The Cincinnati Reds will hit the road for the first time this spring of spring training (they were technically the visiting team on Sunday, but in Goodyear). First pitch is set for 3:05pm ET as the Reds will look for their first win of the spring as they take on the Oakland Athletics. The game is scheduled for 7 innings.
Cincinnati Reds (0-1) Starting Lineup
- Jose Garcia – SS
- Nick Senzel – CF
- Alex Blandino – 3B
- Aristides Aquino – RF
- Dee Strange-Gordon – 2B
- Tyler Naquin – DH
- Tyler Stephenson – C
- Cheslor Cuthbert – 1B
- Mark Payton – LF
- Brandon Finnegan – SP
Reserve players on today’s roster:
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Oakland Athletics (0-1) Starting Lineup
- Vimael Machín – 3B
- Chad Pinder – SS
- Matt Olson – 1B
- Matt Chapman – DH
- Stephen Piscotty – RF
- Cody Thomas – CF
- Aramis Garcia – C
- Greg Deichmann – LF
- Pete Kozma – 2B
- Grant Holmes – 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 1360 WSAI AM. There will be no televised version of the game.
Reds links and news
Jesse Winker scratched from the lineup
Originally in the lineup for today’s game, Jesse Winker was a scratch due to a sore right hip. Mark Payton replaced him in the field and was just inserted at the bottom of the lineup, while everyone else moved up (Winker was batting 2nd, originally).
Big name prospects for Tuesday
Tuesday night will see the Reds play on national television as they take on the Los Angeles Angels on MLB Network at 8pm ET. The pitchers set to go on the night is quite prospect heavy and it’s headlined by Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo.
Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo headline Reds pitchers for Tuesday
Alex Blandino getting some praise from David Bell
David Bell on Alex Blandino: "He's been really impressive with how he's handled everything he's been asked to do. … When our spring training ended last year, Blandy was playing as well as anyone in camp." #Reds
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) March 1, 2021
Alex Blandino is playing third today, but Bell made a point to tell him he’s going to get an opportunity at shortstop.
“He’s been left out of the conversation at times… It wasn’t intentional."
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) March 1, 2021
Final: Oakland 13 – Cincinnati 5
The Cincinnati Reds remain winless through two spring training games. It was a tough day for the Reds pitchers as they twice “rolled the inning” when their pitchers reached their pitch count before retiring the side – a new wrinkle available in spring training with the hopes of keeping pitchers arms healthy.
The Highlights
In the 7th and final inning Scott Heineman and Alfredo Rodriguez hit back-to-back solo home runs – the first of the spring for each. Both players went 2-2 on the day. Aristides Aquino tripled in his first at-bat, going 1-2 with a run scored. Jonathan India added a double in his only at-bat of the day. Dee Strange-Gordon walked in both of his plate appearances.
Brandon Finnegan threw 2.0 hitless innings with a strikeout. We’ll have more on him posted later here at Redleg Nation. The bullpen combined to allowed 12 earned runs over the next four innings spread out among four pitchers. That’s not exactly a “highlight”, but we aren’t going to have a “lowlight” section here.
You can see the entire box score for the game here.
Tomorrow’s Game
Night game on Tuesday and it will be on national television at 8:00pm ET on MLB Network as the Reds take on the Los Angeles Angels. It will also be on the radio, set to air on 700 WLW in the greater Cincinnati area.
Not to dump on Holder, Naquin, Heineman, and Gordon, but I really hope our in-house options shut those guys out of roster spots. I’d rather see India, Garcia, and Blandino.
It’s good work to list the daily lineups. A lot of new names. I don’t know if things are different this year but it seems like the teams each have about 75 players that they can rotate into the games even though at least half have a miniscule change of making the MLB squad. Seems to make it difficult to evaluate the important choices for the Reds but perhaps other purposes at the minor league level are also being served.
Finnegan retires 5 of the 6 batters he faced on ground balls.
Noe Ramirez serves up 2 taters, 4 runs, 4 hits in 1 inning worked so far.
You guys, the Reds scored a run without hitting a homerun!!!! Tyler Stephenson RBI groundout. Is this small ball? Is this allowed for the Reds?
down 7-1 in the bottom of the fourth? It’s a good thing they brought Aquino, he has their only hit.
It’s early and it’s only spring training but the Reds aren’t off to a great start. Fire Bell/Zinter while there’s
It is only spring training but the usual question persists: will the blah S T turn into reality after Opening Day?
Big Sal faces seven…3 of them score.
Time for Sal to go. Not sure if he’s still overweight, but he just doesn’t have it. He has a hard fastball but he’s been given more than enough time to figure it out and hasn’t. I do not trust him to pitch in a regular season game this year. Best of luck to him, but adios and enjoy Pittsburgh or Miami.
Alfredo having another strong spring! Last spring (2020) 33 AB’s, .364 AVG, 2 HR, (2021) 4 AB’s .500 AVG 1 HR. I know he’s not a bat guy, but I’d love him to make it at least as a reserve SS. The only guys I’d start over him at SS (Suarez, Senzel) are the ones the Reds won’t play at SS. I’d be happy with Holder / Rodriguez platoon. It would give each player a chance to see what they can do at the MLB level. Worst case we have 2 glove 1st options at SS, that bat from opposite sides of the plate. I don’t buy Farmer, Blandino, or Gordon at SS, no bat, and worse gloves.