Cincinnati Reds vs San Diego Padres Picks and Predictions May 22nd 2024

Reds Hope to Hand Padres Back-to-Back Losses After Inspirational Win

The Cincinnati Reds are set to host the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night, aiming to string together consecutive wins for the first time in a month. The team is drawing inspiration from an emotional outburst by their manager, David Bell, during Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory over the Padres.

Manager’s Emotional Outburst Sparks Team

During the previous game, Bell’s frustration boiled over when outfielder Jake Fraley was hit by a pitch from Joe Musgrove in the first inning. This marked the fourth time in the past month that a Reds player was hit on the hand by a pitch, following similar injuries to Christian Encarnacion-Strand and TJ Friedl, both now on the injured list with fractures.

X-rays on Fraley’s hand came back negative, but it remains swollen, with further tests scheduled for Wednesday. Fraley reflected on the situation, saying, “I can’t really put a fault to it, I guess, other than it’s just the nature of the game. Obviously, it’s been multiple guys and multiple pitchers. There’s obviously a part of bad luck to it, but it’s just unfortunate.”

Inspiration From the Dugout

Pitcher Andrew Abbott, who delivered seven shutout innings in the win, noted that Bell’s show of emotion had a galvanizing effect on the team. “DB’s always been behind us,” Abbott said. “To show emotion like that just further makes that point. It should light a fire under us.”

Reds Seek Consecutive Wins

The Reds are looking to achieve back-to-back victories for the first time since defeating the Philadelphia Phillies on April 23-24. The team has struggled, winning only six of their last 24 games following a 14-10 start to the season.

Padres’ Recent Struggles

The Padres, on the other hand, were shut out for the second consecutive game on Tuesday, following a 3-0 loss in the second game of Monday’s doubleheader in Atlanta. Manager Mike Shildt attributed the defeat to a combination of factors, including a strong performance by Abbott and the team’s inconsistency at the plate.

“It just wasn’t consistent enough to be able to put anything together. And you can say that was some of our issue,” Shildt said. “But really, you know, this guy threw a pretty good ballgame.”

The Padres faced a challenging schedule, playing their third game over two cities in 36 hours. Star player Fernando Tatis Jr., who collected his 500th career hit with a first-inning single on Tuesday, acknowledged the team’s fatigue. “We just had a long day, quick turnaround,” Tatis said. “Our bodies were not where we expected. But it’s part of it, and we need to take care of it.”

Pitching Matchup Preview

For the second game of the three-game series, the Reds will send right-hander Nick Martinez (1-2, 4.23 ERA) to the mound against his former team. Martinez will make his second consecutive start in place of Nick Lodolo, who is on the 15-day injured list with a strained left groin. In his most recent start, Martinez allowed just one hit over five shutout innings, earning his first win with Cincinnati in a 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This will be Martinez’s third career start against San Diego and his second this season. He was tagged for five runs (three earned) on six hits over five innings and took the loss in a 6-4 defeat on April 30 in San Diego.

The Padres will counter with right-hander Michael King (3-4, 4.31 ERA), who has started in nine of his 10 appearances this season. After two stellar starts without allowing a run over 13 innings, King struggled in his last outing, giving up six runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings in an 8-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies.

King will be making his fourth career appearance against Cincinnati but his first start. He is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in those appearances, having allowed just two hits over four scoreless relief innings.

Conclusion

The Reds, driven by a passionate display from their manager and seeking to overcome a spate of injuries, will look to secure consecutive wins for the first time in a month. The Padres, dealing with fatigue and recent shutouts, aim to bounce back with a strong performance. With both teams struggling, the upcoming pitching duel between Nick Martinez and Michael King promises to be a key factor in the outcome of Wednesday night’s game.