Chatterbox Reds Sunday Night: Welcome To The WILL BENSON SHOW; Cincinnati SWEEPS Cleveland Guardians
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On May 18, 2025, the Cincinnati Reds faced the Cleveland Guardians in the final game of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park, with the Reds aiming for a sweep. The game, starting at 1:40 p.m. ET, featured Reds’ pitcher Andrew Abbott (2-0, 2.25 ERA) against Guardians’ Ben Lively (2-2, 3.46 ERA). Both teams entered with identical 51 home runs, ranking 11th in MLB, setting the stage for a potentially high-scoring affair, especially with winds favoring hitters. The Reds, at 20-21 and fourth in the NL Central, sought to reach .500, while the Guardians, 23-16 and second in the AL Central, hoped to avoid a series whitewash.
In the series’ first game on May 16, the Reds edged out a 5-4 victory, powered by Will Benson’s three-run homer and Austin Hays’ solo shot. Brady Singer earned the win, and Emilio Pagán secured his 10th save. The Guardians’ Bo Naylor and José Ramírez homered, but Tanner Bibee took the loss, allowing five runs. On May 17, the Reds won 4-1, with Benson and Rece Hinds hitting solo homers, and Santiago Espinal and Hays contributing RBI hits. The Reds’ bullpen, led by opener Brent Suter, stifled Cleveland’s offense, while Slade Cecconi, reinstated from the injured list, started for the Guardians.
Today’s matchup highlighted key players. For the Reds, TJ Friedl and Elly De La Cruz, despite the latter’s four strikeouts on May 17, were offensive catalysts. Abbott, with a stellar 2.10 ERA in six starts, has been dominant, allowing zero or one run in five outings. The Guardians relied on Ramírez, a consistent slugger with five homers, and Steven Kwan, batting .322. However, Cleveland’s pitching was hampered by injuries, with Shane Bieber, Trevor Stephan, and others sidelined. The Reds also faced injury challenges, with Hunter Greene, Jeimer Candelario, and others on the injured list.
The game was broadcast on MLB Network and FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, with free streaming on MLB.tv. Weather forecasts predicted showers and 77°F, potentially impacting play. Betting odds favored the Reds slightly, with a -1400 money line and an over/under of 8.5 runs, reflecting the hitter-friendly park and weather. Posts on X noted the series’ high-scoring potential, with a +35% home run boost due to wind conditions. This “Battle of Ohio” for the Ohio Cup, a rivalry since 1989, carried extra weight as the Reds aimed to reclaim bragging rights after Cleveland’s decade-long series dominance.
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Player FM: https://player.fm/series/3450767
Andrew Abbott, Julian Aguiar, Graham Ashcraft, Scott Barlow, Emilio Pagán, Fernando Cruz, Alexis Díaz, Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Nick Martinez, Tony Santillan, Carson Spiers, Brent Suter, Rhett Lowder, Brandon Williamson, Tyler Stephenson, José Trevino, Jeimer Candelario, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, Santiago Espinal, Jonathan India, Noelvi Marte, Edwin Ríos, Will Benson, TJ Friedl, Jake Fraley, Stuart Fairchild, Austin Hays, Spencer Steer, Jacob Hurtubise, Blake Dunn, Cooper Bowman
Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals