Week 19 - August 16th: 3 Game Road Series with Reds
We have a three-game series on the road against the Cincinnati Reds kicking off today. The Reds play their home games at Great American Ball Park, which can be described as a hitter's haven. The ballpark has a seating capacity of 42319 fans. The Reds are playing at a .512 winning percentage this season, with a record of 63 wins and 60 losses. They are in third place in the Central Division, 3.0 games behind the leader. Their total runs scored are 578, ranking fifth in the National League, and their batting average of .247 also ranks fifth. On the defensive side, they have surrendered 610 runs (13th), with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.63, which ranks 11th. Their bullpen has an ERA of 4.45, placing them 12th.
Here are the projected pitching matchups, our pitchers listed first:
LHP A. Veneziano (2-2, 4.00 ERA) vs RHP J. Aguiar (2-1, 1.82 ERA)
LHP D. Lynch IV (3-4, 5.68 ERA) vs LHP A. Abbott (11-10, 4.03 ERA)
RHP A. Marsh (1-1, 4.40 ERA) vs RHP S. Lugo (4-10, 5.12 ERA)
The top 5 players on their team are:
1. CF TJ Friedl (Age: 29, Overall: 65, Potential: 65)
2. SS Elly De La Cruz (22, 60, 80)
3. RF Will Benson (26, 60, 60)
4. SP Hunter Greene (25, 60, 60)
5. SP Seth Lugo (34, 60, 60)
Game Summary – August 16th – Royals Win, 4-3, at Cincinnati
The Kansas City Royals edged out the Cincinnati Reds, 4-3, at Great American Ball Park, thanks in part to a strong performance by shortstop Elly De La Cruz. De La Cruz went 2-4 with a home run and a double, drove in 3 runs, and scored once. Huascar Brazoban earned his 2nd save in 2 chances. The Royals improved their record to 53-70. Who knows how it would've ended if not for Salvador Perez? The eight-time All-Star Perez delivered a run-scoring single in the top of the seventh to give Kansas City a 4-3 lead. For the game, he went 2 for 4, including a double and a single.
"I like the grit of this ballclub," Perez said.
I'd love to see us get over 60 wins at least. But I'm looking at the off-season already and thinking about winter meetings and spring training development.
GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Elly De La Cruz
Ballpark: Great American Ball Park
Weather: Partly Cloudy (78 degrees), wind blowing out to right at 9 mph
Start Time: 6:40 PM ET
Time: 3:05
Attendance: 34142