The Cincinnati Reds are on the rise.
Cincinnati, which will open a four-game series at the host Miami Marlins on Monday, is coming off last year’s playoff berth — the franchise’s first such non-shortened-season achievement since 2013.
On Sunday, the Reds completed a three-game road sweep over the Rangers, allowing Texas to score just four runs all weekend.
“We did a good job,” Reds manager Terry Francona said.
The Reds on Monday are set to start lefty Brandon Williamson, who is off to a slow start (0-1, 11.57 ERA). However, in his only career appearance, a start, against Miami, Williamson is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA. He throws a fastball (93-96 mph), changeup, curveball, cutter and sweeper.
Bigger picture, Williamson is part of a Reds pitching staff that ranks fifth in the majors in ERA (3.25). That’s great production on the mound, especially considering that Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo are on the injured list. Greene, an All-Star in 2024, has some of the best sheer stuff in baseball, and he’s only 26.
As for their position players, shortstop Elly De La Cruz already is a two-time All-Star at age 24.
De La Cruz so far this season is hitting .243 with three homers, five RBIs and a .786 OPS, and Francona wants him to be aggressive.
“We don’t want our good hitters taking,” Francona said.
In the past two years, De La Cruz — who has a great arm and superior speed — has averaged 103.5 runs, 52 steals and 23.5 homers.
Another good Reds hitter is first baseman Sal Stewart, a former Miami prep star who is hitting .367 with a 1.167 OPS. Since his MLB debut last year, he has seven homers in 26 games.
Meanwhile, the Marlins are coming off a wild 7-6 win over the host New York Yankees in a game that withstood a 3 1/2-hour rain delay.
“We’re going to try to get some rest, go home and play some good games,” Marlins corner infielder Graham Pauley said after the long day/night was over.
Added Marlins manager Clayton McCullough: “Long rain delay after losing the first two games of this series … trailing by three runs early. … This was a great team win.”
The Marlins will be facing a lefty starter for the third straight game. The Marlins split those two previous contests.
Miami won’t have closer Pete Fairbanks, whose wife is expecting. Because labor will be induced on Monday, Fairbanks was put on paternity leave after being used as an opener on Sunday.
Without Fairbanks, the Marlins might be a bit short on quality relievers on Monday. On Sunday, they used four true relievers: Andrew Nardi, Calvin Faucher, John King and Anthony Bender. King earned the win, and Bender picked up his first save of the season.
All four of those relievers have pitched two straight days and may be unavailable on Monday.
Righty Janson Junk (0-0, 4.15) will get the start. He didn’t get a decision against the White Sox last Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. He got the win and didn’t allow a run in his only career start against the Reds last July.
Offensively, the Marlins are getting good performances from second baseman Xavier Edwards (batting .471 with a 1.147 OPS); third baseman Javier Sanoja (batting .429 with a 1.000 OPS); shortstop Otto Lopez (batting .333 with a .921 OPS); and outfielder Owen Caissie (batting .296 with a .926 OPS).
–Field Level Media
