The Cincinnati Reds are struggling with their pitching staff, relying heavily on relievers Alexis Díaz and Tony Santillan, who have both recently suffered losses. Santillan gave up a crucial homer in the seventh inning, leading to a 5-4 loss against the Oakland Athletics. Long reliever Jakob Junis unexpectedly pitched four perfect innings, but the offense failed to capitalize. The Reds managed to score two runs in the ninth inning, but ultimately fell short. The situation exemplifies the challenges faced by teams with limited starting pitching depth.