It's Crunch Time in Game One for the Cincinnati Reds Against the Oakland A's

The Cincinnati Reds (63-68), aside from one awful month, have been, as the kids put it, "mid." In every game that did not take place in May, the Reds are 54-51. The overwhelming majority of players who take up a significant amount of playing time are hardly above replacement level (and some are well below!)

Either way, there are 31 games to go in the season and Jakob Junis (4-0, 3.52 ERA) is set to make his first start since August 20 of last year. In his career, Junis has started 111 games and owns a 4.66 ERA and 1.317 WHIP.

Since joining the Reds, Junis has appeared in eight games and tossed 12 1/3 innings. In that time, he has a 5.84 ERA and a 1.459 WHIP. He did go four outings from August 9 through August 20 without allowing a single baserunner. In the other three outings, however, he allowed eight earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.

The Reds lineup looks to get going against an A's pitching staff that allows 4.6 runs per game:

1.) 2B Jonathan India
2.) SS Elly De La Cruz
3.) C Tyler Stephenson
4.) CF TJ Friedl
5.) LF Spencer Steer
6.) 1B Ty France
7.) DH Dominic Smith
8.) RF Santiago Espinal
9.) 3B Noelvi Marte
SP Jakob Junis

The Oakland Athletics (56-75) are one of the worst teams in all of baseball and will turn to Mitch Spence (7-9, 4.67 ERA) to get back on track. Spencer started out the year in the bullpen and turned into a full-time starter on May 17. In 17 starts, he has registered a 4.78 ERA with a 1.395 WHIP.

Spence is coming off a seven-inning start where he allowed four runs off seven hits and a walk. However, he did strike out 10 in the loss. The start prior, however, was rough. he lasted just 2 2/3 innings and gave up four hist and three walks for five runs.

2024 is his first season at the Major League level, so this will be Spence's first appearance against the Reds.

The Athletics' lineup will look to get to Junis early:

1.) RF Lawrence Butler
2.) DH Brent Rooker
3.) CF JJ Bleday
4.) C Shea Langeliers
5.) 1B Seth Brown
6.) LF Daz Cameron
7.) 2B Zack Gelof
8.) 3B Max Schuemann
9.) SS Jacob Wilson
SP Mitch Spence