CINCINNATI — Brady Singer was the Reds' starting pitcher on Wednesday, his final turn in the rotation for the club ahead of Monday's 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline. It seems quite possible that Singer's next start will be while wearing a different uniform.
Several Major League scouts were on hand at Great American Ball Park, undoubtedly to watch Singer and perhaps Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson. They are among seven Reds with expiring contracts after this season who are prime rental targets for several contenders.
What those scouts witnessed was a departure from the recent run of stronger performances by Singer, who didn't get through the fifth inning during a 6-1 Reds loss to the Guardians that gave them two of three in the series. With four wins in the six-game season series, Cleveland also won the Ohio Cup trophy for 2026.
Singer gave up four unearned runs over 4 1/3 innings with six hits, four walks and three strikeouts while throwing 100 pitches. He is 3-4 with a 2.73 ERA over his last nine starts since June 10 after he had a 6.18 ERA over his first 11 starts of the season.
Multiple teams are in need of rotation help for stretch drives with the White Sox, Padres, Braves, Cubs, Phillies, Rays and Twins all being possible fits for Singer.
“I have no idea," said Singer, who is 5-10 with a 4.35 ERA in 21 starts overall. "It’s out of my control and stuff like that. I’m just going to come to work tomorrow and do my stuff. I don’t know what’s going to happen. Just have to find out.”
It was a scoreless game heading into the fifth inning when poor Reds defense led to Singer's undoing and a four-run rally with only one hit while Cleveland sent nine men to the plate.
Trouble began with leadoff batter Steven Kwan's grounder to shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who botched a backhanded glove attempt for an error. José Ramírez followed with a potential double-play ball to De La Cruz, who flipped to second base, where rookie Edwin Arroyo was late to cover, and it left everybody safe.
“It was a tough way to start the inning," manager Terry Francona said. "I think Arroyo thought Elly was going to take it himself, so he kind of veered and so we got no man’s land."
Arroyo, a rookie and among the top Reds prospects when he was called up June 1, hasn't gelled well as De La Cruz's double-play partner – especially since Matt McLain went on the injured list just before the All-Star break.
"We kind of knew that things were coming at him quick," Francona said of Arroyo. "I do think it’s been good for him. He’s not the finished product. Hopefully, this will help him.”
Chase DeLauter's walk loaded the bases and Travis Bazzana's RBI single to left field plated the first run. With one out, Singer walked Kyle Manzardo on four pitches to force home a run and then walked Gabriel Arias to bring in another.
Reliever Caleb Ferguson, also a trade target, took over from Singer and got a sacrifice fly from Patrick Bailey to make it a 4-0 game.
“I was looking to get a quick fifth there and trying, obviously, to get to the sixth to help the bullpen out. Just wasn’t able to make it there," Singer said.
Before the disastrous fifth inning, Singer was managing his night OK. He worked around two-out singles in the first and second innings and escaped a bases-loaded jam with one out in the third. A quick fourth inning followed.
“I thought when he missed, he missed real close a lot," Francona said. "But he was following the glove and he was keeping them off the scoreboard. Their guy had kind of the same thing.”
Singer, who turns 30 on Tuesday, came to the Reds from the Royals two offseasons ago in a trade for second baseman Jonathan India. While not often spectacular or flashy, the right-hander is dependable. He is the only Reds starting pitcher not to spend any time on the injured list over 2025-26. Singer led the club with 32 starts and 169 2/3 innings last season.
“It’s had some ups and downs," Singer said. "Obviously, the start of the season wasn’t very good but I was just trying to go out there and give us a chance every time. If it is my last [game], I’ve enjoyed the heck out of this clubhouse and the guys in there. It’s been a joy. I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’ll see.”