Reds vs. Cardinals, Game 2 - Preview and Lineups

For much of last night’s series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cincinnati Reds looked mighty punchless. Anthony DeSclafani was struggling to hit his targets, the Cardinals kept pushing runs across the plate, and after Paul DeJong clubbed his 4th inning grand slam, the motions were all that was left to go through.

It was an odd ebb from the flow of the trade deadline, which had hopes entering play pretty high after the go-for-it moves to land Archie Bradley and Brian Goodwin. But on the back of Sunday’s 10-1 thumping at the hands of the Chicago Cubs, being down 7-1 a day later to another division rival (and playoff hopeful) certainly was another pin-prick on the Reds innertube.

Hopefully, the mini-rally the Reds mounted late last night is a sign they’re still going to keep punching, even though it was ultimately futile. At 15-20 with 25 games to play there is little time left to keep simply trying to tread water, though thanks to the remarkable mediocrity of most of the National League in this odd season, they’re still just 2.5 games out of the guaranteed 2nd place playoff spot, and 2.0 games out of a Wild Card playoff entrance.

There’s been ample bad play, but still plenty for which to keep playing.

They’ll try to turn it on again Tuesday evening, with ace Sonny Gray on the mound looking to again turn the tide in the Reds favor. He’ll be opposed by lefty Kwang Hyun Kim, so I’d expect to see another righty-heavy lineup for the Reds on the evening. In theory, David Bell will be back in the dugout managing after his 1-game suspension, and we won’t see Jesse Winker tonight - he’s dropped his appeal and will serve his 1-game suspension with a lefty on the mound.

Rumor has it that both new Reds additions, Archie Bradley from Arizona and Brian Goodwin from the Angels, will be in Cincinnati by game time, according to The Enquirer’s Bobby Nightengale. That’ll need roster moves, ones I’ll go ahead and guess as Mark Payton and Jose De Leon being optioned back to Prasco (should the two new additions actually get there in time).

First pitch is set for 6:40 PM ET again this evening at GABP.

Reds Lineup

Cards Lineup