The Reds are doing something they haven't done since 2012
The Reds -- currently in last place in the National League Central -- have surprised everyone and gone on a tear, winning nine of 10 games after beating Atlanta, 6-5, on Wednesday night. It's the best stretch of games for the team since June 19-29, 2012 -- and that Reds team went on to win 97 games. But even after their recent barrage of victories, this Reds team is on pace for just 69 victories.
While the Reds may not make the postseason, they are lapping the rest of the NL Central this week:
So, if you've not been watching, here are some things you should know:
1. Michael Lorenzen is a pinch-hitting pitcher
This is the year of the two-way pitcher.
Lorenzen may not be done there: The team is talking about having him take the field, too.
2.
Lorenzen isn't the only pitcher having success from the bullpen. Former college basketball star Garrett, who was the No. 66-ranked prospect in the game last season, struggled as a rookie in the rotation. This year, he has a 2.59 ERA and has slashed his walks and upped his strikeouts.
3. The Reds love a good trade
While the Reds may not work the trade market quite like Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto, when they make a deal, it tends to make a direct impact on the lineup.
How often have the top three hitters in a batting order all been acquired in the same trade?
— Lance McAlister (@LanceMcAlister) June 27, 2018
1. Schebler
2. Peraza
3. Dixon#FrazierDeal https://t.co/YqkKxYEFvZ
The first three hitters in Wednesday's lineup were all acquired by trade, and a large part of the starting lineup and rotation has come from other clubs, as you can see in the graphic below (click to enlarge):
(Image by Gemma Kaneko / MLB.com)
4.
One of those traded players, who joined the team in exchange for longtime Reds catcher
5.
This may be the first time since about 1953 that a man going by the name "Scooter" tops the leaderboards. Picked up off waivers after the Brewers released him last season, Gennett surprised everyone with a career-high 27 home runs. That included a four-homer game that surely -- surely -- was his career highlight. Right?
Guess not.
This year, Gennett has kept the power with 13 dingers, but has added 40 points of batting average to his ledger. He entered Thursday's action leading
6.
In the most recent All-Star voting update, Suarez was a distant fourth NL third basemen despite hitting 16 homers with an impressive .955 OPS. While
7.
If your team is playing the Reds, you'd better hope they don't hit the ball anywhere near center field. That's because Hamilton and his supersonic legs patrol the outfield. He's tied for third in the Majors in outs above average with 9. And it's not surprising when you see him run down a ball as hard as this one, which had a two percent catch probability -- tied for the lowest in the Majors this year:
While you expect Hamilton to chase down so many baseballs, you may be shocked to learn that left fielder
8.
Listen, we all know Votto is the greatest thing to walk upon a baseball field since, well, the sport was invented. He teases fans. He gets discussed by Jerry Seinfeld and David Letterman. He salsa dances with Suarez:
And he walks. Oh, lord. How he walks. Despite starting the season slowly, Votto is once again leading the league in base on balls and on-base percentage. It would be the seventh time he's led the league in OBP. For comparison, Barry Bonds and Babe Ruth led it 10 times.
The Reds will put their hot-streak to the test starting Thursday as they take on the first-place Brewers in a weekend series.