Reds vs Giants: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

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CINCINNATI, OH – APRIL 06: Jonathan India #6 of the Cincinnati Reds congratulates Tucker Barnhart #16 after they both were driven in by Tyler Naquin #12 during the fifth inning of the game. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

The Reds West Coast trip continues after dropping their first series of the year.

After dropping two of three to the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend, the Cincinnati Reds (6-3) are dealing with adversity for the first time during the young 2021 season. Despite the less than stellar results during their visit to Phoenix, the Reds maintain a one-game lead in the National League Central over the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals.

One of the more disappointing aspects of the weekend for the Redlegs was the pitching staff. Both the starting rotation and bullpen had three days; they would just as soon forget. Yikes!

The starting trio of Tyler Mahle, Jeff Hoffman, and Jose De Leon all failed to complete five innings of work. Base on balls was one of the biggest problems the Reds hurlers faced. Over 12.2 innings, the starters walked nine D-backs. That’s simply not going to get it done.

However, the Cincinnati bullpen failed to provide anything close to relief. The relief corps blew a five-run lead entering the 7th inning in Friday night’s opener before the Reds escaped with a 6-5 win in 10 innings.

Saturday night, the game ultimately got away from Cincinnati after entering the bottom of the fifth with a 2-1 advantage. The bullpen surrendered five runs over the final 3.2 frames in an 8-3 loss.

This weekend was much kinder to the San Francisco Giants (6-3) as they completed a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park. The Giants have won five of their last six and currently sit in third-place in a highly competitive National League West, just 1.5 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 09: Johnny Cueto #47 of the San Francisco Giants pitches. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Giants hurlers have stifled opposing offenses.

Entering play on Sunday, the San Francisco Giants pitching staff’s ERA of 3.04 was second-best in the National League. After yesterday’s game, those numbers have only improved as the team trails only the San Diego Padres (1.78 ERA) with a 2.70 ERA.

Former Reds’ starter Anthony DeSclafani tossed six shutout frames and fanned eight Rockies in a 4-0 San Francisco victory. In two starts this season, Disco has allowed only one run in 11 innings while striking out 12 opponents. After spending five years in the Cincinnati organization, it’s great to see DeSclafani off to a great start with his new club.

Disco isn’t the only member of the Giants rotation enjoying success. San Francisco starters have surrendered only two homers over 54.1 innings through the season’s first nine games.

The Giants have had to rely on dominant pitching because their offense has been mainly anemic to this point. Heading into Sunday afternoon’s contest, San Francisco was slashing a meager .197/.287/.367 and averaging just 3.4 runs a game.

Even though they haven’t hit for much average or reached base often, the Giants have been smacking homers at an impressive rate. Their 14 long balls on the season only trail the 16 round-trippers hit by the Cincinnati Reds among senior circuit clubs.

One Giant who has managed to be immune to the offense’s collective slow start is third baseman, Evan Longoria. The 35-year old veteran is hitting .333 with three homers and seven RBIs through the team’s first nine games of the season.

CINCINNATI, OH – APRIL 06: Wade Miley #22 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Previewing the pitching matchups: Reds vs. Giants

What a difference a year makes. In his Cincinnati debut in 2020, Wade Miley (1-0, 0.00 ERA) failed to escape the second inning. Fast forward to 2021, and Miley mowed down the Pirates tossing six scoreless innings in his season debut.

Reds manager David Bell will hand the ball to Miley to open the three-game set tonight against Aaron Sanchez (0-0, 1.80 ERA) of the Giants. Even though he’s only hitting .242 lifetime against Miley in 33 at-bats, Evan Longoria, as mentioned earlier, has taken the Reds southpaw deep three times.

Right-hander Aaron Sanchez will be making his first career start versus the Redlegs. In his season debut against the San Diego Padres, the 28-year-old right-hander allowed only one run in five innings facing a potent Padres lineup.

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Luis Castillo (1-,1 6.97 ERA) toes the rubber squaring off against former Reds pitcher Kevin Gausman (0-0, 1.32 ERA) in Tuesday night’s contest. La Piedra was much better in his last start following his disastrous Opening Day performance.

The Cincinnati right-hander threw seven scoreless frames against the Pirates, limiting them to just four hits and one free pass. In three career starts versus the Giants, Castillo is 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA and has whiffed a staggering 29 in only 19.2 innings.

Gausman is off to a terrific start. Hurling 13.2 innings, he’s allowed just two runs on seven hits. However, the Reds have treated the right-hander rudely in three career starts. The 30-year-old is 0-3 with an eye-popping 12.79 ERA versus the Reds. Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto has four hits in five at-bats when facing Gausman, including a homer.

Wednesday afternoon’s matinee will feature Tyler Mahle (1-0, 2.00 ERA) opposing former longtime Reds ace Johnny Cueto (1-0, 2.51 ERA). To say Mahle had an odd start his last time out would be an understatement.

Mahle was lifted after just four innings despite not allowing a run or even a base hit. However, Mahle did issue four walks to the Arizona Diamondbacks and threw an unsightly 92 pitches in only four frames.

One hitter, the Reds right-hander, will need to tread carefully around is Giants first baseman Brandon Belt. The left-handed-hitting slugger has taken Mahle deep in both career at-bats versus the California native.

It’s always strange rooting against Johnny Cueto, but here we are. It was a vintage Cueto performance during his last start against the Colorado Rockies. Cueto allowed just one run on four hits in 8.2 innings. The 35-year-old right-hander is winless in three starts versus his former team.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 09: Eugenio Suarez #7 of the Cincinnati Reds hits a sacrifice fly. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The Reds have enjoyed success over the Giants.

Over the years, typically, when the Cincinnati Reds make a road trip to the West Coast, it rapidly descends into a house of horrors. However, the one-stop along the journey that has been most welcoming to is a visit to the Bay Area and Oracle Park.

Since the stadium opened in 2000, the Reds are just one game under .500 with a 35-36 record. Additionally, Cincinnati has only lost one season series to the San Francisco Giants since the 2011 campaign.

One Reds player who loves hitting against the Giants is shortstop Eugenio Suarez. Geno is slashing .298/.344/.596 with nine homers and 25 RBIs in 29 games versus the Giants during his eight-year career.

In seven games versus the Giants during the 2019 campaign alone, Suarez launched four homers and drove home nine runs. Expect to see San Francisco’s pitching being extremely cautious when Suarez steps to the plate.

Prediction

It will be strength versus strength over the next three days as the explosive Cincinnati offense battles a dominant San Francisco pitching staff. Recent history tells us the Reds love facing the Giants, and you can expect that pattern to hold true as the Redlegs toss their three best starters at the Giants.

Next. Who's the odd-man out when Gray returns

Look for the Cincinnati Reds to take two of three from the San Francisco Giants and complete a .500 road trip as they return home in first place and prepare for the Ohio Cup battle against their American League rival, the Cleveland Indians.

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