Interest in tonight’s game is heightened by the worst-kept secret in Cincinnati sports:
The #Reds have selected the contract of CF Nick Senzel from the Triple-A @LouisvilleBats, optioned to Louisville RHP Matt Bowman and transferred to the 60-day IL 2B Scooter Gennett. pic.twitter.com/Ao50GnEUeH
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 3, 2019
— Jamey Rausch (@JRauschVet) May 3, 2019
— JC Adamson (@ohplease_DEAR) May 3, 2019
There have been a lot of words spoken and written about the desire of Reds fans to have Nick Senzel, the organization’s top prospect, finally join the team. He’s not going to have to wait long to play. He’s in the starting lineup in center field — where most of Redleg Nation hopes he remains on a regular basis for the foreseeable future. With the way the outfielders are (not) hitting as a group, there is no reason to have Senzel platoon with anyone right out of the chute.
It will be interesting to see what sort of crowd shows up for tonight’s 7:10 p.m. Eastern time start at Great American Ball Park against the San Francisco Giants, who have the same 13-18 record as the Reds. Will the fan base thank the team with their wallets? We’ll see.
Starting Pitchers
| Name | IP | ERA | xFIP | K% | BB% |
| Tyler Beede (2018) | 7.2 | 8.22 | 5.63 | 22.5% | 20% |
| Sonny Gray | 29.2 | 3.64 | 2.85 | 30.3% | 6.7% |
Right-hander Beede is making his first start in the majors this season after starting the season at San Francisco’s Class AAA team in nearby Sacramento. He’s started five games there this season, and in 22 2/3 innings, he’s recorded a 1.99 ERA and 3.76 xFIP. Gray has been victimized by lack of run support in the first month-plus of the season. All of his numbers, aside from his 0-4 won-loss record, are lights-out. He is making the trade with the Yankees look like a very positive one from the Cincinnati standpoint.
Bullpen
The only reliever who has pitched in the past two games is Zach Duke, and he’s only pitched 1.1 innings over those contests. So it would seem that he and the full complement of Reds relievers will be available tonight if Manager David Bell calls upon them. Based on Bell’s track record in the first 31 games, he will certainly do so.
Starting Lineups
| Giants | Reds |
| 2B Joe Panik | 1B Joey Votto |
| LF Mike Gerber | CF Nick Senzel |
| C Buster Posey | LF Jesse Winker |
| 1B Brandon Belt | RF Yasiel Puig |
| 3B Evan Longoria | 2B Derek Dietrich |
| SS Brandon Crawford | SS Jose Iglesias |
| CF Kevin Pillar | 3B Kyle Farmer |
| RF Steven Duggar | P Sonny Gray |
| P Tyler Beede | C Tucker Barnhart |
Like Senzel, Gerber was just brought up from the minors today. So far this season at Class AAA he has hit .357/.402/.655. The Giants designated veteran outfielder Gerardo Parra for assignment to make room for Gerber.
Additional insights into the statistical history of the players in today’s game is available all season long at BaseballSavant.com.
News and Notes
This should not come as any surprise …
? AWARD ALERT ?
Luis Castillo is your NL Pitcher of the Month for March/April! Congrats, #LaPiedra!#BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/8KCNrbnSVM
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 2, 2019
Perhaps teams won’t be using extreme defensive shifts against Senzel …
.@Reds top prospect Nick Senzel’s career @milb base hit spray chart. pic.twitter.com/9nb7DfcQdu
— Daren Willman (@darenw) May 3, 2019
Senzel talks about the mental aspect of dealing with multiple injuries …
“You learn about yourself when it gets taken away from you.”
Nick Senzel discusses how the adversity of being sidelined with a broken finger & the recovery process has helped him.
Watch @LilSenzii‘s MLB debut with the @Reds tonight!
? 6:30 p.m.
? FSO
? FOX Sports GO pic.twitter.com/bDwfPXSBUp— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) May 3, 2019
A historical perspective …
The last Red to have multiple hits in his MLB debut was…Mike Leake.
— Joel Luckhaupt (@jluckhaupt) May 3, 2019