The Reds had a setback after a two-game winning streak.
The Cincinnati Reds opened May by losing eight consecutive games before beating the Houston Astros by a combined score of 8-1 on Saturday and Sunday. However, they played more like they did during the losing streak against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.
The Reds lost 10-4 at home, largely due to a meltdown by the pitching staff. Starter Brady Singer allowed three runs over just 3.2 innings before left-hander Sam Moll allowed three more runs over just a third of an inning. Then, right-hander Luis Mey allowed one run over two innings before right-hander Connor Phillips allowed one run over 1.2 innings, right-hander Tony Santillan allowed one run over a third of an inning, and Pierce Johnson allowed one run over one inning.
Singer had another tough outing amid a difficult season, as he now has a 5.79 ERA after giving up three solo homers and taking a 107-mile-per-hour grounder off his ankle on Tuesday. But the bullpen allowing six runs over 5.1 frames especially wasn't ideal after blowing three saves against the Chicago Cubs from May 4 to May 6.
Reds' Bullpen Must Improve Moving Forward
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Connor Phillips (34). © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesCincinnati is now last place in the NL Central at 22-20, five games behind the Cubs for first. That's about as good of a position as a last-place team can be in, but it'll be hard to rise the ranks without better bullpen performances.
For example, right-hander Emilio Pagan allowed a walk-off homer to Pete Crow-Armstrong in the Reds' 5-4 loss to the Cubs on May 4, Moll allowed an walk-off single to Michael Bush in the 3-2 loss on May 5, and left-hander Brock Burke gave up the winning run by walking Bush with the bases loaded in the 10th inning of the 7-6 loss on May 6. Phillips then allowed five runs in one inning of relief in Thursday's 8-3 loss, completing Chicago's four-game sweep.
The Reds are now 26th in baseball with a 4.65 team ERA and 25th with a .684 OPS. That's partially because not enough of their players have made an impact outside of shortstop Elly De La Cruz (.873 OPS), first baseman Sal Stewart (.812 OPS) left fielder Spencer Steer (.768 OPS), and starting pitcher Chase Burns (2.11 ERA).
It's standard for players to go through slumps, but Cincinnati won't go far if it stays near the bottom of the ERA and OPS rankings. A step forward by the bullpen will help remedy this issue.
Up next is a rematch against the Nationals on Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. ET.