Hey there, baseball fans! Excited for the 2021 Reds season? We know we are. After a challenging 2020 season, the Reds are looking to rebound and make a run at the playoffs. With a talented roster and a new manager in David Bell, there’s plenty of reason for optimism in Cincinnati. In this article, we’ll take a look at the Reds’ schedule, key players, and predictions for the upcoming season.
The Reds open the season on April 1st at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates. They’ll then head out on a six-game road trip before returning home for a nine-game homestand. The Reds have a tough schedule in the first half of the season, with series against the Dodgers, Padres, and Braves. But they’ll also have some opportunities to pick up wins against weaker teams like the Pirates, Cubs, and Marlins.
The Reds have a number of key players who will need to step up in 2021. Joey Votto is still one of the best hitters in the game, and he’ll need to continue to produce if the Reds are going to be successful. Eugenio Suarez is another key bat in the lineup, and he’ll need to bounce back from a disappointing 2020 season. The Reds also have a solid bullpen, led by closer Raisel Iglesias. If the Reds can get consistent starting pitching, they have the potential to be a playoff contender in 2021.
Reds Games 2021: Regular Season
Major League Baseball Season
The 2021 Reds season was a disappointing one for the team and its fans. After finishing with a 31-29 record in the shortened 2020 season, the Reds were expected to contend for a playoff spot in 2021. However, the team struggled throughout the season and finished with a 62-100 record, the worst in the National League. The Reds’ struggles were due in part to a number of injuries, including to key players like Joey Votto and Luis Castillo. The team also struggled to score runs, finishing with the second-fewest runs scored in the league. As a result of the team’s poor performance, manager David Bell was fired in September.
Reds Fire David Bell as Manager
On September 22, 2021, the Reds fired manager David Bell after three seasons with the team. Bell had a 220-336 record as manager of the Reds, and the team never finished above .500 under his leadership. The Reds’ decision to fire Bell was not a surprise, as the team had struggled throughout the 2021 season. Bell was replaced by interim manager Freddie Benavides, who finished the season with a 3-10 record.
Reds Hire New Manager
On October 22, 2021, the Reds hired Brandon Hyde as their new manager. Hyde previously managed the Baltimore Orioles for three seasons, and he has a career managerial record of 295-359. Hyde is known for his ability to develop young players, and he will be tasked with turning around a Reds team that is in need of a rebuild.
Reds Games 2021: Spring Training
Preseason Exhibition Games
The Cincinnati Reds had a successful spring training in 2021, finishing with a 17-13-3 record. They won the Cactus League championship, defeating the Chicago White Sox 5-2 in the championship game. The Reds were optimistic about the upcoming season, as they had a number of young players who had shown promise in spring training.
Some of the highlights of the Reds’ spring training included:
- Joey Votto had a strong spring, batting .353 with 3 home runs and 12 RBIs.
- Nick Senzel showed signs of improvement, batting .286 with 2 home runs and 8 RBIs.
- Luis Castillo looked sharp in his starts, posting a 3.00 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 15 innings.
- Tejay Antone emerged as a potential closer, recording 6 saves in 9 spring training appearances.
The Reds were also encouraged by the performance of their young pitchers, who showed promise in spring training. Vladimir Gutierrez, Tony Santillan, and Reiver Sanmartin all had strong outings, giving the Reds hope for the future.
Overall, the Reds had a successful spring training in 2021. They won the Cactus League championship, and they had a number of young players who showed promise. The Reds were optimistic about the upcoming season, and they were hoping to build on their success in spring training.
Reds Games 2021: Postseason
National League Wild Card Game
The Reds’ 2021 season culminated in a thrilling National League Wild Card Game against the New York Mets at Citi Field. The highly anticipated matchup pitted two storied franchises against each other, each harboring aspirations of advancing to the National League Division Series.
The Reds, who had secured their Wild Card berth with a 83-79 regular-season record, entered the game with a potent offense led by Joey Votto, Nick Castellanos, and Jesse Winker. The Mets, meanwhile, boasted a formidable pitching staff anchored by Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Taijuan Walker.
The game began as a tense pitchers’ duel, with both starters, Tyler Mahle for the Reds and Taijuan Walker for the Mets, keeping the opposing batters in check. The Reds managed to scratch out a run in the top of the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Nick Castellanos, giving them an early lead.
However, the Mets responded with a vengeance in the bottom of the fifth. Brandon Drury hit a solo home run to tie the game, and Francisco Lindor followed with an RBI double to give the Mets a 2-1 advantage. The Mets continued to pile on the runs, scoring two more in the sixth and one in the eighth, to build a commanding 5-1 lead.
The Reds mounted a late rally in the top of the ninth inning. Eugenio Suarez led off with a single and eventually came around to score on a groundout by Tyler Naquin. With two outs and runners on first and second, Joey Votto stepped to the plate as the potential tying run. However, Mets closer Edwin Diaz induced Votto to ground out to third, ending the game and extinguishing the Reds’ playoff hopes.
The Reds’ loss in the Wild Card Game marked a disappointing end to a season that had promised so much. The team had shown flashes of brilliance throughout the year, but they ultimately fell short of their ultimate goal of reaching the World Series. The Reds looked ahead to the 2022 season with a renewed determination to build on their progress and make a deeper playoff run.
Reds Games 2021: Away Games
On the Road
The Cincinnati Reds had a winning record on the road in 2021, finishing with a 42-39 record. This was in contrast to their home record of 38-43. The Reds’ success on the road can be attributed to several factors, including a more productive offense and a more effective pitching staff.
Reds Offense on the Road
The Reds offense was more productive on the road than at home in 2021. They averaged 4.7 runs per game on the road, compared to 4.0 runs per game at home. This difference was due in part to the Reds’ ability to hit for power on the road. They hit 103 home runs on the road, compared to 81 home runs at home. The Reds also had a better on-base percentage and slugging percentage on the road than at home.
Reds Pitching Staff on the Road
The Reds pitching staff was more effective on the road than at home in 2021. They had a 3.95 ERA on the road, compared to a 4.58 ERA at home. This difference was due in part to the Reds’ ability to strike out batters on the road. They struck out 9.3 batters per nine innings on the road, compared to 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings at home. The Reds also walked fewer batters on the road than at home.
Conclusion
The Reds’ success on the road in 2021 was due to a more productive offense and a more effective pitching staff. They were able to hit for power, get on base, and strike out batters on the road. As a result, they finished with a winning record on the road and were able to contend for a playoff spot.
Reds Games 2021: Interleague Play
Against American League Teams
The Reds had a disappointing performance against American League teams in 2021, finishing with a losing record of 8-14. The team struggled in several key areas, leaving fans disappointed with the interleague matchups.
Batting Woes against AL Pitchers
One of the main reasons for the Reds’ struggles was their inability to hit effectively against American League pitchers. The team’s batting average against AL pitchers was a dismal .226, significantly lower than their .255 average against National League opponents. This deficit was particularly evident in key situations such as with runners in scoring position, where the Reds’ batting average plummeted to a mere .179 against AL pitchers.
Pitching Staff Falters
The Reds’ pitching staff also faced challenges in containing American League hitters. The team’s earned run average (ERA) against AL teams was an elevated 5.12, compared to a more respectable 3.99 against NL opponents. Reds pitchers had difficulty consistently throwing strikes, issuing an alarming 10.3 walks per nine innings against AL hitters. Opposing teams took advantage of the Reds’ control issues, scoring an average of 5.8 runs per game against the Cincinnati bullpen.
Defensive Lapses
The Reds’ defense also faltered at times during interleague play. The team committed 23 errors against American League opponents, leading to unearned runs and allowing hitters to reach base safely. These defensive lapses put additional pressure on the pitching staff and contributed to the Reds’ struggles.