The chatter
The Reds went into Monday’s game with hit 19 homers in their last 13 games and they must have been licking their chops to hit at home against the Braves after finishing a 10-game trip on Sunday. That’s right: 19 homers in 13 games and only three of them at the homer-happy Great American Ballpark.
They totaled seven homers in their past three-game home series against Milwaukee before heading out of town.
Todd Frazier opened the Braves series with seven homers in his past 17 games. Three of his past four hits against the Braves had been homers. He hit two in the recent four-game series at Turner Field.
Small park
As the series started, Andrelton Simmons was 12-for-28 (.429) with three homers, six RBIs and an .893 slugging percentage in six games at Cincinnati. Kelly Johnson had a .302 average (29-for-96) with five homers in 24 games at the hitters’ haven hard by the Ohio River.
Jonny Gomes, who played for the Reds in 2009-2011, had a .252 average and 29 homers in exactly 500 career at-bats (166 games) at Cincinnati, with 91 RBIs and a .482 slugging percentage.
Curiously, the Braves’ best hitter, Freddie Freeman, had a .208 career average (10-for-48) with no homers and a .250 slugging percentage in 13 games at Cincinnati.
Today’s numbers
Nick Markakis arrived in Cincinnati hitting .345 (19-for-55) in 15 road games with 10 walks, five strikeouts and a .455 on-base percentage. Meanwhile, he’s hit .250 (15-for-60) in 15 home games with six walks, 15 strikeouts and a .318 OBP.
Cameron Maybin has had the opposite splits. He’s .332 (10-for-31) in 12 home games with three homers, seven walks and a .447 OBP and .613 slugging percentage, while he hitting just .167 (6-for-36) with one homer, two walks, 14 strikeouts and a .211 OBP and .306 slugging percentage on the road.
Tuesday’s game
Who: Braves at Reds
Where: Great American Ballpark
When: 7:10 p.m.
TV; radio: FS1; 680, 93.7, 106.7
Probable starting pitchers: Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (2-0, 5.23) vs. RH Anthony DeSclafani (2-3, 2.50)
What's new: Foltynewicz is gunning for a third consecutive victory in only his third major league start since he joined the roster from Triple-A Gwinnett. He and Shelby Miller have been a bright spot on a Braves pitching staff which has seen its bullpen struggle. After posting a 2.92 ERA through the first 18 games of the season, Braves relievers entered the Reds series with an 8.52 ERA over their previous 12 games, while getting hit at a .295 rate. Markakis is seeking redemption against the Reds after going only 1-for-15 in the four-game series against them at Turner Field April 30-May 3. Markakis started a six-game hitting streak once that series ended, going 8-for-26 (.308) against the Phillies and Nationals.
—Carroll Rogers
