The Cincinnati Reds view this weekend as a measuring stick to see just how much they have improved.
The Reds pushed their record above .500 with a five-game winning streak that was snapped Wednesday. They’ll now head to Detroit to face the American League-leading Tigers for a three-game series that begins Friday.
“Every win, every game is more information for us,” outfielder Will Benson told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “We’re playing good baseball. Shoutout to some of the leaders on our team who brought us together and held us accountable for some of the games that we dropped, some of the games that we didn’t come through.
“But I think how we respond and how we bring the energy and how well we play together, especially as of late, is something we can build upon. Especially going against some heavy hitters coming up.”
Before Cleveland salvaged the finale of a three-game series, 11-2, the Reds had outscored their opponents 29-10 during the five-game streak.
“It’s going to show what areas we need to work on, what areas we excel at. I expect a good, hard-fought series,” said Nick Martinez, who will start the opener of the Tigers series.
Martinez bounced back from his worst outing of the season with six strong innings against Arizona on Saturday. He limited the Diamondbacks to one run and six hits while notching six strikeouts. On June 1, Martinez (4-6, 3.70 ERA) gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings to the Chicago Cubs.
Martinez got plenty of run support in his last start as Cincinnati pounded Arizona, 13-1.
“I thought Nick was the perfect guy to have out there because he threw strikes,” manager Terry Francona said. “I thought, actually, as the game progressed, he started getting in a way better rhythm than he had early on.”
In seven career outings against the Tigers, including three starts, Martinez is 2-1 with a 3.93 ERA.
He’ll be opposed by Keider Montero (2-1, 4.30 ERA), who gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings to the Cubs on Saturday. In his previous two appearances spanning 9 2/3 innings, Montero didn’t allow a run to the Royals or Giants.
The Cubs hit three homers off Montero, who will be facing the Reds for the first time.
“We came in with a plan and we stuck to the plan,” said Montero through interpreter Carlos Guillen. “And we fulfilled the goal that was asked, which was to attack the zone, be in the zone. But I tip my cap to their offense because they made good contact and went deep. Either they were looking for those pitches or it was just coincidence, but they were hitting them.”
The Reds will catch a big break this weekend: They won’t have to face Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. He pitched seven shutout innings Thursday in a 4-1 Detroit victory over the Orioles.
The Tigers have won 12 of their last 17 games and six of their last seven at home. They’ll play 12 of their next 15 games in Comerica Park.
–Field Level Media
