GOODYEAR, Ariz. –– Last season entering August 29, the Cincinnati Reds had a 71-61 record and were in playoff position as the second NL Wild Card team. On that Sunday afternoon, the Reds faced the Miami Marlins and left-handed starter Jesús Luzardo.
The Reds had hardly faced left-handed starters all season at the time. Due to the luck of the draw of opposing teams’ pitching schedules, the Reds’ mostly left-handed lineup was crushing right-handed pitching for most of the season.
Luzardo, who finished 2021 with a 6.44 ERA, pitched six shutout innings in a 2-1 Marlins win.