Wow.
Manager Dusty Baker has shuffled the top part of the Reds’ lineup for today’s game against the Cardinals. The Reds will be facing St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright.
Notably, Brandon Phillips moves back to the #2 spot for the first time since Opening Day, when he went 0-for-5. Baker has moved Jay Bruce to the clean-up spot, placing left-handed hitters back-to-back. Is snapping a three-game losing streak worth risking total protonic reversal?
Ryan Ludwick, who continues to struggle, moves up to fifth. Ludwick has started ahead of Chris Heisey all three games in this series.
For many managers, this kind of adjustment at the top of the lineup would be no big deal. But for Dusty Baker, who believes in players settling into comfortable and familiar roles, it’s considerably out of the ordinary.
UPDATE: Looks like Brandon Phillips tweeted about this last night.