The Cincinnati Reds open a home series against the Miami Marlins on Friday, August 14, at Great American Ball Park, with first pitch set for 6:10 PM ET. Chase Burns gets the ball for Cincinnati, squaring off against Miami's Sandy Alcantara in what shapes up as a compelling pitching matchup. The Reds are playing in front of their home crowd, where every game at this stage of the season carries real weight. Catch the action on Reds.TV or listen on WLW 700 AM.
Starting Pitchers: Chase Burns vs. Sandy Alcantara
Chase Burns is Cincinnati's assignment on the mound Friday night. The young right-hander has been one of the more closely watched arms in the Reds organization, and getting him out there at Great American Ball Park against a recognizable opponent is a legitimate opportunity to see what he's built on.
On the other side, Sandy Alcantara takes the hill for Miami. Alcantara is no stranger to big moments — the right-hander has a track record as one of the more durable and high-ceiling starters in the National League, known for his ability to eat innings and attack the strike zone. He is the kind of arm that demands the Reds' lineup bring a disciplined approach from the first pitch.
Keys to Watch Friday Night
Can the Reds' Offense Solve Alcantara?
Alcantara is not a pitcher you ambush early and coast against. Cincinnati's lineup needs to work counts, stay patient, and look for mistakes. If the Reds' hitters expand the zone chasing his secondary stuff, this could be a long night at the plate. Discipline will be the word of the evening.
Burns Establishing Himself at Home
There is something to be said for pitching in front of your home crowd. Burns has the chance to control the pace of this game from the jump. His ability to limit hard contact and keep Miami off the bases early will set the tone. If he can keep the Marlins quiet through the middle innings, the Reds' bullpen can handle the rest.
Situational Hitting in a Tight Game
When two capable starters are on the mound, games tend to be decided by the small things — a run scored on a sac fly, a timely two-out single, a stolen base that puts a runner in scoring position. Cincinnati needs to cash in when chances arise rather than strand runners and hand the game back to Alcantara.
- Watch for the Reds to prioritize contact and base-running against Alcantara's heavy fastball-sinker mix
- Burns' command in the first two innings will signal how the night unfolds
- Bullpen usage could become a factor if either starter exits before the seventh
Prediction
This figures to be a low-scoring game, which means execution matters more than raw offensive firepower. Alcantara keeps games close — that is simply what he does. The edge Friday goes to the team that gets a timely hit when the opportunity presents itself. Cincinnati is at home, Burns is capable of matching Alcantara inning for inning, and Great American Ball Park gives the Reds a lift. Call it a 3-2 Reds win in a game that goes down to the final few outs.
