Brandon Williamson is scheduled to make his final start of the regular season Friday when the Cincinnati Reds are in St. Louis to open a three-game series against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Game time is 7:15 p.m.
The Reds, who have an off day today (Thursday) still have a chance to make the playoffs in the National League with three games remaining but sit 1 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins.
The Cubs are at Atlanta tonight and close out the regular season at Milwaukee. The Marlins are idle Thursday before finishing at Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker against Chicago but would lose any tiebreaker scenario with the Marlins. The Arizona Diamondbacks are two games ahead of the Cubs and Marlins.
The Martin County West graduate will be making his 22nd start and Busch Stadium will be the 13th different ballpark he’s pitched in.
He faced St. Louis in his first home start at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on May 22. Williamson game up four runs on four hits, walked four and struck out three in 4 1/3 innings in a game the Reds won 6-5 in 10 innings.
In his rookie season, the left-hander has a 4-5 record with a 4.54 earned run average. In 111 innings he has allowed 61 runs (56 earned) on 106 hits, walked 37, hit two and struck out 96. Opponents have a .249 batting average. Cincinnati is 13-8 in games Williamson starts.
The Reds have a young pitching staff with 58 starts by first-year players this season including 16 of 24 starts so far this month.
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.
Aug. 24 (at Arizona)
In his longest stretch of shutout innings in a start, Williamson went six scoreless frames and wound up with a no decision in a game the Diamondbacks won 3-2. He allowed six hits, walked one and struck out six. The left hander threw 98 pitches, 64 for strikes.
Aug. 29 (at San Francisco)
The left-hander set another career high for pitches as he threw 105 in six innings as he took a loss to the Giants to drop to 4-4. He allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out five.
Sept. 12 (at Detroit)
In his first start coming off 10 days on the COVID-19 injured list, Williamson went four-plus innings and took a no-decision in a game the Reds won 6-5 in 10 innings. He allowed five runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out four.
Sept. 17 (at New York Mets)
Williamson made it a dozen major league parks he had started a game in as he went four innings and took the loss as the Reds fell to the Mets 8-4 in the Big Apple. He allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out two.
Sept. 24 (vs. Pittsburgh)
The left hander went 4 1/3 innings and was not involved in the decision in a 4-2 Reds win over the Pirates. He allowed two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out three.