San Diego Padres at Cincinnati Reds – May 21, 2024 – The Reds are back home to face off against the San Diego Padres. First thing’s first, if you haven’t yet, go check out our series preview here. OF Nick Martini is back in the bigs. OF Conner Capel was sent down to make room after receiving essential zero opportunity to prove himself. Gotta love that. Martini is simply a AAAA player. Martini went 8 for 22 in two weeks with AAA Louisville after starting the season in Cincinnati with a .177 average. Let’s see how everything matches up for today’s series opener.
Cincinnati Reds LHP Andrew Abbott
Abbott spun a gem last time out going 7.0 IP with just 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks. The bats couldn’t back him up though and Fernando Cruz gave up a run to lose it in the 8th. Abbott just kept doing what he had been doing – generating weak contact and going right at batters. He gave up a solo shot to Christian Walker in the 2nd, but ultimately went 7 innings with only 4 strikeouts by inducing 10 groundouts (one DP) and 5 weak pop ups. All of that to say, Abbott generally is not getting hit hard this season. Occasionally, he struggles with giving up the long ball. However, most of the times teams have had success against him, they’ve had to chain together singles and little bloopers. Unfortunately, singles and little bloopers is what half of this San Diego lineup does. Strength on strength tonight.
Cincinnati Reds Lineup Card
| Batters | Average | |
| 1 | LF Jacob Hurtubise | .250 |
| 2 | SS Elly De La Cruz | .256 |
| 3 | 1B Jeimer Candelario | .220 |
| 4 | RF Jake Fraley | .272 |
| 5 | C Tyler Stephenson | .273 |
| 6 | DH Mike Ford | .156 |
| 7 | 2B Jonathan India | .219 |
| 8 | 3B Santiago Espinal | .200 |
| 9 | CF Will Benson | .191 |
Don’t even get me started on Mike Ford. Guess Martini couldn’t get to Cincinnati in time or something. Leading off rookie Hurtubise is….. a choice. I want the guy to succeed as much as the next guy, but that’s odd. Most important though – no Spencer Steer. Bell said to expect him at 100% today and he’s not in the lineup. Maybe time to get a bit worried?
San Diego Padres RHP Joe Musgrove
Joe Musgrove returns from the 15-day IL today after fighting through tricep tendonitis. Musgrove has given up 3+ runs in 6 of his 8 starts. He hands them out. Advanced statistics on this guy are a joke. Hold on though, the last time I said that, the Reds got shut down. Honestly though – his xBA is .304 (6th percentile). He gives up a .318 average to left-handed batters. He’s also given up the 2nd most HRs in the NL even after a two week break. The Cincinnati Reds SHOULD have no problem hitting him tonight.
San Diego Padres Lineup Card
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