The Cincinnati Reds’ face mounting doubters for 2026 season. With the Reds pitching staff hitting crisis mode—can Chase Burns become the ace sooner than expected? Former Reds reliever Mike Stanton joins Jeff and Steve to break down the team’s pitching turmoil, from Tony Santillan’s alarming slump to the relentless grind facing the bullpen. With major injuries and a depleted rotation, the spotlight is on young arms like Burns, while questions swirl about command, confidence, and the challenges of pitching in Great American Ball Park.

The crew spotlights season-defining issues: negative run differential, bullpen instability without Emilio Pagán, and the mental toll of high-leverage relief work. Mike Stanton shares revealing clubhouse stories from his Reds days, including managing relentless criticism and navigating a locker room full of strong personalities like Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn, and Josh Hamilton. Can the Cincinnati Reds regroup and salvage their season, or are bigger changes needed to steady the ship?

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