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

The Reds have been Josh Hader’s kryptonite.

The numbers don’t lie; 63 strikeouts in 36.1 innings, a 0.79 WHIP with a 1.49 ERA and 21 saves. Josh Hader has been the dominant closer in the National League Central not only this season but for several seasons, and it hasn’t been close.

As a matter of fact, Hader entered last weekend without a defeat in three decisions this year. But, as the second half begins, the left-handed closer now has a pair of losses on his resume, and he can place the blame on Eugenio Suarez’s bat, or elbow, in each instance.

Suarez broke a 3-3 tie against the Brewers last Saturday night in the ninth inning with a towering opposite-field round-tripper off Hader which proved to be the difference in a Redlegs victory. But wait, Hader and Suarez were not quite finished with one another.

Entering last Sunday’s series finale, the 27-year-old Hader had failed to hit a single batter in his previous 36 appearances during the 2021 campaign. Once again, with the score tied, Geno stepped to the plate the leading off the top of the ninth for Cincinnati.

How cocky is Josh Hader? He was confident enough to pluck Suarez with the inning’s first pitch, putting the potential winning run on base with nobody out. But, as fate would have it, Hader’s hubris proved to be ill-served.

Once All-Star Nick Castellanos plated two runs with a bases-loaded single, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell was forced to remove his closer as the Reds closed out a 3-1 victory while saddling Hader with his second loss in as many days. However, the atmosphere should be electric at GABP this weekend if Hader is called upon again.