Cincinnati Reds: Mystery starter revealed with Ohio Cup on the line

The Reds send Tejay Antone to the mound on Wednesday night versus the Indians.

During the first two games of the 2020 Ohio Cup series, the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians have played to type. Before the series began, we discussed it would likely be dominated by starting pitching with both offenses struggling to score runs. That’s exactly what happened.

True to form, the Reds smacked balls over the fence while struggling to catch anything hit their way and watched the bullpen implode in the late innings. Meanwhile, the Indians received excellent starting pitching and scuffled to string base hits together.

Last night’s contest was one that Reds Country has seen too many times already this season. The defense struggled to make routine plays in the field while the bullpen walked the bases full and gave up a game-deciding round-tripper. Three times in 11 games, the Reds relief corps have surrendered a game-winning homer in the 8th inning or later.

Give Cleveland credit. The Reds were more than willing to hand the Indians gifts and they took advantage of it. Of the six runs the Tribe scored in the first two games, half of those were of the unearned variety.

To put into perspective how generous the Reds have been, the Indians had more runs (4) than hits (3) in Tuesday night’s showdown. In addition to the eight hits combined the Indians had in the two games at Great American Ball Park, they received as many free passes from the Cincinnati pitching staff.

As the scene shifts to Progressive Field, the Cincinnati Reds are entering a ballpark where they’ve had a fair amount of success in recent years. Cincinnati has not dropped a series in Cleveland since the 2016 campaign. Let’s hope that streak continues. Though we’ve already seen the Indians in back-to-back games, let’s take a closer look at the Tribe.

Previewing the pitching matchups: Reds vs Indians

Earlier in the week, the Reds had right-hander Luis Castillo penciled in as the starter for Wednesday’s game, but those plans may have changed. Late yesterday afternoon the Reds probable pitchers for both today and tomorrow’s game were to be determined. The rotation is set, and we finally have our answer as to which two pitchers will start in Cleveland.

Tejay Antone is David Bell’s choice to take the hill on Wednesday night for his first big league start.  The 26-year old right-hander has made just one appearance this season, but it was a dandy. Let’s hope he channels that same energy tonight at Progressive Field.

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After Wade Miley failed to escape the second inning against the Cubs on July 27th, Antone tossed 4.1 innings of relief, allowing only a solo homer while striking out five Cubbies. If nothing else, Antone is well rested having not pitched in more than a week.

Trevor Bauer would’ve been an option as well and I have no doubt that Bauer would have loved to face his former teammates in Cleveland. But, considering he would be pitching on three days rest, it seems like the right decision to push Bauer’s start to Friday versus the Milwaukee Brewers.

Cleveland will have right-hander Mike Clevenger (0-1 4.91 ERA) toeing the rubber in the opener. The 29-year-old was awful in his last start against a stacked Minnesota Twins lineup. Lasting just four innings, Sunshine allowed four runs on six hits with five walks and two homers.

In his career against the Reds, Clevinger is 1-1 with an unsightly  6.06 ERA. Even though he’s fanned 20 Redlegs, Clevinger has given up 10 free passes and four homers in 16.1 innings. Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart is 3-for-6 against Clevinger with a homer, a double and two walks in eight plate appearances.

Castillo (0-1 4.50 ERA) will go to work in Game 2 of the series. Bell pushed Castillo’s start back a day, giving the Reds ace an extra day of rest. Castillo struggled during his previous start, going six innings while allowing five runs on eight hits.

Carlos Carrasco (1-1 3.75 ERA) takes the ball for the Indians in Thursday’s series finale. Like his fellow rotation mates, Carrasco mows down hitters at a dizzying rate and is stingy with the base on balls. Throwing 12 innings in his two starts, he’s whiffed 15 while allowing just two walks.

The 33-year-old right-hander is unbeaten in six career starts against the Reds with three wins and a 4.05 ERA. Throughout his career, he’s owned Reds second baseman Mike Moustakas.  Moose is slashing a measly .120/.241/.160 with just one extra-base hit in 25 at-bats.

Long time member of the Tribe is underrated

There must be something in the water in the state of Ohio when it comes to first baseman who reach base at a prolific rate. Playing in his 10th season in Cleveland, Carlos Santana has a career-OBP mark of .376 and like his Reds counterpart Joey Votto he’s not afraid to take a walk.

A switch hitter, Santana has crossed the century mark four times in free passes and has walked more than 90 times in eight different seasons throughout his 11-year career. The 34-year-old Dominican native earned a career and American League-high 113 base on balls during the 2014 season.

But like Joseph Daniel Votto, he’s not afraid to play long ball as well. Over the course of 162 games, Santana averages 26 round-trippers. Since the 2016 campaign, he’s hit at least 23 homers and matched his career-high of 34 in 2019 his lone All-Star season.

You want a player that’s durable? Carlos Santana is that guy as well. Since 2011, he’s had only one season in which he failed to appear in less than 150 games. What’s even more impressive is that he’s nowhere close to being a full-time in DH. In 1,224 career games, Santana’s appeared as a DH only 254 times. The guy is simply a gamer.

While Santana does not receive the accolades of teammates Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez, he’s an integral part of the Tribe. Any player that gets on base at a .367 clip in addition to a career .816 OPS is always welcomed and that’s exactly the kind of player Carlos Santana has been.

Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos has lived up to the billing

Reds Country, are you not entertained? When the Cincinnati Reds signed Nick Castellanos as a free agent this past winter it sent shock waves through the fanbase. Through his first 11 games as a member of the Reds, it appears the front office is going to have a nice return on their investment.

All Castellanos has done is win Player of the Week and collect at least one hit in every game this season. For good measure, he’s currently leading the National League in homers with six, slugging at .912, OPS at 1.373 and an absolutely ridiculous 270 OPS+.

It looks as if manager David Bell has taken notice as well.  In the past two games, Castellanos has been moved to the No. 3 spot in the order behind Joey Votto. This could be a dream scenario for Castellanos. Even though he may not be peak Votto any longer, the Reds first baseman is still getting on-base at .389 rate which will give Castellanos ample opportunities to rack up ribbies.

Castellanos has also found Great American Ball Park to his liking. Through his first eight home games, Castellanos has walloped four home runs and two doubles. By playing half his games in the Queen City, an MVP caliber season is not out of the question for Castellanos.

Prediction

Honestly, the Reds should be walking into Cleveland with an opportunity to sweep the season series, but once again another late-inning meltdown led to their last demise last night. The bullpen surrendered a 2-0 lead in the seventh inning and a two-run homer to Franmil Reyes in the eighth sealed their fate.

Nonetheless, I expect the Redlegs to bounce back and take both games at Progressive Field. Luis Castillo gives the Reds a chance to win every night he takes the hill and there seems to be no stopping Nick Castellanos. Look for the Cincinnati Reds to hoist the Ohio Cup for the first time since the 2014 season.