In an Opening Day win that included a solid performance from Tyler Mahle, timely hitting up and down the lineup, and Joey Votto putting on a show for a national audience, the Reds started the 2022 season the right way. The only thing that would have made it better is if the game was played in Cincinnati, but we can’t have it all.
The Reds look to make it two in a row against those world champion Braves in the second of a four game series this weekend.
Details:
- When: 7:20 pm ET
- Where: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
- TV: Bally Sports Ohio (in Cincinnati market); MLB.TV (out-of-market)
- Radio: 700 WLW
Starting Lineups
Cincinnati Reds
|
Atlanta Braves |
| 2B Jonathan India | 2B Ozzie Albies |
| DH Tyler Naquin | 1B Matt Olson |
| LF Tommy Pham | 3B Austin Riley |
| 1B Joey Votto | LF Marcell Ozuna |
| C Tyler Stephenson | CF Adam Duvall |
| CF Nick Senzel | RF Eddie Rosario |
| 3B Mike Moustakas | C Travis D’Arnaud |
| SS Kyle Farmer | SS Dansby Swanson |
| RF Jake Fraley | DH Orlando Arcia |
David Bell went with a little different lineup tonight given that his team is facing a right-handed pitcher instead of a lefty. Naquin and Fraley both make their season debuts tonight. Moustakas gets to play the field, as he’ll be the third baseman.
Starting Pitchers
| IP | ERA | xERA | FIP | xFIP | WHIP | K% | BB% | |
| Reiver Sanmartin | 11.2 | 1.54 | 3.17 | 1.80 | 3.46 | 1.20 | 23.4% | 4.3% |
| Charlie Morton | 185.2 | 3.34 | 3.32 | 3.18 | 3.31 | 1.04 | 28.6% | 7.7% |
*Stats are from 2021.*
REDS
Twenty-five year-old Reiver Sanmartin has been around the minor leagues a little bit. Until last year, he’s been in the minor leagues since 2015–four different levels with the Texas Rangers, three different levels with the NY Yankees, and three different levels with the Reds. At the end of the 2021 season, the Reds called him up to make two starts in late September/early October. He pitched very well, giving up only two earned runs in 11.2 innings, but it will be interesting to see what he does against a team not named the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Sanmartin has four pitches and he uses all of them fairly equally. His slider and fastball were used each about 28 percent of the time. He’s not a hard thrower either. His velocity in two starts was just shy of 90 percent for the fastball and low 80s for his off speed pitches.
PIRATES
I didn’t realize until I was looking up Charlie Morton’s stats that he has been in the league since 2008. After a four-year stint in the American League, Morton was back in the National League in 2021 and is coming off one of his best seasons of his career. He logged a 3.34 ERA in 185.2 innings with the Braves. This included a sparkling 1.045 WHIP.
In the past, the Reds have hit Morton well. He has a career 4.41 ERA against them in 18 starts. Most of those starts came when he played for the Pirates in the early 2010s. However, the only current Red who has faced him is Moustakas. He has a .500 batting average with three RBIs against Morton in just two at-bats.
Morton mainly throws a curve ball and a four-seam fastball, but will occasionally mix in a sinker or a slider. His fastball velocity was in the mid-90s last year, while his velocity for off speed pitches were in the high-80s.
News and Notes
A couple of Reds starters threw simulated games at Truist Park today. Luis Castillo also threw a bullpen session, per Charlie Goldsmith of the Enquirer.
Mike Minor threw 30 pitches in a simulated game today. His next step could be a minor-league rehab start.
Nick Lodolo threw 70 pitches in the sim game.
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) April 8, 2022
The Reds’ beat writers had every angle covered of the game last night. You can catch up on all the stories below, if you haven’t already.
Mark Sheldon at MLB.com wrote about the new look Reds.
Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer has the story from Brandon Drury’s perspective.
C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic wrote about a fresh start for the Reds in his game story.
The Reds won a nationally-broadcasted game on a night that saw the most viewers in nearly a decade for Opening Night.
??MLB Opening Night – Reds vs Braves – was most-watched regular season MLB game on ESPN2 in 7 yrs (since 2015). 1,367,000 viewers
?? Up 13% vs ESPN’s last #OpeningDay primetime game – Red Sox vs Mariners in 2019. (Nielsen)@karlravechespn, @dcone36, @PerezEd, @Kurkjian_ESPN pic.twitter.com/79kRhK7G32
— Ben Cafardo (@Ben_ESPN) April 8, 2022
Finally, here’s your stat of the day from last night’s game:
#Reds Joey Votto has seen 33,320 pitches over 8,139 career plate appearances.
He just popped out to the pitcher for the first time ever.
— Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder) April 8, 2022
I still can’t believe that was Votto’s first pop-up to a pitcher in his CAREER. When you really think about this, it’s very impressive he hadn’t done it up to this point.
I’ll take a pop up to the pitcher every now and then if he keeps banging the baseball all over the park as he has been doing. It’s fun to watch a true Hall Of Famer. I agree with you. It’s amazing that was his first one. When I saw that he had done it I thought to myself, “Has he ever done that before”? Guess not. 🙂 The fact that he’s using a 36″ bat for the first time probably has a little to do with it.
Interestingly, it would not have been a pop up to the pitcher had it not been for an extreme shift. Pitcher caught the ball on the third base line because no one else could get there. It really would have been a foul pop to a third baseman.
No shift next year so it would be an extreme exit velocity HIT!
Ha. Didn’t know that. It’s also an extreme rarity that he even pops up to the infield at all. I’m guessing less than 50 times in his career.
Yes, but apparently he’s only popped out to the catcher twice in his career! He really is an amazing player.
Great win last night.
Tough pitcher tonight but hopefully Revier throws strikes and the bullpen is strong and the lineup generates professional at bats like last night 1-9.
8 and 9 hole hitters had 4 hits last night with a 3run bomb and reds had a ton of singles.
More of this please.
Go Reds
Well, so far we seem to be working with different strike zones for each team.
A little but Sanmartin is pitching scared.
SanMartin is lost with the strike zone command
Needs to course correct ASAP
strike 2 was called ball 4
Stephenson needed to frame it better imo.
And moustakis defense gives up a run
At least block the ball and keep the runner from second from scoring
How is that not an error on Moose? I guess we can’t assume he is wearing a glove.
Didn’t take Moose defense long to rear its head. Probably could have got a force at 2nd
Moose with the athleticism of Bluto from Animal House. Actually thats an insult to John Belushi. He was 5x the athlete Moose is
It’s not over…..like it wasn’t over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor
The Japanese.
@LDS
Its a movie line and symbolic of “hes on a roll” and just let him go
You fell for it
So it goes. I’m decades behind on my movies.
I see E. Suarez was 0-4 with 3 strike outs today. Mariner fans better get used to that. Winker had a couple of hits.
Only left 4 runners in scoring position though.
I wonder what the record is for a Batter LOB. Man, he had to be close to it last season.
Moose looked pretty bad on the DP ball, too. Personally I think it should have been ruled an error. Maybe he should just stick to DHing.
Moose is a MAJOR liability in the field. Should only be DH.
Unfortunately Moran is worse.
At least he gave you a good at bat
Er maybe not check swing on a ball 4 inches off
Moose needs to play better period and prove hes a 3b and good lefty hitter. Hows matt McClain looking?
I think I’ve seen enough of this particular experiment.
Walks kill.
Optimistic view is we know who Castillo replaces on the roster and Jeff Hoffman fills a clear need
Our best defensive 3rd baseman is currently is currently an average defensive centerfielder
Or an average defensive 2B, India is bulking up, might lose a bit of range to play the middle infield.
Sanmartin was afraid to throw strikes, that’s disappointing. That caused him to not get the borderline calls like Morton. That won’t work in the rotation or pen. Hopefully it was a learning experience.
God this is terrible young pitcher. I hope he goes back to minors when Castillo comes back why not have nick lodolo in rotation he was good in spring training. I be shock if we win this one waited to long for bullpen. Umpires call everything braves way look he was out from Tyler throw to India for tag on 2nd
You looked good for 5 innings vs the Pirates last year so you’re our #2 starter. Go get’em
Going to be a long night…
I’ve never been particularly optimistic about Hoffman. Hope he proves me wrong. But tonight isn’t looking good.
My view is that Hoffman shouldn’t be pitching in a meaningful game. The moment he entered, I felt the game was likely over. I don’t understand the team’s interest in this guy.
Adam Duvall is an excellent baserunner. He scored easily and drew Senzel’s throw to the plate which allowed the hitter to get to 2nd. Basically picked up 2 bases for his team and our guys with similar speed wouldn’t read it off the bat or make that move.
@Indy
Can you take off the Pedro Borbon curse for trading Duvall???
Hes good. You were correct.
Maybe sacrifice a Zach Cozart bobble head and its all good.
Duvall is not a bad hitter or OF either which always made me wonder why Reds wanted to get rid of him?? Winker was never going to have the Def, arm or power Duvall provided. OBP doesn’t win games in and of itself.
Hoffman going to be out there a awhile followed by Duarte and Ryan hendrix
28 man roster being used tonite
The pitcher after hoffman will be the guy sent to AAA when Lodolo is called up
Watching a bit of Friday night baseball on Apple TV, they have a hit probability stat on the screen that changes thru the AB. Kinda cool
Six (6) walks in 3 innings by Reds pitchers! Four of those batters walked scored. Different year, same result! Again, NO DEFENSE against a walk! Can chalk this game up in the L column and hope tomorrow’s pitchers theow strikes!
While we’re piling on, Fraley had no idea how to play a ball that landed at the base of the wall in RF. Should have been caught if played correctly.
Oh, and he just made an error on a catchable ball in RF.
#Getthepitching
Again
Probably need to sign Castillo and Mahle long term
Starting
100% on Castillo, 65% on Mahle. I’d love both, but if we assume Bob isn’t going to spend what’s required to load up a team, I’d rather take the Mahle money, and apply it to a position player.
Just watched Josiah Gray get yanked for the Nats after 4+ innings 4 runs with one on 2B no outs.
Again, bat Senzel 2nd.
Game #97 — Bell will figure it out. Give him time.
That run might have been meaningful if a good pitcher had entered the game when it was still within reach. I’ll never understand the urge to utilize bad players when you still have good options. Good players should be the first option. Bad players should be the last option. Every. Single. Game.
“Gotta get Hoffman going”
He’ll be hitting second tomorrow.
I’m sure Dusty would have called him, “Hoffy” …
Can we just put india and senzel 1/2 in the batting order? Both healthy are fast good complete top of the line up 100 run guys
Also get votto and Stephenson out of the game now so they can play Sunday day game after night game. Heres where Bell needs to adjust his script
Sunday is winnable
Tonight isnt
Can we just put india and senzel 1/2 in the batting order? Both healthy are fast good complete top of the line up 100 run guys
Also get votto and Stephenson out of the game now so they can play Sunday day game after night game. Heres where Bell needs to adjust his script
Sunday is winnable
Tonight isnt
I was out and didn’t start watching tonight. I’ve not started now that I’m home either. My wife says we got the Bravos more than a little upset when we rained on their opening “we are the champions” bit and they came out to prove that.
I’ll keep an eye on the score, but I won’t watch tonight so no chance of me Cleteing our. Consider it a pre-emptive Clete instead. These things will happen.
This is why you don’t bring Hoffman into a 3-run game with two runners on base and your entire bullpen available. It was still winnable until that decision.
Who were all the liars who said Fraley was a good OF?
Very nice innings by Duarte and Diaz. They have live arms.
Yep! Good to see.
Those are the kinds of pitchers you bring in when it’s a 3 run game with 2 runners on base. Give yourself a chance to get out of the inning and win the game.
Totally agree. Hoffman shouldn’t be on the team. Diehl should have made the team.
It’s less egregious than bringing in Hoffman to give the game away, but Bell also allowed Moose to lead off the 7th inning against a lefty, down by 4 runs, with a right-handed third baseman on the bench and no need to pinch hit for any pitchers. He’s already in mid-season form with his “no urgency” approach.
I noticed that to with Moose. Didn’t understand it either.
Last year he was subbing people left and right for no reason whatsoever, and this year it appears he won’t be making any substitutions whatsoever.
Wait till you see what he does in game #97!!!
That’s gonna be a great game.
We criticized Bell all last reason for his L/R compulsive substitutions. That he has resisted thus far this year is on balance a plus to me. I guess having the DH has totally derailed his approach. I’m waiting to see something from Pham who is costing a bunch and so far looks like Akiyama at the plate.
We didn’t criticize him for paying attention to lefty/right matchups. We criticized him for acting as if L/R is all that mattered — regardless of situations, stats, who was hot or cold, etc. The 7th inning tonight was a situation where it actually made sense to pay attention to L/R, and he ignored it. He’s just bad at strategy.
C trent is more interested in advancing kyle Boddy’s agenda and non baseball stuff but mark sheldon has some actual real baseball news
Castillo is being pushed back to late April
Minor is mid to late April
Schrock is mid June
Barrero vagueness
Was on a date tonight so missed most of the game. Does Austin Riley really use stone cold’s entrance music as his walk-up music?
I thought it was a written rule that all Reds relievers had to walk the first batter they faced?
Some good bullpen innings so far in the first two games. Even Moreta came back after giving up the HR and set down 3 straight yesterday. Said it before, but Hoffman is the first one to go IMO
Aquino Hoffman and Moose is my opinion
I have seen enough of Moose already, worse contract in baseball. The Reds may some day have to eat that if they are serious about winning LOL.
Its time to start worrying again about Moose
He doesnt do anything good
2nd biggest issue on the Reds behind SP
This is getting good
That was a nice almost-comeback, and just makes me even more annoyed that Bell used Hoffman when he had multiple better options available. It’s like a basketball coach having one of his starters get injured in the first quarter, down by 10 points, and subbing in the last guy on the bench because he needs to “save” all the other subs for some hypothetical situation. As long as a game is still winnable, use your best guys first. Use your worst guys as last resorts. ALWAYS. It’s true in EVERY sport.
Jeff Hoffman to the rescue!
The Reds dinged Jansen pretty good. They have a positive run differential against the Braves. Bell isn’t being hyperactive on substitutions thus far. Alas, he does still go to one of his more suspect pitchers early to put the game out of reach. Since I expect the Reds to finish 4th this year with 72-73 wins, this is a good start to me.
2 losses ….2 one run losses ….just good enough not to win ….seen this movie before