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

The Reds’ third baseman is ending a difficult 2021 season on a positive note.

Better late than never, right? There’s no sense in rehashing the first five months of Eugenio Suárez’s 2021 campaign, so let’s celebrate his play over the last final few weeks of the season.

Over his last 30 games, Geno is slashing an impressive .288/.379/.625 with seven bombs and 13 RBIs. Despite the horrific overall numbers, Suárez still ranks third on the club with 29 homers and 76 ribbies. While he’s been an easy target this year for Reds Country frustrations, let’s not forget what kind of player he’s been in the past.

Since 2018, his 127 round-trippers are the most in baseball. In addition, he’s a former All-Star who has twice finished in the top 20 in the MVP voting. At age 30, can he regain the form that made him such a force in the middle of the Reds lineup before this year?

Let’s pray the answer is yes. Geno has three years remaining on his deal after this season, and with the anticipated departure of Nick Castellanos, the Suarez of old will be desperately needed. However, there’s little doubt his play in 2022 will be a determining factor in the Redlegs producing a third consecutive winning campaign.

Prediction

As the Reds await the last nail in their 2021 coffin, there’s still some incentive to finish strong. Their 82 victories are the fifth-most this century, and with a strong final week, they can eclipse the 85 wins of the 2000 club for fourth-place.

Look for the Redlegs to get one win closer to that mark as they split the two-game set with the White Sox before heading to the Steel City for the final series of the 2021 season versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.