Photo: Stefan Knaack. License here.
Cincinnati took the first game of the series, but on Saturday evening Cleveland evened things up with a come-from-behind win. This afternoon the Reds and Guardians will face off one more time at Progressive Field with the winner taking the series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:40pm ET.
Starting LineupsStarting Pitchers
Brady Singer
It’s been an inconsistent start to the 2026 season for Singer, but lately it’s just been poor. In May he’s had two starts where he couldn’t get through the 4th inning and in the other he allowed four runs in 6.0 innings.
The platoon splits against Singer this year are very big. This season he seems to have lost all ability to strike out righties, but so far that hasn’t helped them to hit for more than a solid average. They are hitting for a lot of power against him though when they do get hits. Left-handed hitters are making less contact, but they are nearly hitting .400 and are slugging .650 against him. Neither group is walking all that much.
Splits
SplitPAH2B3BHRBBKAVGOBPSLGRHH831941458.247.301.481LHH11340417620.388.429.650
Pitch Usage
4-seam2-seamCutterSliderVelo90.491.286.982.1Usage3%47%5%45%
Gavin Williams
The 2026 season got out to a great start for Williams. Through his first five starts he had an ERA of 2.12. But in three of his last four starts he’s struggled, giving up six, five, and five earned runs – with a 7.2, no earned run start mixed in for his final start of April.
The platoon splits aren’t too big when it comes to OPS against Williams but righties and lefties get there differently. Right-handed hitters are hitting for a much higher, but still low average, and they are walking a lot more. Lefties are hitting under .200 and don’t walk much, but when they do get hits they are showing a good amount of power.
Not shown in the splits below is that he’s pitched much better at home where his ERA is 2.39 (4.97 on the road) and hitters have an OPS 213 points lower.
Splits
SplitPAH2B3BHRBBKAVGOBPSLGRHH92195021225.238.337.375LHH133245161041.197.263.402
Pitch Usage
4-sm2-smCutterCurveSliderChangeVelo96.496.091.782.586.792.4Usage30%13%11%20%26%1%When and WhereGame time: 1:40pm ETWhere: Progressive FieldWatch: Reds MLB Channel, Reds.tv (in-market), MLB.tv (out of market).Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)Forecast: 78°, partly cloudy, 2% chance of rainNews and Notes
Lots of roster moves
Prior to today’s game the Reds mad five roster moves. Rece Hinds was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for catcher P.J. Higgins. He’s being called up to take over backup catcher duties because Jose Trevino is heading to the injured list. Relievers Luis Mey and Jose Franco are swapping spots, with Mey being optioned to Louisville and Franco being called up. You can read more details about all of those moves from our piece we wrote this morning when the moves were announced.
The American League isn’t good
The Cincinnati Reds are tied for last place in the National League Central at 24-22. That record would be the 4th best record in the American League. If Cincinnati wins today they would jump ahead of the Guardians and no matter what else happens they would then have a better record than all but two teams in the American League while still potentially being in last place in their own division.
Division StandingsTeamWLGBPlayoff OddsChicago29170.080.8%Milwaukee26171.564.2%St. Louis27181.549.4%Cincinnati24225.011.9%Pittsburgh24225.031.9%Playoff Odds via Fangraphs About The Author