Cincinnati Reds: Cody Reed needs to make the most of his opportunity

Tonight versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. left-hander Cody Reed goes to the mound for the Cincinnati Reds. Reed needs a solid outing to prove he belongs in the starting rotation.

The Cincinnati Reds welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers to Great American Ball Park on Monday night. The Dodgers will go head-to-head with Cody Reed and the Reds on Monday night. This will be Reed’s third straight start and he’s had mixed results. Tonight is an opportunity for the left to prove he belongs.

Technically this will be Cody Reed’s third start of the season, but only his second since the Reds decided to throw him into the starting rotation. Reed’s first start came on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies back on April 9th.

In his first start of the season, Reed went only 3 innings and allowed 5 runs on 4 hits. In Reed’s defense, only 3 of those runs were. Carlos Santana scored two unearned. He reached base in the first inning on an error and moved up a bag in the third inning on a wild pitch to score on a sacrifice fly.  Reed did, however, allow 2 home runs in that game.

More from Blog Red Machine

• Reds vs. White Sox: Pitching preview, prediction, and more
• Reds: Reiver Sanmartin adds another twist to offseason roster construction
• Reds: Signing Tyler Mahle to a contract extension should be a top priority
• Reds: Reiver Sanmartin should get first major league start vs Pirates
• Reds should unquestionably bring Wade Miley back in 2022

In his two starts since returning to the starting rotation, Reed has been decent but not spectacular. He performed admirably in his first time out against the  Milwaukee Brewers. A quick hook by Cincinnati Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman prevented Reed from going deeper in that game.

Riggleman lifted Cody Reed after 4.2 innings while allowing only 1 run on just 4 hits. However, Reed issued 3 walks, including one to load the bases in the top of the fifth inning. Riggleman’s removal of Reed, while a bit premature, was done to keep the Brewers from breaking the game wide open.

Cody Reed’s second outing since being promoted to the starting rotation was less than stellar, though this time, Riggleman left Reed out there to work through his mistakes. Against the Pittsburgh Pirates last week, Reed went 5 innings, allowed 6 runs on 9 hits, while walking 1 and striking out 2 batters.

If you put those two performances together Reed’s ERA is 6.52. That’s not going to get it done. HItters are knocking him around to the tune of .342 at the plate with 13 hits allowed through just 9.2 innings.

The Dodgers are one of the hottest teams in the National League right now. LA has won 11 of their last 15 games and is within striking distance of the Colorado Rockies in the NL West. The Dodgers have scored at least 11 runs in 4 of their games during that 15 game span.

Two of Los Angeles’ big hitters, Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy, bat from the left side. Reed has to win those matchups to have any chance versus the Dodgers on Monday night. Reed needs a good outing to show the Cincinnati Reds that he can be a part of the starting rotation heading into the 2019 season.