It Cincinnati Reds will be looking for their fourth straight win to secure their first road sweep of the season when they meet Miami Marlins Sunday afternoon
Cincinnati will send right-hander Luke Weaver (1-2, 7.36 ERA) to the mound while Braxton Garrett (1-2, 5.97) gets the nod. Marlins
It Reds they have shown patience with manager David Bell, who is in his fifth season at the helm. Perhaps that patience will pay off this year as Bell continues to preach team unity
“Playing together and relying on each other leads to wins,” Bell said this weekend. “It also makes the game more fun.
“Trust your teammates. Trust the guy next to you. … I’m happy to see it grow every day (with our team).”
Jake Fraley certainly makes Bell happy with his play. In two games against Miami this weekend, Fraley went 4-for-8 with three homers, eight RBIs, five runs, one walk and one steal.
“I’m just trying to see the ball and put it in the field,” Fraley said.
Fraley has the second-highest slugging percentage on the team at .826. He is behind second baseman Jonathan India, who has an .839 OPS.
on the mound Reds closer Alexis Diaz (nine saves in nine attempts) will likely be rested on Sunday. He saved the first two games of the series, going a combined 2 2/3 innings
Since Reds scratched left-hander Nick Lodolo (calf) from Saturday’s scheduled start, their bullpen has been stretched thin. Cincinnati used seven pitchers in a 6-5 win Saturday, and Reds Weaver’s need for a long outing is sorely needed
Weaver is in his freshman year Reds after signing a one-year, $2 million contract this offseason. It Reds 2-2 when starting Weaver, who is 1-2 with a 3.72 ERA in five career (three starts) against Marlins
But in two career starts at Miami, Weaver is 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA.
It Marlins, meanwhile, are 4-2 when Garrett starts this year. However, in Marlins they’ve lost two straight with Garrett starting, who has allowed 15 runs in 9 2/3 innings in that span.
Garrett, a former first-round pick, missed his only two career starts Reds (0-2, 5.91 ERA)
Besides trying to get Garrett back on track, Marlins have injuries in their field. Right fielder Jesus Sanchez (hamstring) and center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (foot) are questionable for Sunday. Both were injured on Saturday
It’s possible one or both could end up on the injury list ahead of Sunday’s game.
“The worst time to get hurt is when you’re feeling good at the plate.” Marlins manager Skip Shoemaker said. “The Jazz were shooting very well. (Saturday) was really, really good. Sanchez was our hottest player. So for that to happen, obviously, it’s kind of a gut punch when it happens to a team. and him
“Hopefully it’s not as bad as it looks, but we can only find out with the images.”
Sanchez is hitting .400 (10-for-25) through eight games in May, while Chisholm has hit safely in five of his last six games.
— Field level media