The streaking Cincinnati Reds look to continue their march up the National League wild-card standings when they host the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series Monday night.
The Reds are coming off a three-game home sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend and are six games above .500 (56-50) for the first time since the 2023 season.
The Dodgers played a series in Boston and won the first game on Friday night before losing the final two games. They are 8-13 in July and have started their season-high nine-game road swing through Boston, Cincinnati and Tampa Bay with a 1-2 record so far.
The Reds are trying to make a run to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, and for the first time in an uninterrupted season since 2013. With Thursday’s trade deadline fast approaching, the four-game win streak has given Reds fans and players hope that the club will be buyers prior to the deadline.
“I think our guys are fine,” Reds skipper Terry Francona said after Sunday’s 2-1 win over Tampa Bay. “We like our team. Nobody ever claimed that we’re the ’27 Yankees. But that doesn’t mean we don’t love our team, and I enjoy competing with these guys.”
Francona wouldn’t commit to pronouncing Cincinnati’s 6-3 stretch since the All-Star break as its best baseball of the season.
“I will never say that because the minute I say that, here come the Dodgers,” Francona said. “That’s like the kiss of death.”
Emilio Pagan pitched in all three games of the Tampa Bay series, earning his 22nd save on Sunday.
“Wins at any time of the year are super important,” Pagan said, “but especially right now when decisions are being made.”
The Reds send rookie right-hander Chase Burns (0-2, 6.65 ERA) to the mound, still searching for his first major league win in his sixth start. Burns was charged with six runs (five earned) on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings and took the loss last Tuesday in Washington.
The Dodgers counter with right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-7, 2.55), making his 21st start of the season. Yamamoto has made one previous career start against Cincinnati, giving up four runs on six hits in five innings to take a 4-1 loss to the host Reds on May 26, 2024.
The Dodgers activated right-handed reliever Blake Treinen and recalled left-hander Justin Wrobleski from Triple-A Oklahoma City before Sunday’s loss in Boston.
The 37-year-old Treinen is 0-2 with two saves and a 3.38 ERA in eight appearances this season. However, those all came very early as he was sidelined in mid-April with right forearm tightness that caused him to miss 84 games.
“I think the only thing that I’m going to be mindful of is the up-down,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But I think (for him) to come into an inning of leverage, I’ve got no problem. If an inning gets longer, as far as pitch count, being more mindful. Outside of that, normal usage.”
Wrobleski is making his fourth call-up to the big club this season, having gone 4-3 with a 4.29 ERA in 42 innings over nine games (two starts).
–Field Level Media
