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The Cincinnati Reds fell 1-0 to the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night at Great American Ball Park, and it was a lot closer than the 42-50 Reds' record would suggest.
Brady Singer went 7.1 innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run with five strikeouts against a 52-42 Phillies lineup full of All-Star talent.
He held up his end of a pitcher's duel with Jesús Luzardo until a Justin Crawford single in the eighth drove in the game's only run.
After the loss, Singer was asked about the shift in his approach, and his answer was simple.
"I wanted to go out there and throw strikes," Singer said. "Just having some confidence in the zone, attacking a little bit more. Just using the pitches in different counts. I think confidence is a big thing."
It lines up with what we have seen lately.
Singer has posted a 2.86 ERA across his last six starts after a rough opening stretch that left his season line at a 4.72 ERA with a 3-9 record through 18 starts and 89.2 innings.
The overall numbers are not great, but the recent trend tells a different story, and the timing matters with the August 3 trade deadline closing in.
Singer signed a one-year, $12.75 million deal with Cincinnati before 2026 and will be a free agent after the season.
He came in off a 2025 where he went 14-12 with a 4.03 ERA and threw 169.2 innings, so the plan was for him to be a steady mid-rotation arm on a team with playoff goals.
That fell apart fast when Hunter Greene missed the first three months with an elbow injury, the bullpen got hit with its own wave of setbacks, and Singer took on a heavier workload while the rest of the staff crumbled.
His 76 strikeouts in 89.2 innings show the stuff is still there, and the way he has thrown the ball recently looks a lot more like the pitcher Cincinnati expected.
There is real pressure on Cincinnati to sell before the deadline, and Singer's expiring contract makes him an obvious name to shop.
But there is a case for keeping him right where he is alongside Greene and Chase Burns, the 23-year-old former second overall pick who is the future of this rotation.
Greene is the ace, Burns has the top of the rotation upside, and Singer is the guy who eats innings and keeps things steady when it gets hard.
He has thrown 150-plus innings in four straight seasons, and that durability matters on a young staff still learning the big leagues.
The Reds entered 2026 with one of the deepest rotations in the National League, and moving Singer for a prospect package could hurt more than it helps if the front office wants to compete again soon.
Cincinnati has other pieces it can deal.
Singer's recent stretch shows he belongs here, and his words Thursday night made it clear the confidence is back.
The Reds should not be quick to give that away.
Continue reading...
Brady Singer went 7.1 innings, allowing just four hits and one earned run with five strikeouts against a 52-42 Phillies lineup full of All-Star talent.
He held up his end of a pitcher's duel with Jesús Luzardo until a Justin Crawford single in the eighth drove in the game's only run.
Singer Knows What Changed
After the loss, Singer was asked about the shift in his approach, and his answer was simple.
"I wanted to go out there and throw strikes," Singer said. "Just having some confidence in the zone, attacking a little bit more. Just using the pitches in different counts. I think confidence is a big thing."
It lines up with what we have seen lately.
Singer has posted a 2.86 ERA across his last six starts after a rough opening stretch that left his season line at a 4.72 ERA with a 3-9 record through 18 starts and 89.2 innings.
The overall numbers are not great, but the recent trend tells a different story, and the timing matters with the August 3 trade deadline closing in.
A Rough Year With a Silver Lining
Singer signed a one-year, $12.75 million deal with Cincinnati before 2026 and will be a free agent after the season.
He came in off a 2025 where he went 14-12 with a 4.03 ERA and threw 169.2 innings, so the plan was for him to be a steady mid-rotation arm on a team with playoff goals.
That fell apart fast when Hunter Greene missed the first three months with an elbow injury, the bullpen got hit with its own wave of setbacks, and Singer took on a heavier workload while the rest of the staff crumbled.
His 76 strikeouts in 89.2 innings show the stuff is still there, and the way he has thrown the ball recently looks a lot more like the pitcher Cincinnati expected.
Why the Reds Should Keep Him
There is real pressure on Cincinnati to sell before the deadline, and Singer's expiring contract makes him an obvious name to shop.
But there is a case for keeping him right where he is alongside Greene and Chase Burns, the 23-year-old former second overall pick who is the future of this rotation.
Greene is the ace, Burns has the top of the rotation upside, and Singer is the guy who eats innings and keeps things steady when it gets hard.
He has thrown 150-plus innings in four straight seasons, and that durability matters on a young staff still learning the big leagues.
The Reds entered 2026 with one of the deepest rotations in the National League, and moving Singer for a prospect package could hurt more than it helps if the front office wants to compete again soon.
Cincinnati has other pieces it can deal.
Singer's recent stretch shows he belongs here, and his words Thursday night made it clear the confidence is back.
The Reds should not be quick to give that away.
Continue reading...
