Mahle earns quality start ahead of Trade Deadline

CINCINNATI -- Reds starting pitcher Tyler Mahle's return from the injured list on Sunday vs. the Cardinals had multiple scouts in attendance among the 18,813 fans at Great American Ball Park. As the Aug. 2 Trade Deadline looms, Mahle likely gave interested clubs plenty to think about during a 6-3 victory that gave Cincinnati its third straight three-game series win.

Over his six innings and only 79 pitches, Mahle gave up three earned runs with two hits -- a pair of Paul Goldschmidt home runs -- while walking three and striking out five. It was Mahle’s first start since July 5, when he went on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder strain.

"All I can do is go out there and pitch. If it’s for the Reds or whatever, I’m going to go out there and try to win a ballgame," Mahle said.

In 18 starts, Mahle is 4-7 with a 4.48 ERA, but his last eight starts have been some of the right-hander's best this season, posting a 2.81 ERA in that span. He has pitched six or more innings in nine of his last 11 starts.

Based on the current six-man Cincinnati rotation, Mahle is expected to get one more start ahead of Aug. 2.

Mahle, 27, is earning $5.2 million in 2022 and wouldn't be a rental player for acquiring teams. Like rotation-mate and fellow Reds trade chip Luis Castillo, he is under club control one more year and will become a free agent after the '23 season.

The Cardinals were hitless with one walk through the first three innings vs. Mahle -- including a top of the first inning where he threw only seven pitches. The Reds took a 4-0 lead to the bottom of the third inning on Tommy Pham's sacrifice fly and Joey Votto's three-run homer.

In the fourth inning after Tyler O'Neill's leadoff walk, Goldschmidt lifted an 0-1 split-finger fastball to right-center field for a two-run homer. Goldschmidt then slugged a first-pitch fastball in the sixth inning to right field for a one-out solo homer.

According to Statcast, Mahle leaned heavily again on his four-seam fastball, using it 49 times to get 21 swings, 11 called strikes and six whiffs. He reached his maximum velocity, 95.9 mph, against his final batter -- Nolan Gorman -- who struck out.

Because he was coming off the IL, Reds manager David Bell didn't push Mahle to go deeper in the game.

"It seemed like a good stopping point right there," Bell said. "I think he had more to give, which was exciting to not have to push him there."

Mahle has not been afraid to read about rumors involving where he might go. The Yankees, Mets, Padres, Twins and Braves are just some of the clubs known to be seeking rotation help.

"It’s kind of fun to see what everyone is saying and stuff like that," Mahle said. "It doesn’t sway me any which way. It’s just fun to read."

Other takeaways:

Votto heating up?
In the third inning, Votto lifted an 0-1 curveball from Miles Mikolas for a three-run homer to left-center field. It was his second homer in the last three games and eighth overall.

"That was a really good swing, a really good sign for me," Votto said. "I’ve been struggling against all kinds of pitches this year and haven’t been driving the ball well to left-center. It was good to do it on an off-speed pitch for sure."

Votto has been tinkering with his batting stance, departing slightly from his up-straight-and-tall approach.

"I wouldn’t want to bore everyone here, but there’s some technical things -- I feel like a stance change may help. I decided to do that," Votto said. "I’d like to get back to the regular stance once the cues get back to normal, but you don’t want to mess with a good thing."

Swiping a run
In some slick two-out baserunning after his single put runners on the corners, Tyler Naquin attempted to steal second base and drew a throw from catcher Andrew Knizner. That allowed Matt Reynolds to easily score from third base to make it a 6-2 game as Naquin was tagged out in a rundown. It counted as a fielder's choice play and not a steal of home for Reynolds.

"A lot of times, teams won't throw in that situation," Bell said. "It's tough because you can score more than one run there with Brandon [Drury] hitting, but you can definitely take the run there to add on right there. I think that ended up being a big run in the game."