The dominance and swagger from Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Trevor Bauer was on display throughout much of the 2020 season.
Bauer made 11 starts in the regular season and finished with a National League-leading 1.73 ERA while allowing 5.1 hits per nine innings, good for the lowest in baseball.
The Reds handed the ball to the NL Cy Young contender for Game 1 of the Wild Card series against the Atlanta Braves, a team that scored 348 runs in the regular season, one shy of most in baseball (Los Angeles Dodgers).
Bauer’s Dominance
Despite the Braves having five hitters with over 10 home runs and a team OPS of .832 (highest in MLB), the 29-year-old right-hander carved through the lineup.
Bauer was historically good in his postseason start, becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to throw at least seven innings with no runs, two or fewer hits, no walks, and 12 strikeouts in the playoffs. That amount of punch-outs also set a new Reds franchise record for strikeouts in a single postseason game.
No matter. Cincinnati couldn’t capitalize and dropped the contest, 1-0. They were eliminated the next day after being shut-out again, breaking a 99-year-old record for consecutive scoreless innings (22) to start a playoff series (previous record of 20 held by the 1921 New York Giants).
Bad Blood?
After the series, it seemed there was bad blood between Bauer and Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. The 22-year-old posted a tweet on Thursday that read, “Goooo homeeeee.” The post included a GIF of basketball player Marc Gasol strutting much like Bauer did after his showing on xxx.
Goooo homeeeee😂 pic.twitter.com/Xg1vryQ1CO
— Ronald Acuña Jr (@ronaldacunajr24) October 2, 2020
Trevor Bauer with the McGregor strut.
Pitching like a billion bucks. 🤑
(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/rHGhtGfM14
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 30, 2020
Bauer responded with a 22-second video montage of his strikeouts from his Wild Card start, starting with Acuña Jr. The clip featured the song “I’m Coming Home” by Dirty Money in the background.
Homeeeee pic.twitter.com/FGVZNvlV4q
— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) October 2, 2020
It seemed like genuine beef, and Bauer has been known for stirring the pot in cases such as Joe Kelly’s ejection in a Dodgers game against the Houston Astros on July 28 and having a back-and-forth with Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ on Sept. 9.
The Acuña Jr. and Bauer bad blood was dispelled later, however, as the soon-to-be free agent wished the Braves outfielder luck for the remainder of the playoffs.
Hitting Free Agency
Bauer will be able to negotiate with teams this offseason as soon as November, just five days following the end of the World Series. The pitcher was asked if he would consider a contract with the Astros should the team extend an offer. To this, he responded, “I will consider all offers.”
I will consider all offers https://t.co/ysVteUoYJX
— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) October 4, 2020
Bauer to the Astros may sound unlikely because of the right-hander’s public disgust with the sign-stealing scandal, but if he gets an offer he can’t refuse, it sounds like it will be considered.
Since the prediction season is on the forefront, this story will include a preliminary one.
Prediction: Bauer signs with the San Diego Padres.
First of all, San Diego is where former teammate and current friend Mike Clevinger plays. Clevinger tweeted at Bauer with a GIF of an outreaching person, subtly saying his former teammate could join the Friars.
Additionally, as a college player, Bauer pitched at UCLA. Plus, it’s just a two-hour drive from San Diego to Bauer’s hometown of North Hollywood, Calif.
Bauer has said he wants to sign one-year deals going forward, so time will tell if he follows through come time for free agency.
Do I get free coffee for life at Sunshine Coffee Co. though?! https://t.co/ADtVfwbGeJ
— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) October 1, 2020
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