Reds vs. Giants: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

The Reds offense hopes to continue to feed off home cooking.

The splits are dramatic. As play began yesterday, the Cincinnati offense is slashing .275/.362/.502 at home as opposed to .231/.295/.376 on the road. Luckily for the Reds, they’ll be spending the week at Great American Ball Park. Two players, in particular, have enjoyed the comforts of home. Catcher Tucker Barnhart and right fielder Nick Castellanos have done serious damage at GABP.

Barnhart is slashing a remarkable .379/.457/.659 with three homers, and nine RBIs in 41 at-bats.  His 117 OPS+ is currently a career-high by a wide margin. If Tucker can maintain this type of production at the plate combined with his Gold Glove-winning defense, he may find himself making his first career All-Star appearance.

Speaking of earning their debut All-Star nods, it’s tough to imagine a scenario in which Nick Castellanos won’t be representing the National League in Denver come mid-July. The Cincinnati outfielder has absolutely worn out opposing pitching at GABP.

Slashing .379/.410/.862 with eight round-trippers and 17 RBIs Castellanos has been crushing opponents in his home ballpark. Entering play Sunday tied for second in homers and batting average, Castellanos has established himself as one of the most dangerous hitters in the senior circuit.

Prediction

This is one of those weeks that could possibly be a harbinger for the Cincinnati Reds long-term 2021 prospects. Facing two of the league’s best teams in the San Francisco Giants and the Milwaukee Brewers, the Redlegs will see how they stack up against quality competition.

Cincinnati is 10-7 at home this year and has owned the Giants at GABP over the past decade. All of that holds true this week as the Reds make a statement by taking three of four from San Francisco before turning their sights on the Brewers in an NL Central showdown.