Jun 9, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds beginning pitcher Wade Miley (22) throws a pitch throughout the first inning in opposition to the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Area. Obligatory Credit score: Ken Blaze-Imagn Pictures
Each groups have placed on an influence show throughout the first two video games of the weekend sequence between the Cincinnati Reds and the host Detroit Tigers.
Detroit blasted 4 residence runs in an 11-5 romp throughout the sequence opener on Friday. Cincinnati countered with 4 lengthy balls on Saturday whereas rolling to an 11-1 win. The sequence will likely be selected Sunday afternoon.
Cincinnati’s dynamic shortstop, Elly De La Cruz, has homered in every of the final three video games.
“I nonetheless suppose there’s extra, which might be unfair to him as a result of I am positive everyone is all the time saying that. I do imagine that,” supervisor Terry Francona stated. “His expertise stage and his desirous to be good. … I do suppose there’s extra in there.”
Wade Miley, whose title has been within the information in current days for unflattering causes, is scheduled to start out the sequence finale for the Reds.
The 38-year-old Miley addressed an accusation that he equipped former teammate Tyler Skaggs — who died of an overdose in 2019 — with prescribed drugs once they have been teammates with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012 and 2013.
“I am not going to sit down right here and discuss issues that any individual might need stated about me or what not,” Miley stated. “I used to be by no means a witness for any of this. I’ve by no means been accused of any wrongdoing.”
Miley was named by Skaggs’ former agent in a deposition carried out as a part of a wrongful dying lawsuit filed by Skaggs’ household.
Whereas controversy swirls round him, the left-hander is simply making an attempt to stay within the majors. After pitching simply two video games for Milwaukee final season, Miley suffered a season-ending elbow damage.
He signed a minor league contract with the Reds and struggled in seven begins at that stage. Miley opted out of his contract on June 1 however was re-signed on June 4 to a significant league deal.
He surrendered 4 runs and 6 hits in two innings in a aid function that evening in opposition to Milwaukee. In his first begin on the main league stage this season on Monday, Miley (1-0, 9.00 ERA) lasted lengthy sufficient to choose up the win. He gave up three runs and 5 hits with 4 walks at Cleveland in Cincinnati’s 7-4 victory.
“It feels good simply to get again on the market and compete,” Miley stated. “When the Guardians got here again, our offense answered proper again and shut their momentum down.”
Miley is filling in for Hunter Greene, who’s on the injured record. He is 2-0 with a 6.16 ERA in six profession begins in opposition to Detroit.
Detroit starter Sawyer Gipson-Lengthy (0-0, 4.32) has made two appearances since elbow and hip surgical procedures derailed his 2024 season. In his final outing, Gipson-Lengthy got here on in aid and restricted Baltimore to at least one run and three hits whereas putting out 5 in 4 2/3 innings.
Gipson-Lengthy will likely be tasked with cooling off the Reds’ scorching bats. Cincinnati has received six of its final eight video games.
He’ll be going through the Reds for the primary time.
“They did a great job shedding some powerful pitches and once they obtained some within the zone, they hit a couple of out of the park,” Tigers supervisor AJ Hinch stated after Saturday’s contest.
–Area Stage Media