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We’ve referred to Luis Castillo as the ace of the Reds pitching staff for most of the season. Maybe it’s time to give Sonny Gray some consideration, too. Gray was dominant again on Tuesday night, striking out 10 and allowing only one run in six innings to guide the Reds to a 3-2 win over the Padres.
It’s his second straight start with 10 strikeouts and the second consecutive start with double-digit strikeouts for a Cincinnati starter. Trevor Bauer did it on Monday. That’s the first time two Reds starters have done that since 1968 (Gary Nolan and The run he allowed snapped a 23-inning scoreless streak that dated back to his Aug. 4 start. With 19 swinging strikes — eight with his curveball, six with his slider, and five with his four-seam fastball — Gray tied a season high. We wrote about all of those pitches and his elite spin rates in a post earlier today.
Gray now has a 2.92 ERA, 3.40 FIP, and 3.55 xFIP. Castillo stands at a 3.10 ERA, 3.81 FIP, and 3.57 xFIP.
Freddy Galvis came up with the big hit at the plate, breaking a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-run home run that just snuck out to left field. Josh VanMeter had a solid day at the plate in the leadoff spot with two singles and two runs scored. Galvis has been solid since he was claimed from the Blue Jays. When Joey Votto returns from the injured list, though, give me VanMeter as the everyday second baseman.
Robert Stephenson pitched a scoreless seventh inning. Amir Garrett returned and looked rusty, throwing one of his nine pitches for strikes. Walks continue to hold him back; he now has a 13.8 BB% this season. Michael Lorenzen cleaned up the mess to keep the Reds in the lead, and Raisel Iglesias fanned two batters in a perfect ninth inning. Iglesias has quietly righted the ship of late, allowing one run in his last 9.2 innings while striking out 12 and walking one.
Reds Most Valuable Players
- Sonny Gray: .201 WPA (Win Probability Added) | 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 10 K
- Michael Lorenzen: .176 WPA | 1.0 IP, inherited two runners in 3-1 game; one scored on error
- Freddy Galvis: .170 WPA | 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Reds Least Valuable Players
- Amir Garrett: -.174 WPA | 0.0 IP, 2 BB
- Eugenio Suarez: -.084 WPA | 0-for-3, BB, K
- Brian O’Grady: -.056 WPA | 0-for-3
Play of the Game
- Freddy Galvis: .222 WPA | Two-run home run in 6th inning
Hardest-Hit Balls
- Josh VanMeter: 105.5 mph single in 6th inning
- Nick Senzel: 101.5 mph ROE in 7th inning
- Freddy Galvis: 99.8 mph home run in 6th inning
Luckiest Hit of the Day
- Freddy Galvis: .210 xBA, 99.8 mph, 38° LA; Home Run
Unluckiest Out of the Day
- Jose Iglesias: .930 xBA, 72.9 mph, 24° LA; Lineout
Highest Pitch Velocities by Pitcher
- Michael Lorenzen: 98.3 mph four-seam fastball
- Amir Garrett: 96.1 mph two-seam fastball
- Robert Stephenson: 95.7 mph four-seam fastball
- Raisel Iglesias: 95.6 mph four-seam fastball
- Sonny Gray: 94.7 mph four-seam fastball
