Angels at Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are operating on the periphery of the National League wild-card race but hope to stay relevant on a six-game homestand, beginning Monday with the first of two interleague affairs with the Los Angeles Angels. The Reds are 3-0-1 in their last four series after gaining a split with the Atlanta Braves following a wild 6-4 win in 10 innings Sunday.
Tucker Barnhardt's three-run homer in the top of the 10th was the difference as Cincinnati won for the sixth time in its last nine games. The Angels are stumbling through a 2-8 patch that has virtually wiped them out of the race in the AL wild card. They fell 6-2 at Cleveland on Sunday and have scored a total of eight runs during a four-game losing streak. Prospect Patrick Sandoval will be promoted to make his first career start for Los Angeles on Monday opposite All-Star Luis Castillo for the Reds.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Patrick Sandoval (MLB debut) vs. Reds RH Luis Castillo (10-4, 2.63)
Sandoval was drafted by Houston in 2015 before being traded to the Angels in 2018 in the deal that sent catcher Martin Maldonado to the Astros. He was 4-4 with a 6.41 ERA in 15 starts for Triple-A Salt Lake City, but spun 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his most recent outing July 28. The 22-year-old, who grew up in Mission Viejo just a few miles from Angel Stadium, is 20-18 with a 4.01 mark while recording 383 strikeouts in 330 1/3 innings in his career in the minors.
Castillo bounced back from a rocky outing two turns ago to produce seven strong innings in a win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday. He held the Pirates to one run in seven innings while striking out seven and walking none, lowering his home ERA to 2.20. The 26-year-old, who is facing the Angels for the first time, has a 4.38 ERA in five career interleague starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Angels won two meetings earlier this year at home and they've taken five in a row overall against the Reds.
2. Los Angeles 3B Matt Thaiss is 0-for-6 over his last two games after going 9-for-20 with four home runs over his previous seven contests.
3. Reds manager David Bell will be serving the fourth contest of a six-game suspension Monday.