The Cincinnati Reds have won three games in a row and six of their last eight. This week, they host an equally hot Seattle Mariners squad, who just swept the Rangers behind tremendous pitching. We’ve got a trio of intriguing interleague looks here, including a Wednesday spot on national TV. Three cheers, Cincy.
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Both sides enter this series below the league average in most hitting categories, though the visitors have some pop (tied for seventh in home runs). Cal Raleigh has mashed five homers already, while Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodríguez each have three. It’s very early, but the Mariners are hitting .210 as a team (Cincinnati is hitting .200, above only the Pirates) – Bulldog would pinch his nose.
Seattle is winning with its work on the hill. It has the eighth-lowest ERA in the league and held Texas to six combined runs in the three-game sweep. Righty Luis Castillo goes on Tuesday — he was a two-time All-Star in six Cincinnati seasons, then sent to Seattle at the 2022 trade deadline and earned a third All-Star nod in 2023.
Fellow righty Bryce Miller is up Wednesday. His bag is deep with six pitches, including a gnarly splitter. Miller posted a 2.94 ERA and sub-1 WHIP across 180 1/3 innings last year but has taken early losses to the Giants and Athletics this spring. Thursday’s probable is a third right-hander, 25-year-old Bryan Woo, who is 2-0 and has lasted at least six innings in all three starts.
Cincinnati’s current incarnation is far from a Big Red Machine, or any machine of any size. Through their first 16 games, the Reds boast a miserable .272 OBP, tied with the White Sox for second-worst in baseball. Elly De La Cruz is an electrifying presence and he can quickly turn any nondescript game to a highlight factory, but 23-year-old shortstop is off to a slow start thus far (.238/.284/.429).
Like their mid-week guests, the Reds are faring much better on the mound than with the bats. The collective ERA is under three and the WHIP is below one. Homers and walks are in check right now, and they completed shutouts in three of their last six (winning five). Left-hander Nick Lodolo is Tuesday’s starter. He’s been brilliant in his last two bids – zero earned runs in 12 2/3 innings, with a clean 7-to-1 K-BB.
Veteran RHP Nick Martinez takes the bump Wednesday. He’s been knocked around by the Giants in two of his three starts, and gave up two long balls in his only home outing.
Brady Singer tries to go 4-0 in Thursday’s finale. The righty has enjoyed a smooth start to 2025, but he’s in the bottom 20 percentile for fastball and exit velocities.
Most home runs in both jerseys: Ken Griffey Jr. (of course) with 417 HR with Seattle and 210 with Cincinnati.
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(Photo of Elly De La Cruz: Jeff Dean / Getty Images)
