Cincinnati Reds News: Homer Bailey impressive in return

Good morning Reds Country. The Cincinnati Reds lost in extra innings last night, but Homer Bailey pitched well, Eugenio Suarez homered again, and Jackson Stephens is headed to the DL.

The Cincinnati Reds overcame yet another no-hit bid by the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. The Reds rallied to tie the game but fell short in extra innings to the Redbirds. Sal Romano will take the hill in the afternoon rubber match at Great American Ball Park on Wednesday. Let’s check out this Tuesday morning edition of news and notes from Blog Red Machine.

Bailey impressive in his return. I think it’s safe to say that most Reds fans were happy with Homer Bailey‘s performance on Tuesday night against the Cardinals. The right-hander went 6.2 innings and allowed only 2 runs on 5 hits while striking out a season-best 8 batters.

Bailey returned from the DL after being hampered earlier this season with a knee issue. After 7 appearances during a rehab assignment in Triple-A Louisville. Bailey struck out the side to begin the ballgame and rode that hot start until his exit 115 pitches later.

Homer Bailey’s return to the Reds coupled with a 6-man starting rotation had a lot of fans in Reds Country scratching their heads and voicing their displeasure on social media. It’s understandable given the polarizing player that Bailey can be.

However, if Tuesday’s performance against St. Louis was a preview of what Reds fans can expect from a ‘healthy’ Homer Bailey, I think angst will subside and Reds fans will embrace their veteran hurler.

Suarez goes deep again. Cardinals’ pitchers are going to grow tired of giving up game-tying bombs to Eugenio Suarez. The Reds third baseman took the Cards deep again last night, this time he knotted the game at two after Joey Votto got the Reds’ first hit in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The home run was Suarez’s 21st of the season. He leads all Reds players in that category and is seventh in the National League. Matt Carpenter, Jesus Aguilar, and Nolan Arenado lead the NL with 25 each.

With a former MVP like Joey Votto and an incredible breakout season by Scooter Gennett, it’s understandable that a player like Suarez can be forgotten from time to time. But, take a look at the numbers he’s putting up this season.

Suarez is tied for the National League lead in RBIs with 74. His .307 batting average is a career-best and is 27 points higher than his career-high back in 2015. Suarez is in the Top 10 in the NL in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, home runs, RBIs, and WAR. When the discussion for NL MVP is had, Suarez has to be in the conversation.

Stephens goes to the DL. Cincinnati Reds reliever Jackson Stephens was placed on the 10-day DL with a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. The move was made retroactive to Monday, and Homer Bailey took Stephens spot on the 25-man roster.

Stephens is 2-2 on the season with a 4.82 ERA. The Reds’ reliever has made 18 appearances this season and struck out 23 batters through 28 innings pitched.

Next: Blandino's injury reveals hole at SS

The Reds close out their series with the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon. Hopefully, the Redlegs get a hit before the seventh inning, and hopefully, no fire alarms cause a stoppage in play as they did on Tuesday night.