Brooke: Ten unanswered runs. Four home runs. A five-run sixth inning that flipped the entire game. The Reds just walked into Wrigley and stole one from the wild card-leading Cubs, and now they're back for more tonight.
Tony: That was Friday's game, and it might be the most important win of their season so far. The Reds are suddenly playing with a pulse.
Brooke: You're locked into the Beatline Podcast Network — this is Reds Rundown, and I'm Brooke, joined as always by the sharpest baseball mind in the building, Tony. We are live from the Wrigley Field press box, and we are previewing game two of this massive four-game set.
Tony: And it's a big one, folks. The Reds are 64-71, still fifth in the NL Central, but they just beat the team sitting second in the division. Momentum is real.
Brooke: Here's what we've got coming up today. First, we break down the series so far and tonight's pitching matchup. Then we dig into the key hitters who are carrying this offense and the bullpen questions that won't go away. And we'll close with our keys to the series and a bold prediction.
Tony: We've been talking about this team all week, and they keep finding ways to surprise us. Let's get into it.
Brooke: Tony, we have to start with what we saw last night. The Reds trailed 8-1 at one point, and then they just exploded. Tyler Stephenson's three-run homer highlighted that five-run sixth, and Jose Trevino, TJ Friedl, and Sal Stewart all went deep too.
Tony: That was a statement win. Nine unanswered runs against the Cubs' bullpen, and they did it with power. Four homers in one game — that's how you beat a team that's fighting for a wild card.
Brooke: And it sets up a huge game two tonight. Same two teams, same ballpark, first pitch at 6:20 PM Eastern. What are we expecting on the mound?
Tony: We don't have official probables yet, but we know the Reds have a few options. Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Rhett Lowder, and Chase Burns are all on the active roster. Given the way the rotation has been used, I'd expect one of the lefties — Abbott or Lodolo — to get the ball tonight.
Brooke: And the Cubs are going to throw someone too. They've got a deep staff, but we'll have to see who they line up.
Tony: Right. The Cubs are 76-58, second in the division, and they're playing for home field in the wild card race. They're not going to roll over after a tough loss.
Brooke: So what's the key for the Reds tonight? They just proved they can come back, but they can't keep digging themselves into holes.
Tony: Exactly. The starting pitching has to keep the game close early. If the Reds can get six solid innings from whoever takes the mound, they give their offense a chance to do what it did last night.
Brooke: And that offense is rolling right now. We'll get into that in a second, but first — Tony, you mentioned the bullpen. That's been a concern all year. What are you seeing?
Tony: It's been a rollercoaster, no doubt. They have arms like Tejay Antone, Sam Moll, Emilio Pagan, and Tony Santillan, but they've been inconsistent. Last night they held the line after the offense took the lead, but that's not always been the case.
Brooke: We'll break that down more in segment two. But first, let's talk about the injuries. The Reds have a bunch of guys on the IL — Edward Cabrera, Shelby Miller, Gavin Hollowell, Tyler Austin, Hunter Harvey, Graham Ashcraft, Brandon Williamson, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Spencer Steer. That's a lot of names.
Tony: It's a long list, and it's why the bullpen has been stretched. But the guys who are healthy are stepping up. Brady Singer is day-to-day, so that's something to watch. But the core of this team is playing well.
Brooke: Alright, we're going to take a quick break, but when we come back — we're talking about the hitters who are carrying this offense and the bullpen questions that just won't go away. Stick with us.
Brooke: We're back. Tony, let's talk about the guys in the middle of that lineup. Tyler Stephenson has been on fire — that three-run homer last night was his second big hit in as many games. What's working for him?
Tony: Stephenson is seeing the ball well and he's got a great approach at the plate. He's using the whole field, and his plate discipline has been excellent. When he's locked in, he's one of the most dangerous catchers in the league.
Brooke: And how about Jose Trevino? He went deep last night too, and he's been a solid presence behind the plate.
Tony: Trevino is a grinder. He's not going to hit 30 homers, but he puts together quality at-bats and he's a great defensive catcher. Having two catchers who can contribute offensively is a luxury.
Brooke: TJ Friedl also went yard last night. He's been a spark plug at the top of the lineup. And Sal Stewart — the rookie — he's been impressive.
Tony: Friedl is the engine. When he's getting on base, the lineup is so much deeper. And Stewart is a young player who's not afraid of the moment. That's a great sign for the future.
Brooke: And we can't forget about Elly De La Cruz. He didn't homer last night, but he's always a threat to do something special. What are you seeing from him?
Tony: Elly is one of the most exciting players in baseball. He can change a game with his legs alone. We've been predicting he'll steal a couple of bases in a game, and he's always a threat to go yard. The key for him is staying disciplined at the plate and not chasing.
Brooke: Now let's talk about the bullpen. We mentioned it earlier, but it's been a season-long issue. What's the biggest concern?
Tony: The biggest concern is consistency. They have high-leverage arms like Sam Moll and Emilio Pagan, but they've been prone to giving up the big inning. Last night they held on, but they've blown leads before. The key is getting outs early in the count and trusting the defense behind them.
Brooke: And with so many injuries, the bullpen is stretched thin. Who's stepping up?
Tony: Tejay Antone has been solid when healthy, and Tony Santillan has shown flashes. But they need more from the back end. If they can get to the ninth with a lead, they have a chance.
Brooke: We also have to mention the offense's approach. They're hitting homers, but are they being selective enough?
Tony: That's a good point. They're chasing too much at times, but when they're patient, they get good pitches to hit. Last night they were patient and it paid off. They need to keep that approach against the Cubs' pitching.
Brooke: Alright, we're going to take another quick break. When we come back — our keys to the series and our bold prediction. Don't go anywhere.
Brooke: Welcome back. Let's get into the keys to this series. Tony, what does Cincinnati have to do to take this series from the Cubs?
Tony: First, they have to get quality starts. The offense can't keep bailing out the pitching. If the starter can go six innings and give up three or less, they're in good shape.
Brooke: Second, they need to keep the momentum on offense. That means getting contributions from the bottom of the lineup, not just the big names.
Tony: Exactly. The bottom of the order has been coming through lately. If they can keep that up, this lineup is tough to navigate.
Brooke: And third, bullpen execution. We've talked about it all year, but it's crucial in a tight series. Can they hold a lead?
Tony: That's the million-dollar question. They need to throw strikes and trust their stuff. If they can do that, they're good enough.
Brooke: Alright, time for our bold prediction. We've been predicting Elly to steal bases and hit homers. What's the call for tonight?
Tony: I'm going to go with Elly De La Cruz stealing two bases tonight. The Cubs' catcher has a slow pop time, and if Elly gets on base, he's going to run.
Brooke: I like that. And I'm going to predict that the Reds win tonight and take the series. They have the momentum, and the Cubs are reeling after that collapse.
Tony: That would be huge. A series win here would be a big statement for this team.
Brooke: Alright, that's all the time we have today. We covered the series so far, the pitching matchup, the key hitters, the bullpen, and our bold predictions.
Tony: Make sure to subscribe to the Beatline Podcast Network, rate us five stars, and share this episode with your fellow Reds fans.
Brooke: And as always, go Reds. We'll see you tomorrow for game three.