Giants-Reds Series Preview: Two struggling lineups?
The San Francisco Giants have lastly run right into a crew they’re hitting higher than right here by way of the season’s first couple of weeks. If you ignore the Yankees collection, the Giants are literally round a league common offense (96 wRC+) of their final 13 video games. Meanwhile, the Reds are the worst within the National League (76 wRC+). According to FanGraphs’ measure of WAR, they have been precisely alternative degree (0.0) over their final 14 video games. Does this imply the Giants have a terrific shot on this 3-game collection on the Great American Ball Park?
Sure. Anything’s doable.
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They’ve additionally been a medicore pitching crew, with a 4.10 ERA and 5.09 xERA. That’s as a result of they’ve been strolling hitters like loopy, to the tune of 5.04 per 9 innings over their final 125 innings. That’s the worst within the NL and fourth-worst in MLB. And but, they’re 9-7 general, with 5 of these wins approaching the street in Texas and Miami. They have a -16 run differential in comparison with the Giants -21. The Giants employees has walked hitters at too-high a fee as effectively, with a 4.18 BB/9 over their final 114 innings. That’s twenty first in MLB and tenth within the NL.
On the total season — so, if we return and embody the Yankees collection — the Reds have solely outscored the Giants by 3 runs (54 to 51). They’re hitting as a crew simply .205/.298/.325 in comparison with the Giants’ .243/.288/.357. Their offensive leaders have been Elly De La Cruz (152 wRC+) and rookie Sal Stewart (178 wRC+). The solely different participant who comes near league common (100 wRC+) is platoon bat Nathaniel Lowe (92 wRC+ in 23 PA). It’s a tough lineup right here within the early going. The Giants counter that with Casey Schmitt (186 wRC+), Willy Adames (127), Matt Chapman (118), and Luis Arraez (106).
Rather than silo him within the gamers to look at part, I’ll speak concerning the Reds’ dynamic Elly De La Cruz proper right here, as a result of he is simply 24 years outdated and is as soon as once more enjoying like an MVP-caliber participant. He has 5 steals based mostly on his first 16 video games of the season, an 11.1% stroll fee and 27.8 strikeout fee. It’s uncertain he’ll maintain these charges by way of the season, however they’d each be profession bests (his profession averages: 9.5 BB% and 29.7 Okay%). He was projected to be a 4-to-5-WAR participant and has already been price 1.0 fWAR by way of the primary 16 video games of the season. That’s a 10-WAR tempo. Also most likely not sustainable, however price mentioning right here as a result of he is white scorching proper now.
The Great American Ball Park has been much less a home of horrors right here within the 2020s than it was within the 2010s when the Giants went 12-21. They’re 11-6 right here within the 2020s and, as you will recall, the Giants bought off to such a scintillating begin final season due to the opening collection in Cincinnati. A yr later and the crew feels significantly much less shocking and brimming with prospects, however who is aware of? Maybe one other collection win right here will kick off a pleasant run of success. This collection is a battle of outdated (the Giants) versus younger (the Reds), with the Giants’ older lineup (28.9 on common) battling the Reds’ youthful pitching employees (28.4) whereas the Reds’ youthful hitters (27.8) tackle the Giants’ extra veteran (30.2) employees.
Series overview
Who: San Francisco Giants (6-10) at Cincinnati Reds (9-7)
Where: Great American Ball Park| Cincinnati, Ohio
When: Monday & Tuesday at 3:40pm PT, Wednesday at 9:40am PT
National broadcasts: None.
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Projected starters
Tuesday: Robbie Ray (LHP 2-1, 2.08 ERA) vs. Brady Singer (RHP 0-1, 7.71 ERA)
Wednesday: Tyler Mahle (RHP 0-2, 4.30 ERA) vs. Rhett Lowder (1-1 RHP, 3.31 ERA)
Thursday: Landen Roupp (2-1 RHP, 3.24 ERA) vs. Chase Burns (RHP 1-1, 3.31 ERA)
Players to look at
Reds
Salt Stewart: The 22-year-old first baseman ended final season because the #3 prospect within the Reds’ system, based on MLB Pipeline. Indeed, the highest three prospects from their system on the finish of 2025 will probably be featured on this collection, with Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder each scheduled to pitch.
He was a highschool bat drafted in 2022 and, per Pipeline’s writeup:
Stewart’s superior strategy has been obvious since day one in every of his professional profession. He carried a miniscule 15.7 p.c profession strikeout fee into the 2025 season and he is walked as usually as he is struck out (138 BB vs. 139 Ks). He makes a variety of onerous contact and may ship line drives to all fields constantly in opposition to every kind of pitching. Just 21 for all of this season [2025]he is nonetheless studying to faucet into his appreciable uncooked energy, with confidence it should come with out him dropping any of his hitability.
He hit 5 residence runs in an 18-game cup of espresso final season (58) and slashed .255/.293/.545. He’s hitting .309/.435/.600 within the first 16 video games and 69 plate appearances of this season. That contains 4 residence runs, 4 doubles, and 13 walks in opposition to 10 strikeouts. No marvel Eno Sarris giddily selected his future over Bryce Eldridge’s when asked about it during the offseasonn.
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Rhett Lowder: A sinker-slider-changeup man whose fastball velocity (he does have a four-seamer, too) that sits within the 92-94 vary. I’m pondering the right-handed Cade Povich, if you need a latest comparability to a Giants’ opponent. I’m to see how his 6.1 Okay/9 (though 3.74 FIP) performs in opposition to this Giants lineup. He missed all of 2025 with some elbow points, however in 2024, he had a 1.17 ERA (3.10 FIP) in 6 begins (30.2 IP).
Eugenio Suarez: The veteran has but to get it going within the early season with a .642 OPS by way of his first 16 video games. He was a Red from 2015-2021 and since 2021 he is his 163 residence runs for 3 groups in 774 video games. He has a profession line of .244/.331/.516 with 15 residence runs in 59 video games and 245 PA in opposition to the Giants.
Giants
Jung Hoo Lee: Lee, like a variety of the Giants, bought off to a quick begin in Cincinnati final season, with a 3-for-10, a double, a stolen base, and a pair of walks in that season-opening collection. He’s had a dismal begin to 2026 (.185/.246/.315) and will actually use a great collection. Three right-handed starters in a park that favors hitters is a pleasant pairing of components for a hitter.
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Tyler Mahle: He was drafted by the Reds within the seventh spherical of the 2013 draft and spent his first 5 1/2 seasons with them, posting a 4.34 ERA in 117 begins. This would be the first time he is ever confronted his former crew?! That appears unimaginable, so perhaps I’m studying his Baseball Reference web page fallacious. Anyway, he has a profession 5.02 ERA in 285.1 IP on the Great American Ball Park.
Patrick Bailey: Speaking of efficiency at GABP, the Giants catcher is simply 1-for-27 in his profession. That’s simply 9 video games, but it surely’s one other strike in opposition to a backstop who actually racks up strikes at any time when he steps to the plate. There’s most likely not a beginning catcher controversy simply but, however we nearly actually determine to see Daniel Susac extra usually ought to Bailey’s bat keep its sub zero temperature.
Tony Vitello watch
He’ll be going up in opposition to the legend Terry Francona, which is perhaps fascinating if the Giants are in a position to maintain video games shut late. It’s not that the Great American Ball Park is Coors Field, however bullpen choices will probably be essential. Also, I’m wondering how a lot time Vitello has spent in Ohio. The Volunteers performed Cincinnati, so perhaps he’ll have a few outdated faculty tales to share in the course of the media scrum.
Prediction time
The Giants may win a recreation on this collection.
