Cincinnati Reds: Three players who will benefit from postponed games

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CINCINNATI, OHIO – AUGUST 15: An exterior view of Great American Ball Park the venue for the Cincinnati Reds(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

A few Reds needed some time away from the game.

While Reds Country certainly isn’t happy that their favorite team is missing games, this could be very beneficial to a few players. The final two games of the series between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates was postponed after one of the Reds players tested positive for COVID-19. Who might be helped from this brief break from the field?

The Reds have started the season 9-11. While that mark is better than we’ve seen the past two seasons, it’s not going to be enough during a pandemic shortened-season to make the type of the impact in the standings that most fans foresaw. While the team’s starting pitching has been fantastic, the hitting has left a lot to the imagination.

Sure, Nick Castellanos set the world on fire during the first few weeks of the season, but even the Reds big free agent acquisition has cooled off of late. However, a new leader in the lineup has emerged, as there may not be a hitter who’s more locked-in than Jesse Winker. The time away certainly won’t help Winker, who’s hitting .650/.720/.1.500 over the past seven games.

But, the brief interruption in Cincinnati’s schedule may be just what the doctor ordered for some of the team’s struggling players. As hot as Winker has been over the past several games, some other players have been equally as cold. Let’s look at three players on the roster who may benefit from the postponement of the final two games of the series.

CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 22: Phillip Ervin #6 of the Cincinnati Reds bats during an exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers at Great American Ball Park on July 22, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds defeated the Tigers 2-1. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

1. Reds outfielder Phillip Ervin has struggled to start the season.

I really thought we’d have seen more of Phillip Ervin in the Cincinnati Reds lineup. In saying that, with Jesse Winker’s OPS sitting at 1.196, there’s no way David Bell can afford to sit down his best hitter. With the influx of outfield talent on this year’s roster, it appears that Ervin is buried on the depth chart.

When Ervin does receive a chance to play, he’s not excelled at all. In 22 at-bats so far this season, Phillip Ervin is hitting just .136. Despite the low batting average, Ervin has maintained a .321 on-base percentage thanks to a keen eye at the plate. Ervin has six walks in his 22 trips to the dish.

Ervin also has five strikeouts on the season. Ervin dismantled left-handed pitching last season and was often platooned with Winker in left field. However, though it’s just a small sample size, the results this year are not the same. Ervin is hitting just .143/.294/.143 against southpaws. His OPS against right-handers (.489) is actually better than it is against left-handers (.437).

Given the talent that Cincinnati has in its outfield, it’s not surprising that Ervin has been limited in terms of opportunities. However, when he receives those opportunities, he has to cash in. I believe that Ervin could very well be a trade candidate at the August 31st deadline. Perhaps this brief break will help Ervin regain his swing and allow him to make an impact on Bell and coaching staff.

CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 18: Eugenio Suarez #7 of the Cincinnati Reds looks on during a team scrimmage (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2. This is not the version of Eugenio Suárez we saw last year.

Boy, if anyone needs some time away from the game, it’s Eugenio Suárez. It appears as though David Bell felt the same way, as during Friday’s game versus the Pirates, Geno was absent from the starting lineup and replaced by Kyle Farmer. If the Cincinnati Reds hope to make any noise this season and compete for a playoff spot, Suárez has to get going.

An All-Star two seasons ago and second in the league in homers in 2019, Suárez has fallen off the map through the first few weeks of the 2020 season. Geno is slashing a horrendous .123/.278/.525 and has just eight hits and two home runs on the season. This is not the same player who broke the National League record for home runs (49) by a third baseman last season.

As bad as Suárez’s season numbers are, there’s a glimmer of hope that he’s starting to come out of the slump. Over the past seven games, Suárez is hitting a few points better than his overall season average and his on-base percentage is up to .333. However, Eugenio Suárez has struck out 11 times in his last 24 at-bats. That’s a 45% strikeout-rate. Yikes!

Don’t expect Suárez to stay mired in this slump. The Reds third baseman is too talented. If the Reds resume play on Monday, Geno will have had three consecutive days away from the game. Perhaps he’s working overtime with the coaching, trying to get his swing right. Cincinnati needs Suárez to be that bat in the middle of the lineup who produces runs.

CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 4: Tyler Mahle #30 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

3. Tyler Mahle is likely to draw another start for the Reds.

Tyler Malhe has started two games for the Cincinnati Reds this season. Mahle replaced Anthony DeSclafani earlier this season while the veteran right-hander was on the injured list to begin the 2020 season. Mahle also subbed in for Wade Miley while the left-hander was nursing an injured groin. Mahle is likely to draw another start very soon.

If the Reds, as has been reported by John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, play a doubleheader against the Pirates on Monday, David Bell is going to need an additional arm in the rotation. The Reds skipper will likely turn to Mahle, who’s pitched 13.1 innings this season and put up an ERA of 3.38 while striking out 16 batters.

Bell’s other option would be Tejay Antone. The Reds rookie has shone brightly during his first bit of action in the big leagues, coming on for the injured Wade Miley a few weeks back and then gaining his first MLB start agains the Cleveland Indians on August 5th. Antone though, might be a better option to piggyback off Miley who’s not off to a good start with the Cincinnati Reds.

If the rotation holds, Bell would likely turn to Trevor Bauer and Luis Castillo should the Pirates series wrap up on Monday. The Reds would then likely turn to Wade Miley and Sonny Gray in the team’s two-game set versus the Kansas City Royals. The Reds follow that up with four straight games against the St. Louis Cardinals.

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If Bell wants to keep both Bauer and Castillo on normal rest, look for Mahle to gain a start next week. Any chance that Mahle gets to impress the coaching staff is of benefit to the young right-hander who’s essentially pitching for an opportunity to be part of the 2021 starting rotation.

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