Don’t look now, but the Cincinnati Reds are on a roll!
They’re still just 52-57 on the season, in last place in the National League Central, and remain 4.5 games back of the final NL Wild Card spot, so perhaps look just a little bit. Still, they’ve gone 9-5 since the season’s second half began, and Friday night’s comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates certainly wasn’t indicative of a team that’s folded up its tent and begun to sit idle until the front office rips it apart at Monday’s trade deadline.
Sal Stewart, in particular, seems to have been the one to begin leading the Renaissance. His homer and 4-RBI game last night fueled the comeback, and Nick Krall is probably shaking in his boots right now as he debates whether to sell off the likes of Brady Singer and Tyler Stephenson or hold on to them as the team attempts a miracle run through the second half.
Andrew Abbott gets his turn in the rotation on Saturday in Great American Ball Park as the series vs. the Pirates heads into the 3rd of 4 games, and the Reds can wrap up a series victory with a win tonight thanks to last night’s heroics. Standing in the way of the Reds will be Bucs starter Braxton Ashcraft, with first pitch set for 6:40 PM ET.
If ever there were a time for the Reds to lean into a miracle, it’s this weekend. So far, so bueno.
Here’s how both clubs will line up to start this evening’s affair:
