Brandon Williamson will start a game in his ninth different major league park Thursday when the Cincinnati Reds take on the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix. Game time is 8:40 p.m. Minnesota time.
The Martin County West graduate has started eight games at the Reds’ home of Great American Ball Park. He has started two games at Wrigley Field in Chicago and one apiece at Colorado, Kansas City, Baltimore, Washington, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh.
In his last start he threw a career-high 101 pitches (66 for strikes) in a loss to the Blue Jays Williamson went 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits, walking one and striking out six.
For the season, the left-hander has a 4-3 record with a 4.47 earned run average.
In 86 2/3 innings he has allowed 46 runs (43 earned) on 77 hits, walked 32, hit one and struck out 76. Opponents have a .237 batting average. Cincinnati is 10-7 in games Williamson starts.
The Reds are in third place in the National League Central entering a Wednesday doubleheader at the Los Angles Angels in Anaheim.
Cincinnati is four games behind first-place Milwaukee after the Brewers lost 8-7 to the Minnesota Twins. and one behind the second-place Chicago Cubs, who beat Detroit 6-4 Wednesday afternoon.
The Reds are a half-game behind the Diamondbacks for the final Wild Card berth. Arizona is idle Wednesday.
ROTY
Williamson has received at least some attention as a possible NL Rookie of the Year candidate from a former Cincinnati executive.
Jim Bowden is a national writer for The Athletic MLB. He was formerly the Sr. VP and general manager for the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals for a combined 16 years, including being named the 1999 MLB Executive of the Year by Baseball America. He is the lead MLB Analyst and Insider for CBS Sports-HQ and a regular talk-show host on SiriusXM for the MLB Network and Fantasy channels.
He ranked the candidates by position players and pitchers and listed Williamson fifth among the pitchers.
Here is a look at Williamson's starts this season:
May 16 (at Colorado Rockies)
In his first major league start in Denver vs. the Colorado Rockies, Williamson allowed one run on two hits, walking two and striking out six in 5 2/3 innings. He threw 72 pitches, 47 for strikes. Williamson received a no-decision in Cincinnati’s 3-1 win.
May 22 (vs. St. Louis Cardinals)
Making his first start at Great American Ballpark, Williamson game up four runs on four hits, walking four and striking out three in 4 1/3 innings pitched. He threw 84 pitches, 48 for strikes. The Reds won 6-5 in 10 innings with Williamson receiving a no-decision.
May 27 (at Chicago Cubs)
Williamson started for the Reds at Wrigley Field in the nationally televised Fox Game of the Week. He allowed four runs on six hits, walking three and fanning three in 4 1/3 innings. He threw 81 pitches, 52 for strikes. Williamson had another no-decision as Cincinnati won 8-5.
June 2 (vs. Milwaukee Brewers)
Pitching against the team that originally drafted him in the 36th round in 2018, Williamson had career highs of six strikeouts and 6 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs on five hits. He threw 90 pitches, 59 for strikes. It was another no-decision for Williamson as the Reds lost 5-4 in 11 innings.
June 7 (vs. Los Angeles Dodgers)
Williamson gave up six runs on eight hits (including three home runs), walking two and striking out three in 5 2/3 innings. He threw a career-high 96 pitches, 58 for strikes. The Reds won 8-6 in 10 innings with Williamson receiving a no-decision.
June 13 (at Kansas City)
The Martin County West graduate recorded his first MLB win as he allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits, not walking a batter and striking out one in five innings. He threw 78 pitches, 51 for strikes. The Reds won 5-4.
June 19 (vs. Colorado)
Another no decision for Williamson, although the first place Reds win 5-4 to improve to 6-1 in games he starts. The left hander went five-plus innings, allowing three runs on six hits, not walking a batter and striking out five. He threw 86 pitches, 59 for strikes.
June 26 (at Baltimore)
A lengthy rain delay resulted in the shortest outing of Williamson’s career as he was replaced in the third inning. He went two innings, allowing three runs on two hits, walking four and striking out two as he took his first big league loss. Williamson threw 67 pitches, 39 for strikes. The Orioles won 10-3.
July 1 (vs. San Diego)
Williamson pitched well but did take his second big league loss. The score was tied 1-1 when he left the game, and he was responsible for a runner on first who did score and the Padres went to win 12-5. Williamson went five-plus innings, allowing tywo runs (one earned) on three hits, one walk and five strikeouts. He threw 86 pitches, 51 for strikes.
July 6 (at Washington)
Rain again played a role in a short outing. There was a delay of 1 hour and 43 minutes after the first inning. Williamson took a bit of the load off the bullpen by making it through three innings. He didn’t allow a run on one hit, walked one and struck out four and the Reds eventually won 5-4 in 10 innings.
July 19 (vs. San Francisco)
A quality start (the third pitcher in five games to do so for the Reds) and a no-decision. Williamson pitched six innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out three. He threw a career-high 98 pitches, 61 for strikes.
July 22 (vs. Arizona)
In arguably the best start of his career to date, Williamson picks up his second career win as he goes six innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking one and striking out five as the Reds beat the Diamondbacks 4-2. He threw 80 pitches, 55 for strikes.
July 28 (at Los Angeles)
Williamson claims his second straight win, allowing two runs in 5 2/3 innings in the Reds’ 6-5 win. He allowed 12 baserunners on eight hits and four walks but induced the Dodgers to hit into three double plays. The lefty threw 77 pitches, 44 for strikes.
Aug. 2 (at Chicago Cubs)
The MCW grad had a career-high seven strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings in his second career start in the friendly confines of Chicago’s Wrigley Field. He allowed five runs on four hits and walked two. Williamson threw 77 pitches, 50 for strikes as he took a no-decision.
Aug. 7 (vs. Miami)
Williamson said of his effort vs. the Marlins: “It’s probably the best start of my life, honestly," He tied a career best by going 6 2/3 innings and set a career high in strikeout with nine. He threw 89 pitches, 63 for strikes.
Aug. 13 (at Pittsburgh)
Starting in his eighth different MLB park, Williamson left the game with a 2-1 lead but wound up with a no decision as the Pirates rallied to win 4-2. The MCW grad went 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits, walking two and striking out six. He threw 88 pitches, 55 for strikes.
Aug. 19 (vs. Toronto)
Williamson threw a career-high 101 pitches in taking the loss at home vs. Toronto as the Blue Jays won 4-3. He threw 66 strikes. In 5 2/3 innings Williamson allowed four runs on nine hits, walking one and striking out six.