CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds have big expectations for 2025 and a big part of those expectations center around the pitching staff. Derek Johnson returns for his seventh year as pitching coach under new manager Terry Francona. What are the next steps for Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo as leaders of the staff? What will be the keys to an effective pitching staff in 2025? How does DJ view the role of Alexis Diaz and Graham Ashcraft? Johnson addresses all of those questions and more with Trags as Spring Training 2025 rapidly approaches.

CINCINNATI -- Chris Valaika has worked with some of the top young hitters in baseball in his last three years with the Cleveland Guardians as hitting instructor. He worked with Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez, helping to turn the Guardians into one of the most feared lineups in the American League. Can he work that same magic with the likes of Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz? New Reds skipper Terry Francona hired Valaika in 2022 and worked with him for two seasons. Now, Francona has brought Valaika on board for the similar role with the Reds. Trags talks with Valaika about he plans to work with Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain and the other talented and promising prospects on the Reds roster.

CINCINNATI -- Hunter Greene was somehow not the pitcher of the month for July and Elly De La Cruz goes off Monday night in Miami like only Elly can. Annie Sabo of Bally Sports Cincinnati joins Trags to discuss the present and future Reds and why Jonathan India deserves much more praise than he gets. As for the past, Trags asks Annie about the biggest advice she received from her Reds legend father, Chris. All this and more on the latest episode of the Code Reds podcast.

CINCINNATI -- The 2024 All-Star break is here and the Reds have yet to demonstrate consistency necessary to put together a playoff run in the second half. What will it take to change that and how big a role will Elly De La Cruz play? Are the Reds building a dominant pitching staff of the future? The drafting Chase Burns with their first round pick Sunday would seem to indicate as much. C. Trent Rosecrans joins Trags on the latest episode of Code Reds to discuss.

CINCINNATI -- It's been a typically up-and-down week for the 2024 Cincinnati Reds as they try to make a push before the All-Star break to get above .500 and generate momentum for a second-half playoff push. Rece Hinds has come out of nowhere to provide a spark and Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene are both headed to the All-Star Game in Texas for the first time. Mark Sheldon of MLB.com joins Trags to break it down on the latest edition of the Code Reds podcast.

CINCINNATI -- While the offense still continues to struggle to find consistency without several key pieces, Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo have emerged as aces of the Cincinnati Reds staff. What does that mean for the 2024 Reds as the season approaches July? Could it help the Reds hold on long enough to make a playoff push? And what can the Reds realistically expect from the return of Noelvi Marte from his PED suspension? Trags welcomes Reds play-by-play voice Tommy Thrall to discuss this and much more on the latest Code Reds podcast.

The Reds appear to be slowly breaking out of their May slump, during which they won just six of 26 games. The offense is starting to heat up while the pitching is still carrying the load as the team looks to build momentum throughout June. The Reds won their first rubber game in nine tries Sunday in Chicago against the Cubs. Can the Reds put themselves on a pace to return to .500? Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer joins Trags to discuss on the latest episode of Code Reds.

CINCINNATI -- From an inconsistent Alexis Diaz to a re-injured TJ Friedl, the Reds cannot catch a break. The season from injury hell continues and the Reds pitching staff once again looks like it's hitting a wall, and it's only May. What do the Reds and GM Nick Krall need to do to re-energize the clubhouse and help the players realize there's still hope for a playoff run? Trags welcomes Austin Elmore of ESPN1530 and 700 WLW to discuss all the possibilities.

CINCINNATI -- Some 35 games through the MLB season and the Cincinnati Reds have baseball's worst team batting average at .207. There are many reasons for this: underperforming starters, injuries and suspensions to name a few. What do the Reds have to do to turn it around? How patient will Reds fans be? What can David Bell do? All these topics and more are discussed as Trags welcomes Mo Egger of ESPN1530 to the pod.

The Reds are in the midst of a tough 31-game stretch against teams projected to contend for the postseason. The bats haven't quite come around in total but the pitching is showing very impressive signs. What will it take for the Reds to continue their push toward contending status? Trags chats with Bally Sports Ohio host of "Reds Live" Brian Giesenschlag on a number of topic in and out of the baseball realm on the latest episode of Code Reds.