Reds vs. White Sox: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 18: Mike Moustakas #9 of the Cincinnati Reds tags out Nomar Mazara #30 of the Chicago White Sox. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 18: Mike Moustakas #9 of the Cincinnati Reds tags out Nomar Mazara #30 of the Chicago White Sox. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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CINCINNATI, OHIO – MAY 02: Joey Votto #19 and Nick Castellanos #2 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrate after Castellanos hit a home run. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO – MAY 02: Joey Votto #19 and Nick Castellanos #2 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrate after Castellanos hit a home run. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

How did the Redlegs fare last week? As Larry David likes to say in Curb Your Enthusiasm, “pretty, pretty, pretty good.” On the heels of a seven-game skid, the Cincinnati Reds (13-14) bounced back, taking two of three from the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.

It was another week of feast or famine for the Cincinnati offense. In their four victories, the Reds crossed the plate an astounding 32 times while scoring just a combined two runs in as many defeats.

The Cincinnati Reds welcome an excellent Chicago White Sox club to town.

Opening play this evening, the Reds find themselves in third place, trailing the first-place Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central. Eleven of the Redlegs next 14 games will be played against foes outside the division, and following Thursday’s off-day, the club will play 16 consecutive days.

The Reds will need all the reinforcements they can muster for a busy May, and one integral piece should be returning to the active roster any moment. Outfielder Shogo Akiyama, recovering from a hamstring injury,  has played in a couple games at the Reds alternate site in Louisville over the past week, and his return appears imminent.

Talk about your unexpected reunion tours. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf has lamented that firing Tony La Russa as manager in 1986 was his greatest regret during his ownership tenure. Fast forward thirty-five years and Reinsdorf is determined to exorcise his demons.

To put this in perspective, La Russa was first hired to run the club in 1979. I was nine years old. I’m now 50, and guess what? La Russa is again making out the lineup card for the South Siders. It’s mind-boggling.

Let’s be honest La Russa wouldn’t return to the field after a decade away to manage the Colorado Rockies. This White Sox team is loaded with talent and can compete with any team the American League has to offer.

Coming off a postseason appearance last year, the Chicago White Sox (15-12), winners of seven of their last 10 games, look every part of a contender for the 2021 season. Make no mistake about it, the South Side Hitmen are stacked, and the Reds will have their hands full the next two days.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 29: Tim Anderson #7 of the Chicago White Sox and Billy Hamilton #0, formerly of the Cincinnati Reds, celebrate. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 29: Tim Anderson #7 of the Chicago White Sox and Billy Hamilton #0, formerly of the Cincinnati Reds, celebrate. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Whether it’s hitting or pitching, the White Sox do it well.

This Chicago team is seemingly void of weaknesses. The offense enters play today, leading the American League with a .340 on-base percentage and their .257 batting average places them third among junior circuit clubs.

Seven of the White Sox nine regulars in the lineup sport an OBP of .321 or higher. Designated hitter Yermin Mercedes is off to a tremendous start. Slashing .395/.435/.628 with five homers and 16 RBIs, the 28-year-old right-handed-slugger is pacing an offense that includes Tim Anderson and the 2020 AL MVP Jose Abreau.

Unfortunately for Chicago, they received devastating news yesterday when it was determined 23-year-old centerfield Luis Robert would miss the next 12-16 weeks due to a right hip flexor tear. Robert is one of the bright young stars of today’s game, and his absence will be disappointing for all baseball fans.

Who could replace Robert in centerfield? Don’t be surprised to see old friend Billy Hamilton receive more playing time than he or the Sox could have anticipated. The former Cincinnati speedster is having a typical Billy-like season at the plate, slashing .176/.263/.176 in 17 at-bats, but his electric defense will at least provide some value to the club.

When it comes to the pitching mound, White Sox hurlers have equaled their dynamic offense. Their four shutouts are tied for the league’s top stop, and their 3.62 team ERA is the third-best in the AL. Luckily for the Reds, they will miss arguably the hottest pitcher on the planet.

Southpaw Carlos Rodon has clearly tossed his name into the early Cy Young conversation. Undefeated in four decisions, he’s allowed just seven hits in 25 innings while recording an intimidating 36 punchouts. Cincinnati will gladly let the Kansas City Royals deal with him on Thursday.

If there’s one area where the White Sox are vulnerable, it’s their bullpen. Tossing 87.2 innings, Chicago relievers have surrendered 13 gophers balls and produced a less than sparkling 1.300 WHIP. Closer Liam Hendricks has been taken deep four times in only 11.1 frames.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 28: Sonny Gray #54 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the sixth inning. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 28: Sonny Gray #54 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the sixth inning. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Previewing the pitching matchups: Reds vs. White Sox

Jeff Hoffman (2-1 3.33 ERA) gets the call for the Reds in the opener opposing Dylan Cease (1-0 2.96 ERA) of Chicago. While Hoffman’s ERA is certainly solid, let’s be honest; he’s been far more lucky than good up to this point in the season.

Throwing strikes has been an issue for Hoffman, as evidenced by his 12 free passes in only 24.1 innings of work. Never were his struggles more evident than during his last start against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Despite allowing just one hit in four frames, he walked five, and that one hit (a home run off the bat of LA catcher Will Smith) may still be traveling. With the Sox propensity to be patient at the plate, this is simply not a favorable matchup for the Cincinnati right-hander, but that’s why they play the game.

Right-hander Dylan Cease is not exactly a master of the strike zone himself. The 25-year-old right-hander has walked a dozen in only 24.1 frames while fanning 29 opposing hitters. However, if his last start is any indication, it could be a long night for the Redlegs.

Tossing seven shutout innings versus the Detroit Tigers, Cease recorded nine punchouts and allowed just three hits. Having said that, it’s been the only start this season where Cease has managed to escape the fifth inning in five attempts.

Wednesday afternoon’s series finale will feature Sonny Gray (0-2 5.93 ERA) toeing the rubber against Dallas Keuchel (1-1 4.65 ERA) of the White Sox. Despite taking the loss in his last start, Reds Country breathed a huge sigh of relief following two less than stellar starts by Gray.

The right-hander fanned 11 Dodgers in only 5.2 innings while allowing four hits and two runs. It was Gray’s first double-digit strikeout performance since mowing down 10 Pittsburgh Pirates on August 14, 2020.

One White Sox player looking forward to seeing Gray on the bump is outfielder Adam Eaton. The left-handed swinging Eaton is slashing .429/.500/.500 in 16 career plate appearances versus the Cincinnati starter.

Dallas Keuchel will never wow you with his stuff, but he’s built an impressive resume by simply getting people out; and that’s the name of the game. However, there’s a couple of Redlegs the Chicago southpaw has struggled to retire.

Right-handed sluggers Nick Castellanos and Eugenio Suarez are a combined 10-for-25 with a homer against the former Cy Young Award winner. Don’t be surprised to see Reds manager David Bell give third baseman Mike Moustakas a day off Wednesday. Moose has two hits in 16 career at-bats when facing Keuchel.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – MAY 02: Eugenio Suarez #7 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates after hitting a home run. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO – MAY 02: Eugenio Suarez #7 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates after hitting a home run. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Reds’ slugger Eugenio Suarez is showing signs of life.

A strong argument can be made that shortstop Eugenio Suarez was not only the Reds worst player in April, but maybe in all of baseball. Let’s hope this is the last time we have to reference numbers like this.

Through the first month of the season, Geno slashed an embarrassing .130/.229/.304 with 40 strikeouts in 90 at-bats. His -1.0 bWAR is the worst in the National League. It’s almost unfathomable to think a player of his caliber could be so bad, but here we are.

Hopefully, this past weekend was a harbinger of things to come.  Throughout his career, the sight of Chicago Cubs pitching has brought out the best in Eugenio Suarez and this weekend was no different.

The Cincinnati slugger went 4-for-14 with two homers and four runs knocked home. Here’s hoping another Chicago pitching staff will induce a similar outburst for a player the Reds must have at his best in order to contend.

Prediction: Reds vs White Sox

Outside of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago White Sox are probably the best team the Cincinnati Reds have faced during the young 2021 season. I would not be surprised in the least to see those two teams (Dodgers and White Sox) facing each other in late October.

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After Wednesday, the Reds and Sox won’t see each other again until the final week of the season in the Windy City. Once the Reds hit the south side in late September, they will be looking to break the stalemate as the two squads will split the series in Cincinnati.

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