Steven Matz Is 3-0 and the Rays Have No Idea How to Stop Cincinnati's Road Rampage

The Cincinnati Reds are on a tear, and Tampa Bay's biggest problem on Tuesday isn't just stopping them, it's doing it with a pitcher who's been out of the rotation for five years. The Reds have won four straight to open a six-game road trip and are sitting atop the National League Central. They dismantled the Rays 6-1 on Monday, and they're coming back for more.

Cincinnati's Found a Way to Win Even When the Bats Are Quiet

Here's the wild part: the Reds are batting a pathetic .178 average with runners in scoring position. That's the kind of stat that should have you tearing your hair out. But on Monday, they went 4-for-13 in those spots while Tampa Bay went 0-for-7. Cincinnati led 2-1 after just one inning and cruised from there. That ninth win in 11 road games shows you everything about this team right now. They're not always going to light it up, but when they execute, they're brutal. "We're not always going to hit, but when we're right, we can do a lot of things," Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz said. "Winning always feels good. We've just got to keep doing the little things, keep grinding." The Reds have swept two road series already this season, against Texas and Minnesota. Last year? They swept one total. They're also unbeaten in tight games: 6-0 in one-run contests and 10-0 when the margin is two runs or fewer.

Matz's Comeback Is Real, and He's Locked In

Steven Matz hasn't been a full-time starter since 2021 with Toronto. Now the 34-year-old lefty from Long Island is sitting at 3-0 with a 3.80 ERA through four starts with Tampa Bay, and he's been remarkably consistent. In 21 1/3 innings, he's given up nine runs on 16 hits while striking out 21 and walking six. Opposing hitters are batting just .208 against him. That's elite stuff. Matz is 4-1 with a 4.46 ERA in eight games against Cincinnati, though the Reds have hit him harder historically, batting .305. Still, he's the Rays' best bet to slow this Cincinnati machine and keep Tampa Bay alive in this series.

The Rays Blew Their Chance to Explode Early

Tampa Bay got the first four batters on base against Reds starter Rhett Lowder on Monday but managed only a bases-loaded walk by Yandy Diaz. That wasted opportunity pretty much summed up their night. Manager Kevin Cash acknowledged the reality after the game: "We had some good at-bats right away, and then their pitcher got tough. Our focus right there is just try to move the ball, put some pressure on the defense. We didn't. He made some big pitches."

The Reds send Chase Burns, a 23-year-old Wake Forest product, to the mound for Cincinnati. Burns is coming off a scoreless six-inning performance against San Francisco on Thursday and will face Tampa Bay for the first time.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.