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

The Reds conclude a tough road trip in the City of Brotherly Love.

To say it was a much-needed victory would be an understatement. After dropping three straight to open their seven-game road trip, the Cincinnati Reds (62-54) offense exploded on Thursday to capture the series finale in Atlanta. David Bell’s group avoided a three-game sweep and kept, for the time being, Reds Country from the brink of a nervous breakdown.

It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times for the Redlegs bullpen in Atlanta. In the opener, the Reds relief corps allowed just two hits in three innings of work; however, they walked three in the sixth inning, including the eventual game-winning run in a 3-2 defeat.

The loss in the second game was just as painful. Cincinnati battled back from a 5-0 deficit to force extra-innings on the strength of Joey Votto’s two-run bomb in the top of the ninth. Unfortunately, the first hit the bullpen allowed since the sixth inning just happened to be a two-out, three-run walk-off blast from Ozzie Albies in the bottom of the 11th off Lucas Sims.

Following an eight-game winning streak, the Philadelphia Phillies (60-55) momentum was slowed this week after dropping two of three to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park. Entering this week, the Phillies had been the hottest team in baseball and made an incredible run to seize first place in the National League East.

At the All-Star break, the Phils were 3.5 games behind the New York Mets, but a 9-2 mark to open the month of August coupled with a sweep of the Metropolitans last weekend, and the Phillies have turned from the hunter to the hunted within the division.

Throughout the last decade, the Reds have struggled mightily at Citizens Bank Park. Cincinnati has collected just one series victory in their last eight visits to Philadelphia and have lost five of six in the City of Brotherly Love since the 2018 season.

Phillies slugger, Bryce Harper, is leading the second-half charge.

This is why the Phillies signed Bryce Harper to the monstrous 13-year/ $330M deal before the 2019 season. It’s no coincidence Philadelphia has taken off as the left-handed power-hitter began terrorizing opposing pitching staffs.

Harper entered play yesterday, slashing an incredible .297/.409/.560 with 20 homers and 45 RBIs. His 164 OPS+ mark trails only the San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 179 OPS+ figure for NL supremacy.

However, Harper has been playing at a level mere mortals can only dream of since the All-Star break. Before play on Thursday, the former MVP is slashing .342/.495/.684 with a ridiculous 1.179 OPS. For good measure, the six-time All-Star has walked 23 times against 18 strikeouts in 25 contests.

Philadelphia has needed all of Harper’s offensive exploits because the pitching staff strikes little fear in opponents. Phillies’ hurlers have surrendered 151 gopher balls which ranks as the fifth most in the senior circuit.

While the Phils starters have an unspectacular 4.32 ERA, it’s when manager Joe Girardi turns to his bullpen where the pitching staff is truly vulnerable. Their bullpen save percentage of 52% is the third-worst mark in the National League.

But wait! It gets worse. The Philadelphia relief corps has also blown the most saves in the NL with 25, and their 44 holds only bests the Colorado Rockies among senior circuit clubs. In short, once you get to the Phillies bullpen, you have a chance.

Legendary Reds first baseman, Joey Votto, is a one-man wrecking crew.

What more can you say about Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto? By now, you would have thought we’ve seen everything Votto has to offer; however, he continues to astound in his 15th season wearing the wishbone C.

The National League Player of the Month for July simply refuses to give in to father time. Since returning to the lineup following a month on the shelf with a broken thumb, Votto looks like the player who won the NL MVP at age 26 in 2010.

Entering play yesterday, the 37-year-old slugger has 20 homers and 55 RBIs over his last 56 games with a slash line of .315/.410/.665 with a remarkable 1.075 OPS. In other words, it’s been vintage Joey Votto since his June 8th return.

We should know better than to be surprised by anything he does but the former MVP, and six-time All-Star has three multi-homer games in the last three weeks, and his 25 round-trippers and 72 ribbies on the season are his most since the 2017 campaign.

Will Joey Votto win a second MVP award? No. But for a player at his age producing the second-highest slugging rate of his career at  .583, it’s obvious he will not go gently into that good night.

Prediction

The Reds have an opportunity to salvage a road trip that teetered on disaster just a couple of days ago. However, can the Redlegs cool off a Phillies team that has won eight of their last 10 contests?

Yes, they can. Look for the Reds to take two of three in Philly before returning home to battle the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins during a seven-game homestand as the playoff chase continues.