Sam Moll hasn’t really been a problem for the 2026 version of the Cincinnati Reds. He certainly hasn’t been the problem, that’s for damn sure.
On Saturday afternoon in Busch Stadium, though, it was the big hit coming off a Moll pitch that flipped the scoreboard in the Bottom of the 8th inning and, ultimately, sent the reeling Reds to a 6-5 loss that gave the series victory to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Even after the homer by lefty Lars Nootbaar off Moll, a lefty, Moll still sports a 2.96 ERA on the season. Again, he’s not the problem – but perhaps the attrition around him in the bullpen and the once again lack of a starter capable of pitching deep enough into the game to take the pressure off the beleaguered pen reared its head, and it was Moll left holding the bag.
Nick Lodolo was meh again, allowing 4 ER in 5.0 IP and needing 95 pitches just to get that far. The patchwork elbow of Tejay Antone held together things in the patchwork bullpen for a time, but then the 8th inning happened and the Reds couldn’t find a way for a miracle.
Speaking of miracles, that miracle April run to start the season? It’s officially poof. This loss sends the Reds back under the .500 mark at 31-32, and given what we’ve seen from them as their best and brightest fall by the wayside, I fear it’s simply more of the norm unless the front office can figure a way out of this jam of mediocrity.
Do you have confidence in them to get that done?
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