Disgruntled D-backs pitchers blast Reds with fiery cheating accusation

Don't look for Zac Gallen or Merrill Kelly to sign a free agent contract with the Cincinnati Reds this offseason. The two Arizona Diamondbacks starters were guests on the Pardon My Take Podcast and accused the Reds of cheating.

The D-backs pitching duo was asked about the most difficult stadium to pitch in. After initially talking about the difficulty of pitching at Dodger Stadium, Kelly mentioned Great American Ball Park. Gallen seconded his teammate's thoughts on the matter.

"Cincinnati's tough," Merril said. "Cincinnati's pretty brutal. The ball flies, and the mound, I know they're supposed to have regulations on how high the mound is, but whatever they're doing, they're cheating for sure."

Disgruntled D-backs pitchers blast Reds with fiery cheating accusation

That is quite the accusation from Merrill, but Gallen spoke to the same issue. "The mound is so flat," Gallen said. The D-backs right-hander then gave his opinion as to why the mound at GABP is flatter than others throughout Major League Baseball. "If you think about it, they could then try to acquire the pitchers that pitch best on that type of mound."

The D-backs visited Cincinnati earlier this season, and while Kelly didn't make a start during the team's road trip to GABP, Gallen toed the rubber on June 8. He lasted 6 ⅔ innings and allowed four runs on six hits, including three home runs. In his three trips to Cincinnati, Gallen owns a 3.44 ERA and 1.145 WHIP. Reds batters have only managed to post a .612 OPS against Gallen at GABP which is the third lowest among all ballparks where Gallen has started at least three games.

As for Merrill, he's pitched at Great American twice during his career and owns a 2.45 ERA while allowing Cincy's lineup to only post a meager .504 OPS against him. There's only two stadiums where Merrill's made two or more starts and had better success — Truist Park (Atlanta) and Citizen's Bank Park (Philadelphia).

Statistically speaking, it would seem like Cincinnati's mound fits Gallen and Merrill perfectly. Perhaps they should be on the Reds' radar this winter. Both pitchers will be free agents after the season, and if Arizona becomes sellers at the trade deadline, they're time in the desert might be done before the month is up.

As far as the pitcher's mound is concerned, per MLB.com, the slab of rubber is supposed to be 10 inches above the level of home plate and 60 ½ feet to the back point of the dish. The mound itself is supposed to be 18 feet in diameter. Whether GABP's mound meets those requirements is anyone's guess, but if MLB is concerned about such an issue, there's surely a way to be sure that Cincinnati's pitcher's mound is up to code.

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