Reds Pitching Struggles with Control in Series Loss to Angels

Cincinnati's pitching staff issued 26 walks over the 3-game series, tying a franchise record.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 1:22am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, angular shapes and planes in a cubist style, using the vibrant colors of the Reds and Angels uniforms.A cubist interpretation of the Reds' pitching struggles, with the sharp angles and overlapping planes reflecting the team's lack of control on the mound.Cincinnati Today

The Cincinnati Reds' pitching staff struggled with control in a recent 3-game series loss against the Los Angeles Angels, issuing a franchise-record-tying 26 walks over the three games. The Reds' starters, including Chase Burns, Brandon Williamson, and Andrew Abbott, all had issues with walks, contributing to the team's struggles on the mound.

Why it matters

The Reds' pitching has been a strength so far this season, but this series loss highlights concerns about their ability to consistently throw strikes and limit free passes to opposing hitters. With their top two starters, Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo, still out, the Reds will need their remaining rotation pieces to step up and improve their control if the team wants to remain a contender in the NL Central.

The details

In the series opener, Chase Burns walked 4 batters in 5.1 innings, while Sam Moll and Kyle Nicolas each walked 2. In the second game, Brandon Williamson walked 6 batters over 4 innings, and Connor Phillips and Emilio Pagan each walked 1. On Sunday, Andrew Abbott walked 2 in 3 innings, Kyle Nicolas walked 3 in 2 innings, and Brock Burke and Moll each walked 1 batter.

  • On April 11, the Reds lost the series opener 10-2 against the Angels.
  • On April 12, the Reds won the second game of the series 7-3.
  • On April 13, the Reds lost the series finale.

The players

Chase Burns

A Reds starting pitcher who walked 4 batters in 5.1 innings in the series opener.

Brandon Williamson

A Reds starting pitcher who walked 6 batters over 4 innings in the second game of the series.

Andrew Abbott

A Reds starting pitcher who walked 2 batters in 3 innings in the series finale.

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What they’re saying

“You're simply not going to win many series when you award 26 free passes over a three-game set, and that doesn't even include hit by pitches.”

— Greg Kuffner, Author

What’s next

The Reds are hoping that their top pitchers, Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo, will return from injury soon to bolster the rotation. Lodolo is progressing well and could throw a live batting practice session as early as this week.

The takeaway

This series loss highlights the importance of the Reds' pitching staff maintaining control and limiting walks if the team wants to remain competitive in the NL Central. With their top starters still sidelined, the Reds will need their remaining rotation pieces to step up and improve their command.