
The Reds’ bullpen has been an embarrassment.
First things first, as Reds Country knows, the bullpen was a huge question mark entering the season. When you trade a reliable closer in Raisel Iglesias for what amounts to a salary dump and decide to not tender a contract to relief pitcher Archie Bradley, who has ample late-inning experience, you’re playing with fire.
To this point in the season, the Cincinnati Reds haven’t been burned; they’ve been incinerated. Don’t blame manager David Bell; he has to have more than Tejay Antone to call upon without inviting a pyromaniac episode.
Using the last three days versus the Arizona Diamondbacks as an example, the Reds fireman set Great American Ball Park ablaze. Hurling 13.1 innings, the bullpen was torched for 22 runs, 16 hits, 15 walks, and five homers. It’s unfathomable that a collection of major league pitchers could be this horrendous, but here we are.
Where does David Bell turn? Your guess is as good as mine. However, what I do know is that Reds General Manager Nick Krall has to find some arms immediately to give his skipper a fighting chance late in the game.
Prediction
To call Busch Stadium a house of horrors for the Reds would be an insult to haunted houses. Since the latest Busch Stadium opened in 2006, Cincinnati is a ridiculous 45-81 against the Cardinals in on the road. You read that right; the Reds are 36 games under .500. in St. Louis over the past 15 seasons.
Despite the train-wreck of the Diamondbacks series and the Reds history in the Gateway City, look for the Redlegs to escape with two victories this weekend before departing for Hollywood and a date with the Los Angeles Dodgers.