Cincinnati Reds vs Philadelphia Phillies – August 24, 2022

After losing the first two games of the series the Cincinnati Reds will try to salvage a split and they can’t do that without picking up a victory tonight. They’ll turn to T.J. Zeuch, who is getting another opportunity in the rotation after Graham Ashcraft had to go on the injured list. The Philadelphia Phillies will be sending lefty Cristopher Sanchez to the mound. He’ll be making his first start in the big leagues in six weeks. First pitch is set for 7:05pm ET.

Starting Lineups

Here are the lineups for today’s game:

Chuckie Robinson will be making his Major League debut tonight when the game begins. The 27-year-old catcher was drafted in the 21st round (a round which no longer even exists in the draft) by the Houston Astros out of Southern Mississippi where he wasn’t even the starter until his junior season.

Starting Pitchers

T.J. Zeuch

Last week T.J. Zeuch was optioned back to Triple-A after struggling for his second straight start, but with Graham Ashcraft heading to the injured list the team called Zeuch back up to fill out the rotation.

The season for Zeuch has been one that resembles a rollercoaster. He began the year in Triple-A with St. Louis and posted an ERA of 11.64 in five starts before he was released. He then signed with Cincinnati and after a short stay in Goodyear he headed to Louisville where he posted a 3.63 ERA and got back to his strong groundball rates in five starts. But his last two starts have been in the big leagues where he’s posted a 13.50 ERA.

Overall on the year he’s struggled against both lefties and righties, but lefties have basically hit like Ted Williams against him, while righties have simply just been real good against him.

Splits (MiLB & MLB combined)

Pitch Usage

Cristopher Sanchez

It’s been six weeks since Sanchez last pitched in the big leagues, as he’s been up-and-down all year between Philadelphia and Triple-A with Lehigh Valley. Over the last six weeks in Triple-A he’s posted a 4.44 ERA while allowing just one home run in 26.1 innings pitched.

A big time ground ball pitcher, Sanchez has limited power for the most part. Right-handed hitters have touched him up for three home runs in the big leagues this season, but have not had a double or triple. I guess it’s go big or go home. Righties have made plenty of contact, but haven’t really been rewarded for it. Lefties haven’t done much, either. Of course all of this should be taken for what it is – not all that useful given that we’re talking less than 100 total batters faced on the season in the big leagues.

Splits

Pitch Usage

When and Where

• Game time: 7:05pm ET
• Where: Citizens Bank Park
• Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv (out of market)
• Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
• Forecast: 87°, sunny, 0% chance of rain

News and Notes

Mike Moustakas update

Mike Moustakas is taking on-field batting practice, so that’s a good sign after he left last night’s game.

— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) August 24, 2022

Opening Day against the Pirates

The Cincinnati Reds 2023 schedule is out and they’ll open up on March 30th against the Pittsburgh Pirates. There are schedule changes next year, including less games against your own division and at least one series against every team in baseball. You can check out the full schedule here.

Reds farm rated 4th best

The crew at MLB Pipeline released their post-trade deadline farm system rankings and they placed the Cincinnati Reds at #4 overall, trailing the Baltimore Orioles, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Cleveland Guardians. A lot of the talent that’s been added between the draft in mid-July and the trade deadline really gave the system a boost. While it had a guy like Elly De La Cruz at the top, the depth was lacking in a big way on the farm until those three weeks from draft through the trade deadline took place.