First things first, some promotions. Henry Rodriguez is now in Carolina, and both Kyle Lotzkar and Stalin Gerson are now with the Dayton Dragons. Expect more promotions in the next few weeks.
Second, your friendly OPS Trackers, with a new name in LF.
Reds SS OPS Tracker
Paul Janish: .535
Edgar Renteria: .571
Zack Cozart: .862
Reds LF OPS Tracker
Fred Lewis: .581
Jonny Gomes: .736
Chris Heisey: .771
Dave Sappelt: .952
Todd Frazier: .879
Yonder Alonso: .876
I wanted desperately to highlight some below the radar players who are having great seasons, but there aren't any right now. So instead, we're going with some usual suspets.
Donnie Joseph
DoJo has been much, much better lately. His season ERA is still ugly (8.46) but in his last 7 games he has thrown 6.2 IP and allowed just 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 4.
Zack Cozart
I realize I'm becoming a self-parody at this point, but Cozart couldn't be doing much more to prove himself. His last 10 games he has put up a line of .463/.500/.659.
Dave Sappelt
Sapp would be on this list for no other reason than being back in the lineup, but he also hasn't missed a beat. In his 3 games back he has hit 4-15. Add his name to the list of guys we wish would get a shot on the Reds.
Ryan LaMarre
I've been a big LaMarre supporter, but he has done nothing to reward that support so far. This year his OPS is a mere .680 and he's hitting for no power in the hitter-friendly Cal League.
Daniel Tuttle
Thundering Tuttle has struggled a bit in his first year of full-season ball, to the tune of a 4.87 ERA. The Ks and BBs are still good, so hopefully his luck improves a bit and he can put in a strong second half.
DiDi Gregorius
He's finally playing again, which is good. He's still not hitting, which is bad. If Gregorius can't put up decent offensive numbers this year in Bakersfield, I think his future as a starting SS is seriously in question.
- Louisville won Friday, 6-4. Lots of offense in this one, as 5 different players hat multi-hit games. Devin Mesoraco was 3-5 and fell a double short of the cycle. Zack Cozart was 3-6, and Jeremy Hermida was 3-3 with 2 walks. Saturday they lost 8-7 in 13 innings. Homer Bailey made a rehab start and only lasted 3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and a walk. Sam LeCure threw a shutout inning in a rehab outing of his own. Hopefully he is ready to replace Carlos Fisher on the big club soon. Corky Miller was 3-5 with a homer, and Zack Cozart, Juan Francisco, and Jeremy Hermida each had 2 hits. Sunday the team lost 6-1. Dontrelle Willis gave up 4 runs in 6.1 IP. Cozart had his hit streak end at 17 games, although he did walk. Up Next: Tom Cochran takes the start at 7:05.
- Carolina lost Friday, 2-0 in a rain-shortened game. Matt Klinker, back in Carolina, pitched all 5 innings for the Mudcats. He also got 1 of the team's measly 4 hits. Saturday they lost again, 5-2. Brad Boxberger lowered his ERA to 1.24 with a shutout inning of relief. Denis Phipps and Eric Campbell each had 2 hits. Sunday the team won 8-3. Aroldis Chapman started and went 2 innings, allowing no hits, 2 walks, and striking out 3. Donnie Joseph threw another scoreless inning. Felix Perez was 3-4 with a double, and Quintin Berry, Mike Costanzo, and Eric Campbell each had 2 hits. Up Next: Tim Gustafson starts at 7:15.
- Bakersfield won Friday, 8-7. DiDi Gregorius, Josh Fellhauer, Yasmani Grandal, and Stephen Hunt each had 2 hits. Grandal's were both doubles, and he also walked. On Saturday they won 8-3. Gregorius had 3 hits, and Fellhauer, Grandal, Hunt, and Andrew Means each had 2 hits. Sunday they lost 4-2. Alex Buchholz was 2-3 with a double, and Yasmani Grandal was 2-3 with a walk. Up Next: Someone will start at 10:00.
- Dayton won Friday, 8-4. Devin Lohman and Jaren Matthews each had 3 hits, David Vidal was 2-4 with a double, and Billy Hamilton was 2-5. He also stole his 50th base of the year, reaching his pre-ASB goal. Saturday the team won 3-0. Stalin Gerson threw 6 shutout innings in his season debut. Theodis Bowe had 2 hits, and David Vidal doubled. Billy Hamilton was thrown out stealing for the 8th time this year. Sunday they lost 5-4. Dominic D'Anna was 2-4 and drove in 3 runs. Up Next: The team is off Monday.