Reds Send Spiers to the Mound to Take the Series Over the Giants

The Cincinnati Reds (53-57) have an opportunity to put Friday's no-hitter firmly in the rearview with a series win on Sunday over the San Francisco Giants (55-57). They'll have to buck a disappointing trend to do so, however.

The Reds are 8-20 in the final game of three-game sets thus far this year and are currently on a five-game losing streak in such instances. When they have an opportunity to take the series (ie. not going for the sweep/trying not to get swept), the team is just 3-13.

Additionally, they are 5-12 on Sundays and haven't won on a Sunday since June 2.

Carson Spiers (4-2, 3.46 ERA) takes the hill for the home club. In his last start, Spiers was phenomenal. He pitched five innings of one-hit baseball and struck out four in a scoreless outing. Since joining the rotation, Spiers has been good enough. All of his decisions have been in his last six appearances, all starts.

The Reds lineup looks to keep the home run train going on Sunday:

1.) 2B Jonathan India
2.) SS Elly De La Cruz
3.) RF Spencer Steer
4.) 1B Ty France
5.) CF Stuart Fairchild
6.) DH Jeimer Candelario
7.) LF Santiago Espinal
8.) 3B Noelvi Marte
9.) C Luke Maile
SP Carson Spiers

The Giants fought back last night and pulled within two but will go for the series win with their third lefty of the set, Robbie Ray (1-1, 4.82 ERA). The former Cy Young winner is making his third start of the year and is coming off an outing that only lasted 4 1/3 innings. He allowed four runs off seven hits and walked three. What hurt him was the three home runs he allowed.

Ray has faced the Reds five times before and is 1-2 with a 4.44 ERA. He last faced the Reds as part of the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 6, 2019. The Reds chased him after 4 1/3 with three runs and three hits. He did strike out eight in his short outing, however.

Behind him, the Giants lineup features an old friend of the Reds:

1.) 1B LaMonte Wade Jr.
2.) SS Tyler Fitzgerald
3.) DH Patrick Bailey
4.) 3B Matt Chapman
5.) LF Michael Conforto
6.) RF Jerar Encarnacion
7.) CF Mike Yastrzemski
8.) C Curt Casali
9.) 2B Brett Wisely
SP Robbie Ray