The Cincinnati Reds have a couple of players putting up great seasons, but t he team as a whole has struggled. It is a strange way to run a season. You see a superstar like Elly de la Cruz posting a 6.3 fWAR in 603 plate appearances. You see Chase Burns being phenomenal with a 4.3 fWAR over 154 1/3 innings. Yet, the team sits at 72-84.
According to Battery Power, the Reds had a massive start this year. They went 20-11 through April 30. Then, an eight-game losing streak hit them like a ton of bricks. They haven’t been able to climb out of that hole since. Now, they are facing the Braves in a series that feels more like a tune-up than a battle.
A Tale of Two Directions
The Braves have already clinched their division. Their path to a high seed in the NL looks very safe. They are basically playing out the rest of the year with nothing to lose. They will host the Reds first before finishing the season in Miami. For Atlanta, these games are just prep work for the playoffs.
The Reds are in a different spot. Last year, their pitching kept them near .500. This year, both their hitters and arms are in the bottom ten. While de la Cruz and Burns are great, the rest of the roster is struggling. Three different players have recorded 200 or more plate appearances with a -0.8 fWAR or worse. It is hard to win when so many players are performing poorly.
Ritchie Faces a Big Test
I think the real story to watch is JR Ritchie. The Braves might use him as a mop-up guy on a playoff roster. He needs to find his way back to the form he showed during his MLB debut. He had a great 7/2 K/BB ratio back then, even if he gave up two solo home runs.
His recent numbers are tough to look at. He has a 119/135/115 line across nine starts and six relief appearances. He has pitched 62 2/3 innings so far. He can still be a useful piece, but he needs to prove he can handle the pressure of October.
