Flamethrower

Around the Division

###Division Scoreboard PIT 6 @ STL 2 - Top 9, 1 Out

|NLC Rank|Team|W|L|GB (E#)|WC Rank|WC GB (E#)| |:--|:--|:--|:--|:--|:--|:--|:--| |1|Milwaukee Brewers|29|18|- (-)|-|- (-)| |2|St. Louis Cardinals|28|20|1.5 (114)|2|- (-)| |3|Chicago Cubs|29|21|1.5 (113)|3|- (-)| |4|Cincinnati Reds|26|24|4.5 (110)|5|3.0 (110)| |5|Pittsburgh Pirates|25|24|5.0 (110)|6|3.5 (110)|

Next Reds Game: Fri, May 22, 06:40 PM EDT vs. Cardinals (1 day)

^^^Last ^^^Updated: ^^^05/21/2026 ^^^03:40:40 ^^^PM ^^^EDT, ^^^Update ^^^Interval: ^^^5 ^^^Minutes

Love Barry for who he is and what he has meant to this organization. I honestly wouldn’t hate all three of Sadak, Barry, Cowboy as a broadcast team but Cowboy is just SO good. Puts the perfect amount of emotion into the game like with Sals catch today and has incredible insights into players and stories from around the league. He’s got the voice for it too. Wish he was apart of calling every game.

I bring this up only because YouTube put this in front of me. I am sure many or most have seen it. Ken put together a great experience. It's 10ish episodes and 20ish hours. If you're a baseball peep and have not seen it - do find it. It seems to be free on YouTube, and probably other places for a fee.

edit: it covers baseball from the mid 1800s to something like 2000 from all sorts of aspects.

This team feels like it’s officially out of the funk we’ve been in for the past few weeks. Our bullpen is still struggling but we are in a good spot. Greene is returning soon, Geno will be back within the month. Lodolo I feel will shake this early season (for him) rust and we all know what Burns is doing. Abbott is an all-star caliber player and with players like Lowe, Stewart, Steer, Bleday and of course a potential NL MVP Elly, I truly feel like we are going to be a competitive team come October baseball. We just need to dial in the bullpen and we’re right there.

#Reds @ Phillies - Wed, May 20

###Game Status: Final - Score: 9-4 Reds

###Links & Info

• Current conditions at Citizens Bank Park: 92°F - Sunny - Wind 11 mph, Out To RF
• TV: Reds: Reds.TV, Phillies: NBC 10
• Radio: Reds: WLW 700, Phillies: iHeart App (es), 94 WIP
• MLB Gameday
• Game Graphs
• Savant Gamefeed

	Reds Batters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	LOB	AVG	OBP	SLG
1	McLain, M - SS	5	0	0	0	0	1	3	.208	.309	.343
2	De La Cruz, E - DH	5	0	0	0	0	3	1	.290	.356	.525
3	Bleday - LF	5	2	2	0	0	1	0	.299	.402	.636
4	Stewart, S - 1B	5	3	4	2	0	0	0	.265	.353	.503
5	Steer - 2B	5	1	2	0	0	1	2	.273	.340	.448
6	Lowe, N - 1B	5	1	2	3	0	2	2	.260	.330	.510
	Hayes - 3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.142	.195	.225
7	Dunn - RF	5	2	2	0	0	0	3	.357	.419	.607
8	Benson - RF	2	0	0	1	0	0	2	.171	.315	.303
	a-Myers - CF	2	0	1	1	0	1	2	.243	.349	.400
9	Higgins, P - C	4	0	2	2	0	1	1	.286	.313	.286
	Totals	43	9	15	9	0	10	16

Reds
a-Doubled for Benson in the 6th.
BATTING: 2B: Stewart, S (9, Nola, A); Lowe, N 2 (8, Nola, A, Kerkering); Dunn (2, Mayza); Myers (2, Mayza). 3B: Dunn (1, Nola, A). HR: Stewart, S (12, 9th inning off Alvarado, 1 on, 0 out). TB: Bleday 2; Dunn 5; Higgins, P 2; Lowe, N 4; Myers 2; Steer 2; Stewart, S 8. RBI: Benson (5); Higgins, P 2 (3); Lowe, N 3 (20); Myers (11); Stewart, S 2 (34). 2-out RBI: Higgins, P; Lowe, N 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Dunn; Lowe, N; McLain, M; Myers. Team RISP: 6-for-15. Team LOB: 7.
FIELDING: E: Higgins, P 2 (3, throw, catcher interference). DP: (Steer-Lowe, N).

	Phillies Batters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	LOB	AVG	OBP	SLG
1	Turner - SS	2	1	1	0	2	0	0	.239	.294	.358
2	García, Ad - RF	3	0	0	0	1	2	2	.207	.284	.322
3	Harper, B - DH	3	0	0	1	0	1	1	.267	.359	.528
4	Bohm - 1B	4	1	1	1	0	1	2	.220	.280	.351
5	Realmuto - C	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	.212	.284	.279
6	Marsh - LF	4	1	2	0	0	1	0	.325	.350	.464
7	Sosa, E - 3B	3	1	1	2	0	0	1	.228	.262	.342
8	Stott - 2B	4	0	1	0	0	1	1	.229	.274	.405
9	Kemp - LF	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.080	.148	.080
	a-Crawford - CF	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.255	.327	.376
	Totals	31	4	6	4	3	7	10

Phillies
a-Popped out for Kemp in the 7th.
BATTING: 2B: Stott (8, Moll). HR: Bohm (5, 6th inning off Abbott, A, 0 on, 1 out); Sosa, E (2, 6th inning off Burke, B, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Bohm 4; Marsh 2; Sosa, E 4; Stott 2; Turner. RBI: Bohm (22); Harper, B (31); Sosa, E 2 (14). 2-out RBI: Sosa, E 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: García, Ad; Crawford; Realmuto. SF: Harper, B. Team RISP: 1-for-4. Team LOB: 5.
FIELDING: E: Bohm (3, missed catch).

Reds Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	P-S	ERA
Abbott, A (W, 4-2)	5.1	3	2	1	3	3	1	96-64	3.97
Burke, B (H, 5)	0.2	2	2	2	0	0	1	9-6	3.57
Phillips (H, 5)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	17-9	5.06
Ashcraft, G (H, 9)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	10-9	3.70
Moll	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	14-11	3.00
Totals	9.0	6	4	3	3	7	2

Phillies Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	P-S	ERA
Nola, A (L, 2-4)	5.0	8	4	4	0	5	0	77-55	6.04
Mayza	1.1	3	2	2	0	2	0	28-17	4.01
Kerkering	0.2	2	1	1	0	2	0	23-14	2.60
Keller, B	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	15-10	3.92
Alvarado	1.0	2	2	2	0	1	1	17-12	6.11
Totals	9.0	15	9	9	0	10	1

Game Info
ABS Challenge: Higgins, P (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Realmuto 2 (Ball-Overturned to Strike, Ball-Overturned to Strike); Stewart, S (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Harper, B (Strike-Confirmed); Bleday (Strike-Confirmed).
Pitches-strikes: Abbott, A 96-64; Burke, B 9-6; Phillips 17-9; Ashcraft, G 10-9; Moll 14-11; Nola, A 77-55; Mayza 28-17; Kerkering 23-14; Keller, B 15-10; Alvarado 17-12.
Groundouts-flyouts: Abbott, A 1-5; Burke, B 1-0; Phillips 0-1; Ashcraft, G 0-1; Moll 2-0; Nola, A 5-4; Mayza 1-1; Kerkering 1-0; Keller, B 1-1; Alvarado 0-1.
Batters faced: Abbott, A 22; Burke, B 4; Phillips 3; Ashcraft, G 3; Moll 4; Nola, A 23; Mayza 7; Kerkering 5; Keller, B 3; Alvarado 5.
Inherited runners-scored: Kerkering 1-1.
Umpires: HP: Ryan Additon. 1B: Ryan Wills. 2B: Lance Barksdale. 3B: Will Little.
Weather: 92 degrees, Sunny.
Wind: 11 mph, Out To RF.
First pitch: 1:06 PM.
T: 2:48.
Att: 38,222.
Venue: Citizens Bank Park.
May 20, 2026

Inning	Scoring Play	Score
Bottom 1	Bryce Harper out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder JJ Bleday. Trea Turner scores.	1-0 PHI
Top 2	Nathaniel Lowe doubles (7) on a ground ball to right fielder Adolis García. Sal Stewart scores. Spencer Steer to 3rd.	1-1
Top 2	Will Benson grounds out, first baseman Alec Bohm to pitcher Aaron Nola. Spencer Steer scores. Nathaniel Lowe to 3rd.	2-1 CIN
Top 2	P.J. Higgins singles on a line drive to left fielder Otto Kemp. Nathaniel Lowe scores.	3-1 CIN
Top 4	P.J. Higgins singles on a line drive to right fielder Adolis García. Blake Dunn scores.	4-1 CIN
Top 6	Dane Myers doubles (2) on a sharp line drive to right fielder Adolis García. Blake Dunn scores.	5-1 CIN
Bottom 6	Alec Bohm homers (5) on a line drive to left field.	5-2 CIN
Bottom 6	Edmundo Sosa homers (2) on a fly ball to left field. Brandon Marsh scores.	5-4 CIN
Top 7	Nathaniel Lowe doubles (8) on a sharp fly ball to center fielder Brandon Marsh. JJ Bleday scores. Sal Stewart scores.	7-4 CIN
Top 9	Sal Stewart homers (12) on a fly ball to left field. JJ Bleday scores.	9-4 CIN

Team	Highlight
CIN	Nathaniel Lowe's RBI double (00:00:32)
CIN	Dane Myers' pinch-hit RBI double (00:00:30)
PHI	Alec Bohm's solo home run (5) (00:00:28)
PHI	Edmundo Sosa's two-run home run (2) (00:00:25)
CIN	Nathaniel Lowe's two-run double (00:00:28)
CIN	Sal Stewart's two-run home run (12) (00:00:28)
CIN	Sal Stewart's first career four-hit game (00:02:04)
CIN	Sal Stewart crushes 441-foot home run (00:00:33)
PHI	Condensed Game: CIN@PHI - 5/20/26 (00:11:07)
PHI	Sal Stewart's four-hit game fuels Reds to a win (00:03:15)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E	LOB
Reds	0	3	0	1	0	1	2	0	2		9	15	2	7
Phillies	1	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0		4	6	1	5

###Decisions

• Winner: Andrew Abbott (4-2, 3.97)
• Loser: Aaron Nola (2-4, 6.04)

###Division Scoreboard MIL 5 @ CHC 0 - Final

PIT 7 @ STL 0 - Final

^^^Last ^^^Updated: ^^^05/20/2026 ^^^11:05:22 ^^^PM ^^^EDT

#Reds @ Phillies - Wed, May 20

###Game Status: Final - Score: 9-4 Reds

###Links & Info

• MLB Gameday
• Game Graphs
• Savant Gamefeed

	Reds Batters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	LOB	AVG	OBP	SLG
1	McLain, M - SS	5	0	0	0	0	1	3	.208	.309	.343
2	De La Cruz, E - DH	5	0	0	0	0	3	1	.290	.356	.525
3	Bleday - LF	5	2	2	0	0	1	0	.299	.402	.636
4	Stewart, S - 1B	5	3	4	2	0	0	0	.265	.353	.503
5	Steer - 2B	5	1	2	0	0	1	2	.273	.340	.448
6	Lowe, N - 1B	5	1	2	3	0	2	2	.260	.330	.510
	Hayes - 3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.142	.195	.225
7	Dunn - RF	5	2	2	0	0	0	3	.357	.419	.607
8	Benson - RF	2	0	0	1	0	0	2	.171	.315	.303
	a-Myers - CF	2	0	1	1	0	1	2	.243	.349	.400
9	Higgins, P - C	4	0	2	2	0	1	1	.286	.313	.286
	Totals	43	9	15	9	0	10	16

Reds
a-Doubled for Benson in the 6th.
BATTING: 2B: Stewart, S (9, Nola, A); Lowe, N 2 (8, Nola, A, Kerkering); Dunn (2, Mayza); Myers (2, Mayza). 3B: Dunn (1, Nola, A). HR: Stewart, S (12, 9th inning off Alvarado, 1 on, 0 out). TB: Bleday 2; Dunn 5; Higgins, P 2; Lowe, N 4; Myers 2; Steer 2; Stewart, S 8. RBI: Benson (5); Higgins, P 2 (3); Lowe, N 3 (20); Myers (11); Stewart, S 2 (34). 2-out RBI: Higgins, P; Lowe, N 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Dunn; Lowe, N; McLain, M; Myers. Team RISP: 6-for-15. Team LOB: 7.
FIELDING: E: Higgins, P 2 (3, throw, catcher interference). DP: (Steer-Lowe, N).

	Phillies Batters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	LOB	AVG	OBP	SLG
1	Turner - SS	2	1	1	0	2	0	0	.239	.294	.358
2	García, Ad - RF	3	0	0	0	1	2	2	.207	.284	.322
3	Harper, B - DH	3	0	0	1	0	1	1	.267	.359	.528
4	Bohm - 1B	4	1	1	1	0	1	2	.220	.280	.351
5	Realmuto - C	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	.212	.284	.279
6	Marsh - LF	4	1	2	0	0	1	0	.325	.350	.464
7	Sosa, E - 3B	3	1	1	2	0	0	1	.228	.262	.342
8	Stott - 2B	4	0	1	0	0	1	1	.229	.274	.405
9	Kemp - LF	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.080	.148	.080
	a-Crawford - CF	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.255	.327	.376
	Totals	31	4	6	4	3	7	10

Phillies
a-Popped out for Kemp in the 7th.
BATTING: 2B: Stott (8, Moll). HR: Bohm (5, 6th inning off Abbott, A, 0 on, 1 out); Sosa, E (2, 6th inning off Burke, B, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Bohm 4; Marsh 2; Sosa, E 4; Stott 2; Turner. RBI: Bohm (22); Harper, B (31); Sosa, E 2 (14). 2-out RBI: Sosa, E 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: García, Ad; Crawford; Realmuto. SF: Harper, B. Team RISP: 1-for-4. Team LOB: 5.
FIELDING: E: Bohm (3, missed catch).

Reds Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	P-S	ERA
Abbott, A (W, 4-2)	5.1	3	2	1	3	3	1	96-64	3.97
Burke, B (H, 5)	0.2	2	2	2	0	0	1	9-6	3.57
Phillips (H, 5)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	17-9	5.06
Ashcraft, G (H, 9)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	10-9	3.70
Moll	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	14-11	3.00
Totals	9.0	6	4	3	3	7	2

Phillies Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	P-S	ERA
Nola, A (L, 2-4)	5.0	8	4	4	0	5	0	77-55	6.04
Mayza	1.1	3	2	2	0	2	0	28-17	4.01
Kerkering	0.2	2	1	1	0	2	0	23-14	2.60
Keller, B	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	15-10	3.92
Alvarado	1.0	2	2	2	0	1	1	17-12	6.11
Totals	9.0	15	9	9	0	10	1

Game Info
ABS Challenge: Higgins, P (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Realmuto 2 (Ball-Overturned to Strike, Ball-Overturned to Strike); Stewart, S (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Harper, B (Strike-Confirmed); Bleday (Strike-Confirmed).
Pitches-strikes: Abbott, A 96-64; Burke, B 9-6; Phillips 17-9; Ashcraft, G 10-9; Moll 14-11; Nola, A 77-55; Mayza 28-17; Kerkering 23-14; Keller, B 15-10; Alvarado 17-12.
Groundouts-flyouts: Abbott, A 1-5; Burke, B 1-0; Phillips 0-1; Ashcraft, G 0-1; Moll 2-0; Nola, A 5-4; Mayza 1-1; Kerkering 1-0; Keller, B 1-1; Alvarado 0-1.
Batters faced: Abbott, A 22; Burke, B 4; Phillips 3; Ashcraft, G 3; Moll 4; Nola, A 23; Mayza 7; Kerkering 5; Keller, B 3; Alvarado 5.
Inherited runners-scored: Kerkering 1-1.
Umpires: HP: Ryan Additon. 1B: Ryan Wills. 2B: Lance Barksdale. 3B: Will Little.
Weather: 92 degrees, Sunny.
Wind: 11 mph, Out To RF.
First pitch: 1:06 PM.
T: 2:48.
Att: 38,222.
Venue: Citizens Bank Park.
May 20, 2026

Inning	Scoring Play	Score
Bottom 1	Bryce Harper out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder JJ Bleday. Trea Turner scores.	1-0 PHI
Top 2	Nathaniel Lowe doubles (7) on a ground ball to right fielder Adolis García. Sal Stewart scores. Spencer Steer to 3rd.	1-1
Top 2	Will Benson grounds out, first baseman Alec Bohm to pitcher Aaron Nola. Spencer Steer scores. Nathaniel Lowe to 3rd.	2-1 CIN
Top 2	P.J. Higgins singles on a line drive to left fielder Otto Kemp. Nathaniel Lowe scores.	3-1 CIN
Top 4	P.J. Higgins singles on a line drive to right fielder Adolis García. Blake Dunn scores.	4-1 CIN
Top 6	Dane Myers doubles (2) on a sharp line drive to right fielder Adolis García. Blake Dunn scores.	5-1 CIN
Bottom 6	Alec Bohm homers (5) on a line drive to left field.	5-2 CIN
Bottom 6	Edmundo Sosa homers (2) on a fly ball to left field. Brandon Marsh scores.	5-4 CIN
Top 7	Nathaniel Lowe doubles (8) on a sharp fly ball to center fielder Brandon Marsh. JJ Bleday scores. Sal Stewart scores.	7-4 CIN
Top 9	Sal Stewart homers (12) on a fly ball to left field. JJ Bleday scores.	9-4 CIN

Team	Highlight
CIN	Nathaniel Lowe's RBI double (00:00:32)
CIN	P.J. Higgins' RBI single (00:00:17)
CIN	Spencer Steer's leaping catch starts double play (00:00:21)
CIN	Dane Myers' pinch-hit RBI double (00:00:30)
PHI	Alec Bohm's solo home run (5) (00:00:28)
PHI	Edmundo Sosa's two-run home run (2) (00:00:25)
CIN	Nathaniel Lowe's two-run double (00:00:28)
CIN	Sal Stewart's two-run home run (12) (00:00:28)
CIN	Sam Moll secures the Reds' 9-4 win (00:00:36)
CIN	Sal Stewart's first career four-hit game (00:02:04)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E	LOB
Reds	0	3	0	1	0	1	2	0	2		9	15	2	7
Phillies	1	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0		4	6	1	5

###Decisions

• Winner: Andrew Abbott (4-2, 3.97)
• Loser: Aaron Nola (2-4, 6.04)

###Division Scoreboard MIL @ CHC 07:40 PM EDT

PIT @ STL 07:45 PM EDT

Next Reds Game: Fri, May 22, 06:40 PM EDT vs. Cardinals (2 days)

^^^Last ^^^Updated: ^^^05/20/2026 ^^^04:46:23 ^^^PM ^^^EDT

Elly De La Cruz Is Having a Historic Season

The headline number: Elly is on pace for 8.9 WAR, which would be the best season by a Reds player in 50 years, behind only Joe Morgan in the 1970s.

His current stat line:

• 2.6 WAR (3rd in the majors, behind only Bobby Witt Jr. and Shohei Ohtani)
• On pace for 30 steals, 38 home runs
• wRC+ of 147 (meaning he's 47% more productive than the average hitter)

What's Different This Year

1. He figured out left-handed pitchers. Elly is a switch-hitter. Batting right-handed against lefties used to be a glaring weakness. He had a 29 wRC+ in 2023, then 83 in 2024, then 64 in 2025. This year? 153 wRC+. That's elite.

The key change: instead of yanking everything to one side, he's letting the ball travel and going the other way and getting it in the air. He hasn't popped up a single pitch batting right-handed this year.

2. He's making harder contact. His hard-hit rate from the right side jumped from 35% last year to 54% this year, good for 9th best in the majors.

3. His defense is back. He led the league in errors early in his career, but his absurd range made up for it. Last year his range faded and the errors stayed. He was a net negative on defense. This year the range is back, the errors are way down, and he's arguably a top-5 shortstop again.

The One Concern

He's running less. His sprint speed has dropped from 30.0 ft/s (2023) to 28.1 ft/s (2026), and he's attempting fewer steals. The author's theory is he may be conserving energy intentionally, since fatigue-driven second-half slumps have been a pattern in his career.

Bottom Line

De La Cruz has always had monster stretches. The question was always whether he could sustain it. This year, for the first time, all the pieces are clicking at once (better bat, better glove, smarter approach), and he's the most complete player he's ever been.