Update: The game has been canceled due to rain
The Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians will both begin spring training today. The two teams will face off at their shared home ballpark, with Cleveland playing the home team in Saturday afternoon’s match up at 3:05pm ET.
Cincinnati Reds (0-0) Starting Lineup
- Josh VanMeter – 3B
- Joey Votto – 1B
- Nick Castellanos – RF
- Mike Moustakas – 2B
- Tucker Barnhart – C
- Phillip Ervin – LF
- Mark Payton – DH
- Alfredo Rodriguez – SS
- Travis Jankowski – CF
- Vladimir Gutierrez – RHP
Also scheduled to pitch today for the Reds: Josh Smith, Jose De Leon, Tony Santillan, Tejay Antone, and Alex Powers.
Reserve players on today’s roster:
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Cleveland Indians (0-0) Starting Lineup
- Francisco Lindor – SS
- Oscar Mercado – CF
- Jose Ramirez – 3B
- Carlos Santana – 1B
- Cesar Hernandez – 2B
- Jake Bauers – LF
- Bobby Bradley – DH
- Sandy Leon – C
- Bradley Zimmer – RF
- Jefry Rodriguez – SP
Where to watch/listen/follow the game
The game will be live on the Reds on Radio Network. In the greater Cincinnati area the game will be available on 700 WLW. There will be no video available of the game, as it is not going to be broadcasted on television or the internet.
Reds links and news
To say that you should be sure to find time to read C. Trent Rosecrans article on spending a day with Curt Casali while at spring training is necessary reading, well, it would almost be an understatement. Rosecrans shadowed the Reds catcher and wrote all about what it’s like in a normal day during the early parts of spring training.
Bobby Nightengale talked with Derek Dietrich about why he chose to return to the Cincinnati Reds on a minor league deal on Friday at the Cincinnati Enquirer. There are a few things worth checking out in the article, so be sure to click the link and check it out – but Nightengale notes that Dietrich has an opt-out on March 20th if he’s not added to the roster by then.
If you are looking for some more information on today’s starting pitcher for the Reds, we wrote a little bit about Vladimir Gutierrez yesterday. There’s some background information, a look back at his minor league history, some video, and a scouting report.
Don’t get used to the game threads being ready to go 4 hours before the game starts, but I thought that we’d make an exception for the opener today!
Any chance we see Alfredo Rodriguez push Galvis this spring or even any time in 2020?
Seems like he has a real chance to be the future SS.
There is zero chance of that happening. Alfredo Rodriguez is the kind of guy who is basically the guy you call up in an absolute emergency.
I agree zero chance this spring, but he could be a 2021 defensive replacement SS, if the Reds decide to go with an offensively minded starting SS in 2021.
Look at his bat. Short of incredible gains made, he’s not being used on a Major League roster unless he’s an absolute emergency fill in until a move can be made to bring someone else in. He makes Billy Hamilton look like Eugenio Suarez at the plate.
It’s been raining here in Arizona since last night….
Should have built a dome.
Don’t give somebody ideas.
Don’t worry – no one listens to me anyways.
First game of spring today! I am excited to see how spring training plays out. Go Reds!
Glad to see JVM at 3B already. As much as I want to see him get a lot of at bats this year, which would mean AAA for him, I also love the idea of him pinch hitting and being a utility guy off the bench for the Reds. I’ll be surprised if Suarez and Senzel are back from injury by opening day, so he may get some playing time early.
This game has already been postponed.
Actually it has been cancelled. Not postponed.
Either way, it’s not being played.
To quite Marty,
And this one belongs to the Rain.
Hopefully not an omen for a season considered a washout.
The ‘Old Ed’ stadium in Sarasota, the Reds last Florida spring training site, has been renovated and is now occupied by the Orioles.
Got news for you, it rains in Florida too.