The Cincinnati Reds will hit the road today in the greater Phoenix area to take on the Oakland Athletics in a match up featuring two left-handed starting pitchers.
Cincinnati Reds (4-6-1) Starting Lineup
- Shogo Akiyama – CF
- Jesse Winker– DH
- Matt Davidson – 3B
- Derek Dietrich – LF
- Jose Garcia – SS
- Christian Colon – 1B
- Scott Schebler – RF
- Alfredo Rodriguez – 2B
- Francisco Pena – C
- Wade Miley – LHP
These guys are expected to pitch in relief today: Tyler Thornburg, Matt Bowman, Joel Kuhnel, David Carpenter, Brooks Raley, R.J. Alaniz, and Jesse Biddle.
Reserve players on today’s roster:
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Oakland Athletics (9-6-1) Starting Lineup
- Marcus Semien – SS
- Matt Chapman – 3B
- Matt Olson – 1B
- Khris Davis – LF
- Ramon Laureano – CF
- Robbie Grossman – DH
- Jonah Heim – C
- Jorge Mateo – 2B
- Buddy Reed – RF
- Sean Manaea – LHP
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. The game will be available on MLB.tv via the Oakland Athletics broadcast. You can also watch it for free at Athletics.com.
Reds links and news
Both The Athletic and MLB Pipeline released their Top Prospect lists for the Cincinnati Reds organization this week. The top 10’s had most of the names you expect, but both lists had some names in the 11-20 range that stuck out from other lists we’ve seen for 2020.
Jesse Borek of MLB.com has the Reds beat for a little bit this spring and last night he wrote about Josh VanMeter’s position flexibility and how it could earn him a spot on the Cincinnati roster this year.
Jayson Stark spoke with managers around baseball about the three-batter rule for The Athletic this morning. Stark, and various managers speak of scenarios from intentionally walking a guy with the bases loaded, to stacking your lineup in ways that in the past would seem less than ideal. It’s a thorough, long read – but has tons of good thought processes within it about how the new rule could have unforeseen outcomes.
And finally, Joe Posnanski rated Joe Morgan as the 21st best baseball player in the history of the game today. He’s been counting down the Top 100 over at The Athletic since the start of the offseason.
Final: Reds 11 – Athletics 5
The early part of the game was almost a home run derby scenario, but once the 4th inning rolled around the ball stopped leaving the yard. The Reds, however, didn’t stop picking up the hits or the runs.
The Highlights
Matt Davidson crushed a 3-run home run in the 3rd inning and Francisco Pena hit a 2-run homer in the 5th to help lead the way for Cincinnati on the day. Alex Blandino and Scott Schebler both doubled twice in the game. Shogo Akiyama and TJ Friedl, both of whom played center field today, picked up two hits. Brantley Bell doubled in his lone plate appearance, and Narciso Crook picked up a single to raise his spring average to .333.
On the mound the bullpen had plenty of success. Tyler Thornburg, Matt Bowman, and Brooks Raley all threw a perfect inning with a strikeout. Joel Kuhnel, R.J. Alaniz, and Jesse Biddle all tossed a shutout inning.
But the early part of the game didn’t go well for Wade Miley or David Carpenter. Miley gave up a 2-run home run to Matt Olson. Then in the 3rd inning he left two men on base who would come in to score after Carpenter gave up a 3-run homer to the first batter he faced. Oakland wouldn’t score after that, while the Reds would go on to score seven more times and make it an easy win. You can see the entire box score for the game here.
Trash Pandas are raccoons.
Doug, thank you for taking the time to put these game threads together before each game. It is nice to get a preview of each game’s lineup and available bench. Plus, I like reading some of the comments before, during, and after the game. Much appreciated!
At least for right now the game is being shown for free on Athletics.com
Miley should provide what Roark did last year.He can’t walk guys cause he is not over powering.He is a lefty which helps break up the other 4 guys somewhat and I agree with you he ain’t pitching out of the pen.
I’d make hotel and rent a car reservations now for next year. Lock it in. From FEB to early MARCH, there’s golf, ST, Rodeo, Quarter horse show, and NASCAR. That is all.
I hate to say it, but India looks bad. I have been skeptical of all the criticism he has received, but it appears to have some validity based on what he is showing in spring training.
Is it me missing something or has Gutierrez been absent for a while. I guess may he’s about to switch over to minor league camp to get stretched out. I was hoping he’d push for a bullpen role out of spring. Bullpen Locks 1 Iglesias 2 Lorenzen 3 Garrett 4 Strop 5 Stephenson. But out of the possible 6, 7, and 8 options which ones have to remain on the roster or we open them up to waivers. I think Romano, Reed and Sims are in that group, but I Am unsure of the status of Thornburg, Nate Jones, Finnegan, Powers, Alaniz, Bowman, and Schafer. I think everyone else that has a chance to make the pen has options. It would be nice if the 3 at the bottom had options, to keep that shuttle van between Cincinnati and Louisville warmed up.
As far as I can recall, Thornburg and Jones were signed as minor league FA’s. I believe Powers became a minor league FA and resigned with the Reds organization, and Alaniz and Finnegan stuck with the org after being put on waivers. All those guys are off the 40-man and can be sent to the minors without losing them (unless opt out classes I am unaware of). I believe I read Bowman has an option, not sure about Schafer.
@hotto Thanks, That could give the pen some flexibility. I don’t want to see Reed and Sims make it just because they are out of options. That doesn’t mean I don’t want either to make it, but I have never wanted the best 26 man roster more than I do this season. It’s all about W’s in 20
I was there last week. It’s fun.
Brantley said he was missing but not by much. I’m sure there’s a lot for him to work on after the debacle last year. How about we trust Derek Johnson? If he’s pitching like this a week or two into the season, then we can get worried.
Schebler may have a very good spring but I believe one of his best options is go to AAA or be involved in a trade. Right now I just don’t see him as an every day outfielder for the Reds. If the Reds didn’t have all
that depth in the outfield he would
be a starter, but not now. I am impressed with a few players this spring—Garcia, Farmer, Stephenson and I’m seeing some struggle such as Miley. It was Castillo at first had problems but seems to be getting his stride back. GO REDS 2020 ???
Schebler may have a very good spring but I believe one of his best options is go to AAA or be involved in a trade. Right now I just don’t see him as an every day outfielder for the Reds. If the Reds didn’t have all
that depth in the outfield he would
be a starter, but not now. I am impressed with a few players this spring—Garcia, Farmer, Stephenson and I’m seeing some struggle such as Miley. It was Castillo at first had problems but seems to be getting his stride back. GO REDS 2020 ???