of Florida star, was named the nation’s Player of the Year in 2018. That same year, he was the 18th player selected in the MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals.
Since being acquired by the Reds following the 2024 season, Singer is 14-12 with a 4.08 ERA. Last year, he led the Reds in wins, quality starts and innings.
Leading Cincinnati’s offense is first baseman Sal Stewart, a Miami native who is hitting .351 with a 1.063 OPS.
“I’m excited, but I still have to do my job,” Stewart said of playing in his hometown. “Once we get between those lines, it’s time to win.”
The Marlins would love to win, especially after a painful 6-3 loss to Cincinnati in 10 innings on Tuesday night. Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara led 2-0 when he was removed from the game with one out in the ninth.
Reliever Anthony Bender allowed both inherited runners to score, and the Reds pulled away in the 10th inning.
It was a crushing defeat for Marlins manager Clayton McCullough, who said he decided to remove Alcantara even before he got to the mound.
“It didn’t work out, but I thought at that time that the best (pitcher) to win the game was Bender,” McCullough said. “It hurts.”
Alcantara also was upset, which makes it interesting to see how the Marlins will react on Wednesday.
“I’m mad at myself,” Alcantara said. “I should have done better. I believe in my teammates and my coaches, but next time they have to make sure to ask me before they take me out of the game.”
On Wednesday, the Marlins will start right-hander Eury Perez (0-1, 5.73 ERA), who is 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA in three career starts vs. Cincinnati.
As for Miami’s offense, center fielder Jakob Marsee is coming off a game in which he stole a career-high four bases. He also went 2-for-4 with one walk and two runs.
“He’s having good at-bats,” McCullough said. “He’s a threat when he’s on the bases.”
–Field Level Media
