Chatterbox Reds Sunday Night: Cincinnati SWEEPS Tampa Bay Rays FOUR Days Before MLB Trade Deadline
Trace Fowler and Nick Kirby will be LIVE at 9:00 PM on Sunday night.
The Cincinnati Reds face the Tampa Bay Rays on July 27, 2025, at Great American Ball Park, wrapping up a three-game series with a 1:40 p.m. EDT first pitch. This matchup pits two teams with identical 55-50 records, both fighting for Wild Card spots in their respective leagues. The Reds, third in the NL Central, are 8.5 games back in their division and two games behind the third NL Wild Card. The Rays, fourth in the AL East, trail by 6.5 games in their division and 1.5 games for the third AL Wild Card. With the trade deadline looming on July 31, both teams are under pressure to solidify their postseason hopes.
The Reds have momentum, winning the series’ first two games, 7-2 on Friday and 6-2 on Saturday. Their offense has been clicking, amassing 14 hits in the opener, with Tyler Stephenson and TJ Friedl delivering key home runs. Saturday’s game saw Elly De La Cruz break a 2-2 tie with a two-run single in the seventh, showcasing his flair for clutch moments. De La Cruz, batting .276 with 18 homers and 27 stolen bases, leads a dynamic Reds lineup that ranks among the league’s top 15 in team stolen bases. However, injuries have hit hard, with Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Jake Fraley, Noelvi Marte, and others on the IL, testing Cincinnati’s depth.
The Rays, struggling on the road with six straight losses away from home, rely on a balanced attack led by Yandy Díaz, who homered in Saturday’s loss. Tampa Bay tops the majors in stolen bases, a strategy that could challenge Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, who has shown defensive prowess. The Rays’ roster has also been depleted by injuries, with Alex Faedo, Shane McClanahan, and others sidelined, forcing younger players like Junior Caminero to step up. Tampa’s recent 3-3 stretch since the All-Star break reflects inconsistency, as they dropped two of three to the White Sox before this series.
Sunday’s pitching matchup features Brady Singer (7-8, 4.84 ERA) for the Reds against Shane Baz (8-6, 4.66 ERA) for the Rays. Singer, acquired by Cincinnati, has been inconsistent but brings swing-and-miss stuff, while Baz, a promising young arm, faces a Reds offense that’s hit .273 over its last six games. Great American Ball Park’s hitter-friendly confines could amplify both teams’ power potential, with the over/under set at 9 runs. Weather in Cincinnati is expected to be cloudy, 87 degrees, with light winds, unlikely to disrupt play.
Both managers, Terry Francona for the Reds and Kevin Cash for the Rays, are known for strategic acumen, with Francona pulling a lighthearted prank on Cash before Friday’s game. The Reds aim for a sweep to reach a season-high six games over .500, while the Rays look to salvage a game and regain road form. This finale promises intensity, with both clubs desperate to gain ground in the Wild Card race.
Chatterbox Reds is your home for coverage all season long for the Cincinnati Reds with LIVE postgame shows after EVERY game on YouTube, and NEW podcasts the morning after every game (including weekends)! SUBSCRIBE to the channel and turn on notifications to ensure you never miss a thing!
PODCAST LINKS:
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast…
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3jlFDPP…
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/733…
Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0…
iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/109483256
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/chatter…
Castbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/id5327101?…
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
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