Castillo Still Not Dominant While Offense Sputters in 5-2 Loss to Cardinals

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Reds’ pitching was solid, if unspectacular, while the offense was unable to crack Cardinals’ pitching, as the Reds lose to the Redbirds 5-2. With the loss, the Reds’ losing streak reaches 7 games. The Redlegs are now 9-12 and owners of the bottom spot in the NL Central.

Offense

Cardinals’ starter Jack Flaherty looked sharp from the get-go, as the Reds’ offense didn’t get their first baserunner until Jesse Winker hit a one-out single in the 4th. Good times were short, though, as Nick Castellanos grounded into a double play to end the inning.

The most notable thing to happen for the Reds’ offense in the first six innings was Flaherty hitting Jonathan India in the head in the top of the 6th, which led the Reds’ skipper David Bell to be tossed from the game for protesting to the umpires.

In the 7th, with the team down 4-0, Winker once again gave the Reds’ offense life with a home run off of Flaherty (EV 104.1 mph, 381 ft.)

Stay hot, Wink. pic.twitter.com/UspgO6viQ9

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 25, 2021

Castellanos then singled into right field, before Joey Votto grounded into a double play. Eugénio Suárez would then strike out to end the inning. This was Suárez’ second strikeout of the game, continuing a concerning streak. It seemed that the Reds’ just refused to string together hits.

Once again, the Cardinals’ bullpen seemed to struggle with concern as flamethrower Jordan Hicks led off the 8th inning by walking Nick Senzel on four pitches. Kyle Farmer would then ground into a fielder’s choice but reach second on a throwing error, and advance to third on a wild pitch before Tyler Naquin smoked a single (EV 111.2 mph) into right field to make it a 4-2 ballgame.

The top of the ninth started with a Winker strikeout, but the Reds’ offense picked up some steam after a Castellanos ground rule double, and a Votto walk. Down three runs, Suárez hit a hard ball into the outfield, but it would die out near the warning track. Senzel would then draw a walk off Cardinals’ closer Alex Reyes, giving Tucker Barnhart a chance to be the hero with the bases loaded and two outs. No dice, though, as Barnhart grounded out to end the inning.

Pitching

On the mound for the Reds was Luis Castillo, who once again looked a little shaky. On the day, Castillo went 5 innings allowing 4 runs on 6 hits, 1 walk and 3 strikeouts.

Much like his last start, Castillo got off to a poor start. In the 1st inning, Castillo gave up two singles and a run, and in the second, Tyler O’Neill took him deep on a sinker that hung up in the zone (pitch number 3 in the photo). This was the third home run Castillo has given up on his sinker this season, after not allowing a single home run on that pitch in all of 2020.

After this, however, Castillo looked to settle in as he retired seven of the next eight batters faced, three on strikeouts. In the bottom of the fifth, though, Castillo gave up another home run again to O’Neill, this time on a slider. Next, Andrew Knizner hit a single, and a Flaherty sac bunt and a Tommy Edman groundout would advance him to third before Dylan Carlson poked a ball into center field for a single to give the Cardinals a 4-0 lead.

Overall, Castillo looked a little off. Once again, he seemed unable to get into the counts where he can use that great changeup. To begin the year, Castillo’s K% sits at 17.8%, which is way down from 30.5% in 2020 and 29% in 2019. Instead, Castillo is allowing more balls in play. So far, Castillo has 66 batted balls in 341 pitches; if this continues, he is on pace for over 600, if he throws as many pitches as he did in 2019, in which he had 469 batted balls. Combine this with high Barrel%, avg EV and xSLG, and it’s clear that Castillo needs to miss bats, and get himself into better counts in order to find the success, that has been so elusive this year.

On the day, Castillo threw a mix of changeup, slider and sinker with the occasional 4-seam fastball. Other than the two home runs, Castillo really didn’t allow a lot of hard hits as his avg EV sat at 86.2 mph. Castillo’s changeup had some nice movement and got two of his strikeouts on the pitch. His changeup had an average vertical break of 37 inches.

Carson Fulmer took over in the bottom of the 6th inning, and was much more impressive than his last outing. In two innings, he allowed only one hit and struck out two batters on 28 pitches. Fulmer threw mainly a 4-seam fastball, curveball and a cutter with the occasional changeup. Fulmer struck out Matt Carpenter on his highest velocity fastball of the day at 94.5 mph.

Sean Doolittle took over in the 8th inning, and immediately found himself in trouble. After a leadoff bloop double by Carlson (xBA .040), Paul Goldschmidt then hit a liner into left field that scored Carlson. Doolittle would get out of the inning, though, on a couple of pop outs and a flyout, but the Cardinals’ lead was now 5-2. Doolittle threw 21 pitches, all of them 4-seam fastballs, with an avg velocity of 92 mph.

Stats 

Hardest Hit Balls

• Tyler Naquin: 111.2 mph | Single in 8th Inning
• Jesse Winker: 104.1 mph | Home Run in 7th Inning
• Eugénio Suárez: 1o2.1 mph | Groundout in 2nd Inning

Unluckiest Out of the Day

• Nick Senzel: .560 xBA | Line out in 5th Inning

Highest Velocity By Pitcher 

• Luis Castillo: 97.3 mph
• Carson Fulmer: 94.5 mph
• Sean Doolittle: 92.9 mph

Highest Pitch Spin 

• Luis Castillo: 3241 RPM | Sinker

Most Pitch Movement

• Carson Fulmer: 51 inches vertical movement | Curveball
• Luis Castillo: 21 inches horizontal movement | Sinker

Team Expected Batting Averages (xBA) 

• Reds: .222
• Cardinals: .231

What’s Next?

After a rough stretch for the Reds, things are not about to get any easier. The Redlegs start a new series tomorrow Mon, 4/26 against the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers. First pitch will be at 10:10 PM EDT. Probable pitchers are Tyler Mahle for the Reds and Julio Urias for the Dodgers.

[Featured Image: https://twitter.com/Reds/status/1140806480884621313/photo/1]