The Cincinnati Reds are looking to break their trend of taking one step forward followed by a step or two back as they prepare to host the Detroit Tigers in a three-game series starting Friday.
After coming off a successful road trip where they swept the New York Yankees and split a series with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Reds are hoping to keep the momentum going as they return home. Catcher Luke Maile expressed the team’s satisfaction with their recent performance, noting that they responded well after the series against St. Louis and managed to secure three consecutive wins against the Yankees.
In the past, the Reds have struggled to maintain consistency in their series, often starting off strong with a win before dropping the final two games. However, their current three-game winning streak is a positive sign for the team as they aim to build on their success over the next 10 games against sub-.500 clubs to close out the pre-All-Star break portion of the season.
Rookie right-hander Carson Spiers will take the mound for the Reds on Friday, facing the Tigers for the first time in his career. On the other side, the Tigers will be looking to bounce back after a tough loss to the Minnesota Twins and a recent string of defeats that have pushed them 8 1/2 games out of the final American League wild-card position.
Detroit’s struggles on the road have been evident, with a 20-26 record as visitors and a particularly rough stretch of 10 losses in their past 13 road games. Veteran first baseman/left fielder Mark Canha has also been in a slump, batting just .197 with a .529 OPS since May 1 after a strong start to the season.
Despite their challenges, Tigers’ right-hander Reese Olson will look to turn things around on Friday as he takes on the Reds. Olson previously had success against Cincinnati in his lone career appearance, striking out seven across six innings of one-run ball to earn a win in September 2023.
Both teams will be looking to make a statement in this series, with the Reds aiming to continue their winning ways and the Tigers hoping to turn their fortunes around on the road. It promises to be an exciting matchup between two teams looking to make a push in their respective divisions.
