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If you give up seven dingers in a game, you’re going to have a bad time.
If your starting pitcher only records three outs before exiting, you’re going to have a bad time, too.
The Cincinnati Reds ran smack into that double-whammy on Thursday in the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies, ultimately sinking to a 9-4 loss. The bigger problem, perhaps, was that Tyler Mahle’s abbreviated outing put a lot of work on the shoulders of the already short-handed bullpen, meaning it’s somewhat vital that Anthony DeSclafani give them some solid innings tonight.
That’s the goal, at least.
Nick Pivetta will toe the rubber for the Phils opposite Disco, with first pitch set for the usual 7:10 PM ET.