Can Reds carry early success into second half?
This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat publication. To learn the total publication, click on right here. And subscribe to get it often in your inbox.
Surprise: The Reds aren’t solely contenders for the National League Central title, they are going to open the second half of the 2023 season in first place.
It’s secure to say few anticipated that from a workforce that was presupposed to be rebuilding and a minimum of a 12 months or two away from making hay in any races. At the All-Star break final 12 months, the Reds have been 34-57 and on their method to a 62-100 file. There isn’t any debating that it has been a outstanding and fast turnaround to contending.
This season, Cincinnati is 50-41 whereas sitting one recreation forward of the Brewers, who they are going to play popping out of the break at Great American Ball Park and once more in Milwaukee from July 24-26.
The Reds’ success has been largely sparked by rookies, together with Spencer Steer, Matt McLain, Andrew Abbott and Elly De La Cruz. Steer is the workforce chief in house runs (14), McLain is placing up sturdy numbers in OPS (.878) and OPS+ (129) whereas De La Cruz has unquestionably introduced the thrill. In solely 30 video games, he’s already tied with Jake Fraley and TJ Friedl with the workforce lead with 16 steals. Cincinnati can also be 23-8 since De La Cruz arrived on June 6.
An means to attain quite a lot of runs — the Reds have the third most within the NL and fifth in MLB — has picked up the rotation, which has been beat up by accidents, inconsistency and an absence of innings.
Cincinnati starters are ranked twenty eighth in MLB with a 5.69 ERA. The bullpen has carried out admirably in backing up starters, however in some unspecified time in the future, relievers run the chance of sporting down.
What we realized within the first half
The Reds tailor-made their offensive method to the personalities of the younger gamers and the plus velocity they’ve. Manager David Bell confused an aggressive model of baserunning, whether or not it is taking the additional base on a success or stealing. A workforce that had 58 steals for all of 2022, the 2023 Reds had 50 steals simply within the month of June and 112 total to steer MLB. It’s helped the workforce rating extra runs and maintain opponents off steadiness.
Likely Trade Deadline technique
General supervisor Nick Krall has made it clear the Reds want to be patrons. The membership has a transparent want for a veteran beginning pitcher who can present deeper outings. Supplementing the bullpen would even be helpful. Cincinnati has a deep farm system with coveted prospects and some huge league gamers who’re moveable. The unanswered query forward of the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline: How a lot prospect capital is Krall keen to deal to fulfill what is predicted to be very excessive demand for pitching?
Key participant
Starter Hunter Greene is working his method again from a proper hip harm and is focused for an August return. The right-hander was pitching effectively simply earlier than he went on the injured record on June 19, retroactive to June 18. Having Greene, together with fellow injured starter Nick Lodolo (left tibia) can be an added late-season enhance to the rotation in a pennant race past what any Trade Deadline transfer may convey.
Prospect to look at
Corner infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand — ranked by MLB Pipeline because the Reds’ No. 6 prospect — is the following key younger participant, seeking to observe within the footsteps of McLain, De La Cruz and Abbott, and earn his first promotion to the large leagues. Encarnacion-Strand, a right-handed energy bat who would doubtless get time at first base, has 20 homers whereas batting .321 with a 1.012 OPS at Triple-A Louisville.
