The Cincinnati Reds are on a mission to improve their postseason chances, and they’ve made significant strides during their series against the Detroit Tigers. With victories in the first two games, the Reds (76-71) are now poised for a sweep as they aim to solidify their position in the playoff race.
The Reds’ recent success extends their winning streak to three games. Both of their recent wins over the Tigers were tightly contested one-run affairs, allowing Cincinnati to draw level with the Arizona Diamondbacks (76-71) in the race for the final National League wild-card spot.
Wednesday’s game saw the Reds deploy eight pitchers in a gritty 4-3 victory, showcasing the team’s determination to secure crucial wins down the stretch.
Manager David Bell, commenting on the team’s performance, stated, “We’ll take wins any way we can get them. There’s no perfect way, but guys step up. Our bullpen did an incredible job tonight.”
With limited fresh arms available, the Reds may need to rely on their bullpen depth once again in the series finale.
Derek Law (4-5, 3.83 ERA) is set to open the game, marking his third start of the season. Law has yet to start against the Tigers during his career, with his last encounter against Detroit occurring in July 2021 when he played for the Minnesota Twins. In that game, he posted a 1.93 ERA in 4 2/3 innings against the Tigers.
Bell emphasized the need to take the rotation situation one step at a time, considering the roster and player availability.
Following the series in Detroit, the Reds will continue their road trip in New York with a weekend series against the Mets.
On the other side, Detroit’s rookie right-hander Reese Olson (3-7, 4.50 ERA) has shown promise as the season nears its end. In his last start in August, Olson recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts against the New York Yankees. He followed it up with a seven-inning scoreless performance against the Chicago White Sox in early September, limiting them to two runs and two hits in his most recent outing.
Olson, who will face Cincinnati for the first time, will look to maintain his positive momentum.
The Tigers will hope to provide stronger offensive support for Olson, as they left 13 runners on base in Wednesday’s loss.
Manager A.J. Hinch expressed his regret about Olson’s dominant performance turning sour, saying, “I told him when I took him out that I felt awful about it. He was dominant until Robert got the hit, and then he ends up giving up the home run and leaves the game with a bad feeling.”
Following Thursday’s contest, the Tigers will embark on a road trip, starting with a weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels as part of a 10-game California journey.
