The Cincinnati Reds picked up a series win on Sunday afternoon over the Boston Red Sox. Trailing in the middle of the game, Eugenio Suarez put the Reds on top with a long 3-run home run in the bottom of the 6th inning and the bullpen took care of the job after that.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Red Sox (1-2) | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Reds (2-1) | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| W: Burke (1-0) L: Weissert (0-1) SV: Pagan (1) | |||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Rhett Lowder and Connelly Early were both throwing well through the first three innings of the game. Lowder, making his first start in the big leagues since September of 2024, had thrown just 40 pitches in those three frames. But he ran into trouble in the top of the 4th when he gave up a 1-out single to Willson Contreras and then lost a 9-pitch battle with Wilyer Abreu who hit a go-ahead 2-run home run to put Boston in the lead. Lowder would come back and toss a shutout 5th inning to complete his day with just those two runs allowed, but he left the game trailing 2-0 as the offense couldn’t get going against Early.
That changed in the bottom of the 6th inning. Early came back out to start the inning and gave up a leadoff single to Matt McLain. After striking out Elly De La Cruz Early headed to the dugout as the Red Sox went to the bullpen. Greg Weissert came into the game and walked Sal Stewart. Four pitches later he tried to come inside on Eugenio Suarez with a fastball and he paid for it as the Reds slugger crushed it 431 feet and into the upper deck in left field for a go-ahead 3-run home run.
After throwing a shutout 6th inning, Brock Burke returned to begin the 7th. He would get a ground out before before being removed from the game in favor of Pierce Johnson. He would give up a 2-out double, but got out of the jam with a routine fly ball to center to strand the tying run at second base. Tony Santillan got himself in trouble as he allowed a hit and two walks, but he picked off the first runner of the inning in what likely saved what would have been the tying run from scoring later in the inning. He would get out of the inning with a strikeout of Caleb Durbin after falling behind 3-0 to begin the count with runners on the corners.
Cincinnati would strand two men on in the bottom of the 8th. That left Emilio Pagan in charge of holding onto a 1-run lead in the top of the 9th. He’d give up a 1-out double into the corner to Andruw Monasterio. After getting a second fly out to TJ Friedl in left field in the inning, Pagan fell behind 3-0 to Roman Anthony before the Reds decided to just intentionally walk him. That move paid off as the very next pitch resulted in a shallow fly ball to Dane Myers in center to end the game.
Key Moment of the Game
The 3-run home run by Eugenio Suarez in the 6th inning to put Cincinnati ahead for good.
Notes Worth Noting
Sal Stewart got on base all four times he came to the plate on Sunday. He had two hits and is now 7-10 on the season with three doubles and a home run. He’s walked three times and hasn’t yet struck out. Stewart hit .700/.769/1.300 in the series.
Rhett Lowder’s return to the big league mound went well. He allowed two runs in his 5.0 innings with two walks and five strikeouts while throwing 86 pitches with 56 of them being strikes. Lowder had 14 swings and misses and got at least two of them on each of his four pitches.
Eugenio Suarez picked a perfect time for his first home run with the Reds since October 3rd of 2021. He just missed a home run earlier in the game with a 403-foot fly out to center. That was the second furthest hit baseball of the game, topped only by his home run.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds
Monday March 30th, 6:40pm ET
Braxton Ashcraft (4-4, 2.71 ERA in 2025) vs Chase Burns (0-3, 4.57 ERA in 2025)
Well Suarez earned his $15 Million contract today anyway. 🙂
If Geno hits 30 HRs that’s $500K each!
Except for the opening day shutout, a good series. Now beat the Pirates
True, but that’s probably the 2nd best pitcher in the American League.
What a slacker that Stewart is! Only 2 hits today!
I knew that “deep slump” would come sooner or later. 😉
MLBTV blackout rules are either so laughable that they’re annoying or so annoying that they’re laughable. I live in Vermont, so Boston is blacked out. But even when they’re playing in Cincy? I watched the last inning on NESN.
I am in San Diego and watched the last 2 games on TheTVapp. Seems to work well.
Gotta subscribe to NESN! They pay a lot of money so you’ll do that instead of just buy MLBtv.
I get NESN with my cable package.
I get NESN here in CT. I got a chuckle listening to the post game on NESN. The host was saying, probably like most sox fans (his words) that he didn’t know much about the Cincinnati Reds. But he pointed out that they went to the playoffs last year and have a really good bullpen and a nice lineup (seemingly unaware of the offseason changes, with the possible exception of Eugenio). It’s early yes, but it’s amazing what plugging a few holes does.
A very good opening series.
They still think the 75 World Series ended in 6 games.
I’ve noticed that for the past fifty years. They get testy when you remind them, too.
My son is in Indianapolis and is blacked out for Reds,Cubs and White Sox..
I get it on channel 24 here in Cincinnati but we have T-Mobile and T-Mobile customers get games free via MLB.TV I think.
Sal Stewart, extension candidate. PCA just got $165mil. That kind of deal would be a win-win.
I’d take a gamble on Sal for 165 for 12 years. He is our next Votto!
Not saying it wasn’t market value but that Votto contract crippled the organization especially when it hit $25 million. Don’t want to head down that path again.
Until the baseball economic climate changes Reds fans are going to need to be satisfied with winning the Division while keeping their best players for 6 years and counting on the development dept to fill the lineup with good players.
Great ballgame! Geno missed a fat 0-2 pitch and I thought that was his chance, but the guy did it again and Geno didn’t miss. It felt like I was only defender on RLN when he left last time. That big golf swing he takes is going to miss quite often
Positives: Steer hit the ball pretty hard today. Didn’t know Burke at all, but 97 tells me he’s not just the typical “crafty” lefthander.
Negatives: Elly made an error….plain & simple. He also stinks vs lefties. Looks uncoordinated almost every at-bat? Lefthanded full-time? Couldn’t hurt. Marte could be swapping spots w/Hinds. Not what I would do, but KBH & Steer are going nowhere. I’d leave Gino at 3B and go offense. Actually I’d probably try to deal Hinds, CES, etc for some big arms. Its obvious they fell out of favor. Get something for them rather then waste the meat of their careers at AAA
I’d keep an eye on Jonathan Aranda with Tampa. Kid is a lefty Sal Stewart…just a pure hitter. He’ll be 28 in May and not a kid and Tampa looks to have very little pitching. Work something out.
The problem with Aranda is he’s yet another infielder.
Where would he play? Unless you think you could just stick him in LF and hope for the best.
I am with you. EDLC stinks.
Yeah lets just Dfa him already
Whats his lifetime ops vs lefties? Do you need me to look it up to prove my point? He’s over the top of every decent breaking ball and usually trying to time that so hes behind the heater too. Its very obvious
Against lefties it’s 6 something.
I,m sorry, but players like CES and Hinds have not enough value to anyone to receive “big arms”. As far as Elly, I think he is the most overhyped player in all of baseball. I live in KC, and 2 years ago Elly and Bobby Witt were usually mentioned in the same sentence. Elly couldn’t carry Bobbie’s cleats. Every off season I read about how Elly is working on this and learning about that, yet every year looks the same as the last. Flashes of brilliance, overall mediocrity. Steer doesn’t seem to be improving with age either. How many times do we need to hear what an “intelligent” hitter he is. Give me someone stupid that can hit .270 any day.
Elly is certainly above “overall mediocrity”. He just hasn’t met the giant expectations for his potential, yet. Last year he played the second half of the season with a quad injury. We are three games into this season. Let’s see how this season plays out for Elly.
Steer and Elly were both dealing with injuries that adversely affected their games.
Eugenio stole this game for us. I’m concerned about the walks in high leverage innings albeit one was intentional.
Same. Very worried the bullpen is going to regress. The walks/hits is why they had to give up on Diaz. Going to be interesting.
Intentional, yes, but I believe the count was 3-0 when the decision was made to give the intentional walk.
Right now the Reds are in the top 27% teams in least runs allowed after three games against a tough team.
I think the Reds realistically need to be top 10% in that category but considering the team has lost two of its top starters to injury, top 26% is a pretty solid place to start after three games.
Unfortunately, the team is in the bottom quartile for runs produced and that’s gonna be an issue if it continues. I figure the Reds also need to be in the top 33% of teams in runs produced this year to have a real shot at the playoffs.
I think the Reds need to hit two metrics – top 10% in runs prevented (pitching and defense) and top 33% in runs produced to be a 1st or 2nd WC team this year.
It started as an “unintentioal intentional walk” then when there was no bite on obvious balls, they went ahead and made it official. No way they were pitching to Anthony even though he was 0-4 on the day. He’s a stud.
September schedule is so brutal, have to get as many of these early wins as possible
1st place baby! Tied
Nope! See my post below about White Sox meltdown in their game with the Brewers.
Watching the replay, Geno absolutely TONKED that baseball.
I though Rhett Lowder pitched pretty good, making a semi-mistake pitch to the hottest hitter in the Red Sox lineup, Wilyer Abreu. He must like those up and in fastballs. Similar location to where Pagan put that fastball yesterday that let the Sox tie the game in the 9th. Left handed hitters usually like low fastballs, in over the plate.
Bullpen did great today, and they didn’t even have to use Sam Moll.
Listening to the Cowboy, Lowder should have only been charged with one earned run. He insists that de La Cruz should have been charged with an error.
Reds will eventually need more fire from the lead-off spot, not sure if Friedl will get it later nor if there’s anyone else more capable in the roster.
How about:
Elly
MM
Sal
Geno
Hinds
Maybe drop Elly to 7th vs lefties or something w/Matty leading off
My lineup would be
MM (2B)
Elly (SS)
Sal (3B)
Geno (DH)
Friedl (LF)
Steer(1B)
Hinds (CF)
Stephenson (C)
Marte (RF)
Move batters 2 thru 5 to 1 thru 4
Two tough lefties in the first three games. TJ is fine. I like him a lot in LF, where he could be a plus defender.
Here’s hoping Hinds in CF completes the puzzle.
Friedl .364 obp last year is pretty strong. He could barely run last year though by September. He needs more rest if he’s staying leadoff
I see after 3 games the Elly “haters” are out. Good grief.
Cant even enjoy a 2-1 start without complaining
Elly career vs lefties:
.220 batt avg
.280 obp
.609 ops
180 Ks in 508 at-bats
Is that complaining or pointing out stone cold facts? Should I ostrich myself to make sunshine pumpers feel more comfortable? I think not
Oh shut up with the insults. I said it and will stick to it. Some of act like Elly sucks and that is flat out wrong.
Why is it necessary to do either? He’s the Reds SS and he is going to be that guy all season.
I don’t want to argue, but I never said he sucks. Complaining about people complaining about a sports team will keep you busy. Thats what people do.
I agree Elly is at the point of his career where he needs to figure out how to hit LHP. Whether that is as a RHB or LHB, he needs to make progress, and do it this year. As you or someone else pointed out, he probably could not do worse as a LHB against LHP than he does as a RHB.
No, you did not say sucks you said stinks which is pretty close
Do we have any idea what EDLC would hit against lefties if he gave up switch hitting or are we just assuming it will be better? Most batters have substantial differences in their splits but we don’t seem to notice.
As Indy says, pointing out facts is not an insult. Elly doesn’t hit lefties well.
Some of these commenters would complain if they won a $100MM lottery, saying it should have been more.
“You wouldn’t believe the amount of taxes I had to pay on this!”
Yeah they are never far from the keyboard. The Reds just took two out of three from a team with a $200 million dollar payroll and one of the best starting rotations in baseball. By reading this board you would thought have they were swept. Ridiculous.
It’s about the style points, I think, V4L.
Great win against a very talented ball club. Elly is scuffing a little bit, as are TJ and Spencer, but if Tito can figure out the outfield, this team looks like it can do something!
I can get on board with that. Sitting KBH vs a lefty sends a message that they won’t force a mistake on the club either. If he can’t hit then he’s a super expensive defensive replacement. Suarez at 3B absolutely makes the lineup better
Suarez doesn’t sit when KBH starts. Neither does Stewart. Nor do EDLC or McLain or Friedl. Who is it who doesn’t play and has a bat so critical to the Reds’ success? When KBH plays, they have two excellent fielders in the lineup–three if Steer is playing first base. They are not an excellent defensive team overall and, therefore, not as good as run prevention as they could be and, presumably, the pitchers would wish. A run prevented counts as much in the outcome as a run scored.
“Who is it who doesn’t play and has a bat so critical to the Reds’ success? ”
There are several answers to that. One of which happened recently when Myers played CF and moved Steer back to the infield. Myers is a better hitter than Hayes and better defensive CF than Friedl. So you lose a little defense in one spot and gain some in another and gain a better hitter. That’s just one example.
This year’s Reds have real potential to be an exciting team. It’s very important to get off to a good start in the first few weeks.
Way to go White Sox! Just gave up 6 runs to the Brewers in a game they were ahead 7-3. Brewers will be 3-0 and in first place in the NL Central Division.
Hinds needs to be given a chance asap, today you saw what power can do.
Unfortunately not convinced he’ll get that chance with the Reds. That’s a shame. I see another AAA MVP on the horizon for the 2026 season.
Give it two weeks. Everybody sees what’s happening, and they just batted Marte 9th below Dane Myers.
I think asap will be late May, barring an injury to any non-catcher, or a continuing and complete slump from one of the current OFers. If on May 15 Hinds is at, say, 280/380/480, and Benson or Marte are barely OK, then I expect they’ll start a competition of bus rides until the deadline. Especially if Hinds has most, or all, of those games playing CF.
After three games at Louisville (the Bats swept Omaha this weekend), Rece Hinds is batting .545. No homers yet, though. CES is batting .350 with a two run ninth inning homer against Omaha the other night to tie the game.
Over the weekend in his first three AAA games, Hinds Avg/OBP/SLG was .545/.600/.545 (1.145 OPS) in 15 PAs. His K rate and BB rate were both 20%. He had 4 RBI. The really surprising thing is that all six of his hits have been singles.
Won a series over a very good Boston team and a team with good to great starting pitching. A lot to like from this opening series.
Fun crowds at all three games at the ballpark. We enjoyed ourselves.
Kudos to Stewart and McLain. Huge bomb from Geno. Hopefully Stephenson can figure things out at the plate. Same for Marte. It’s early but absolutely more positives than negatives.
Great to see Lowder healthy and back on the mound. Overall a very solid performance from him.
Go Reds!
Thank goodness BOS foolishly pulled their young SP. He was shutting us down. As is typical in MLB, replacing a guy that was pitching well for a guy whose turn it was to have a bad day cost them the game. Thanks, Geno!
“Foolishly?”
The kid threw 96 pitches in his first start of the season.
The Reds waited him out and pushed his pitch count over 5-1/3 innings.
I’m thankful that you’re not the Reds pitching coach.
Pulling a 23 yr old pitcher out of a March game in the sixth inning after 96 pitches is foolish?
Uh, no.
what a great win! Series win! As Geno said- the first of many. Go Reds!!!
After the Opening Day lose, the Red’s take the series. The offense is getting it done.
Of course Suarez will not come through every game like he did today but it sure was a perfect example of what the Reds have needed for so long. Three games in at 2-1 with two of our SP on the IL to begin the season. So far so good as far as I am concerned.
Pretty good first series for the Reds overall. Starting off 2-0 in 1 run games a real positive if feels like compared to previous years 1 run game record.
Pagan might be a roller coaster ride as he was at times last year! But got the job done.
Suarez will have games he doesn’t come through but good example today why they signed him. He’s a bit feast or famine, but I’m glad they have him.
Slow starts for Steer, Stephenson, Marte, but a lot of players get off to alow starts. Key though is 1-5 in the order overall that they’re consistently good.
Nice to see Lowder back. Going to be exciting to see how the young starters fair.
I think if the Reds are in the race at the deadline they’re going to need trade for at least one more hitter.
Good start though to the year, can’t complain too much.
“Slow starts for Steer, Stephenson, Marte, but a lot of players get off to alow starts.”
Let’s see where they are at after 100 at bats. I think Steer will be OK. The other two I am not so sure. This is Stephenson free agent year. You would think he is at least motivated.
fare
thee well.
Geno is making the Reds more fun already. Reds lose Sunday’s game 9 times out of 10 last few years.
And of course he will not come through all the time but I like his chances to hit 30+ dingers playing half his games in GABP.
He also will provide leadership, mentorship and a winner’s vibe to the culture, all of which has been sorely lacking.
More fun, more entertainment, more hope. I think he is cheap at $15 million, especially considering what that comp buys these days.
I thought when Santillan was in Dayton he had the quickest pickoff move I had ever seen for a righthanded. As we watched today I told my wife I’d like to see that quick pickoff move if he still has it, as his body has thickened up since then. His first throw over was not particularly quick so I thought he had lost it but the boom he picked him off. So, I’m taking credit for it.
That was sweet. And a big out!!
The Boston press gave Tony great credit — said Duran didn’t do anything wrong, just got beat.
If they only knew who …
Win a season opening game series against a very tough opponent having their cy young candidate against us in the opener. Ill take THAT EVERY YEAR!!
Love this team. Elly will get it going.
A lot of suffering but it worths , a big series win against a tough team…Geno Suárez begins to produce and in what way…Lowder was very solid facing a good hitting lineup. After the shutout on Thursday I was hesitant the Reds could win the series but this team always fights…I think Tito extended Santillan too much but Tony could get out unscathed from the 8th…What Stewart is hitting right now is insane… We’ll see if he is a Red Sox killer or a Pirates killer too…
Gotta mention the Bats at 3-0. Love it. Hinds, Bleday just waiting their turn. Hinds 2 for 2 w 2 bb. Sweet.
Hinds, Dunn and CES are hitting the ball pretty good.
Bleday, not so much.
It’s all so early. Let’s see how things are playing out in 2 weeks. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves over the first 3 game series of the season.
Banfield is hitting well at AAA, and Stephenson is hitless in the two games he has played. So let’s trade Stephenson and make Banfield the first string catcher.
Okay, that’s just a little silliness there.
Hinds and Bleday should be brought up and Marte should be sent down to work on hitting lefties with Steer as trade bait for an effective reliever. The only players hitting above .200 are Stewart and McClain. Only three games but Steer started like this last year and really never came out of it. He is a marginal outfielder with average power and low On Base Average. I much prefer an everyday Hinds as a starting outfielder.
Steer is going to give you 20 home runs and versatile defense. That can be valuable.
Unless Hinds gives you 35 HR and Gold Glove defense, in CF nonetheless.
Um, I don’t believe that will happen.
McLain and Myers are hitting .400
Well you know besides them lol
Woo-hoo! Reds win. Take first series of the season (against a pretty darn good team). All I care about.
Go Reds!
I am in on Stewart batting early in the order, but I don’t like Suarez batting 5th.
1 McLAIN (2B 7/9) (SS 1/9) (DH 1/9)
2 EDLC (SS 8/9) (DH1/9)
3 STEW (1B 6/9) (2B 2/9) (DH 1/9)
4 SUAREZ (DH 6/9) (3B 3/9)
5 LOWE (1B 3/9) : MARTE (RF 6/9)
6 STEER (LF 8/9) : MARTE (LF 1/9)
7 STEPH (C 6/9) : TREV (C 3/9)
8 BENSON (RF 3/9) : KBH (3B 6/9)
9 FRIEDL (CF 6:9) : MYERS (CF 3:9)
This keeps our top 4 in the lineup everyday.
Friedl was 4th in MLB among leadoff hitters for OBP last year (.364), behind only Ohtani, Pena, and Tatis, and just ahead of Trea Turner, Lindor, & Buxton.
Not sure why RLN is always down on one of the best leadoff hitters in baseball, but the comments that view him in a negative light are rampant for some reason.
Don’t fix something that is working.
+100000000
You’re only the leadoff hitter once a game. After that you’re just one of the 9.
2025 Friedl 1st inning slash line
.193/.278/.341
That’s not a lot to get excited about in my books.
He was a 102 OPS+ guys last year. That’s solid, but only 2 points above average. I’m not saying McLain is defiantly back, but all signs are pointing that he is.
So, my question would be would you want a 102 OPS+ guy getting more at bats than McLain, EDLC, Stewart, or Suarez?
Because it’s been 3 whole games, time to make a move!
@MBS
I definitely would not want the guy with the highest OBP on the team last year hitting last in the lineup and getting the least amount of PAs.
Saying he was hitting 1st only in the 1st inning is understating his role. Every time through he is a table setter for the big guns behind him. And he was very good at it, statistically speaking.
@All that’s why I had him as my 2nd lead off batting in the 9 hole.
He will set the table in the exact same way as before. 9, 1, 2, 3, 4. The only difference is McLain, EDLC, Stewart, and Suarez are going to get more AB’s in the year.
Yeah but your best OBP on the team is getting the least amount of PAs, approx one less per game than he would normally have. Not a good plan in my view.
I’m old. I’ve seen a lot of AAAA marvels that never make it in MLB. I keep thinking Hinds is one of those players – I hope I’m wrong – but I still can’t get rid of that feeling. I think it’s way too early to anoint Hinds as the salvation of the outfield. I hope he is, but I have no problem with him being in AAA right now. There seems to be a good camaraderie on the team right now and a manager is more than someone that fills out a lineup card – he has to manage personalities. Sometimes the whole is bigger than the sum of the parts. If you can (the team is winning), you give players ample opportunity to show their ability. Then, if a player gets sent down, the player, and the whole team, knows they were given a more than fair chance. The Reds are winning, so far anyway, I think it’s better to let things be for now and see how it goes.
Hinds has had 95 career at bats. That’s it! There’s absolutely zero chance that he’s been given a fair shot at MLB level. Facts. So how can you think that his ceiling is a AAAA level player? That’s a hot take… Wow…
This blows my mind. This is even further exacerbated by just how good he was not only with the Bats last year but also spring training. All of this and McLain was given all season in 2025 to produce and sported a .193 road average. I’d argue his taking strikes and swinging at low and away was responsible for his poor performance more so than his recovery from injury. I mention this because this is the politics that goes on behind the scenes. I just want Reds talent to get a fair shot. Hinds has NEVER to this point been given a chance to show what he may do. He could flop, he could shine, no one yet knows. Can we give him a fair, long term look before we deem him a AAAA level player? Seems fair, right?
I didn’t say Hinds is destined to be a AAAA player. I said I think he will be – there is a big difference. I also said I hope I’m wrong – meaning there is a chance he will prove otherwise (and if he continues to do well, I believe he should, and think he will be given the chance). My main points are: Just because he is doing well in AAA, doesn’t guarantee he will do well in MLB, and this isn’t the time to make a change. It’s 3 games into the season and the Reds have won 2. The choices were made. Let it play out a bit before clamoring for a change.
And Hinds faced a bunch of elite MLB pitching when he was called up last year.
@HoF-13
I get your point. I just can’t believe that Hinds hasn’t gotten more of a chance. What more does he need to prove at the AAA level? He crushed it in Spring Training. I just felt he should have made the team. I get the “well he had options” argument but on merit alone and his 2025 AAA numbers, to me, dictate an extended look. Power at GABP can go a long way. Plus, he’s got a terrific arm in the outfield defensively.
It seems that Tito is sending a message to Marte, “Learn to hit LH pitching or else!”. He knows just as we do what his splits are versus left and right hand pitchers. He hits RH pitchers better than Benson does but so far Marte’s potential effective at bats are given to Benson for the traditional platoon matchup. So far Marte has 6 ABs with 0 hits and 0 walks, but all against LH pitchers!
Right now the Reds are in the top 27% teams in least runs allowed after three games against a tough team.
I think the Reds realistically need to be top 10% in that category but considering the team has lost two of its top starters to injury, top 26% is a pretty solid place to start after three games.
Unfortunately, the team is in the bottom quartile for runs produced and that’s gonna be an issue if it continues. I figure the Reds also need to be in the top 33% of teams in runs produced this year to have a real shot at the playoffs.
I think the Reds need to hit two metrics – top 10% in runs prevented (pitching and defense) and top 33% in runs produced to be a 1st or 2nd WC team this year.
If the Reds are one of the three best teams in MLB on the pitching side, and one of the top 8 in offense then I’ll be disappointed if they don’t win the division. That combo describes a very good team! And I’d say an absolute lock for a WC slot at least.
While Spring training is not an absolute predictor of success once the season starts , McClain and Stewart and Bleday and Hines were the hottest hitters in ST. And this includes exit speed. The players not hitting in the first series are the same ones that did not hit much in ST. If this continues through the Pittsburg series then perhaps the Reds front office will react. I have little to no confidence in Steer or Marte and certainly not Hayes.
Steer arrived on the MLB scene in 2023 and filled a huge void for the Reds by posting a 117 OPS+. Sadly, since then, his OPS+ is 95, below the league average level of 100. Consequently, his career OPS+ is now hovering just above league average at 101.
Marte’s OPS+ was 118 in a short stint in 2023 (123 PAs). Last year, it was 99 in 360 PAs. However, in his abbreviated stint in 2024 (242 PAs) following his PED suspension, his OPS+ was only 49, which leaves him with a current career OPS+ of 85.
I’m surprised Marte’s OPS+ was only 99 last year. I thought he was an above-average hitter. I know OPS+ adjusts for ballparks, but I didn’t think it would have that big of an impact.
Marte and Steer’s BB Reference pages……
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/marteno01.shtml
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/steersp01.shtml
No offense to the Marte fans. I know he’s talented and wouldn’t give him away. However if I were the GM and was offered a good/decent deal for him I’d be signing that trade ASAP. Personally I just don’t trust him keeping his head on straight.
Spring training is not a predictor of anything, absolute, empirical or even rudimentary. It shows which players are healthy.
Case in point: Abbott
I’ll always take a win. The Geno bomb was so fun. Loved his post-game with Day. That electric smile is a great thing to see.
Onward we go!!
With the possible exception of Elly, Marte has more upside than anyone in the organization. They just gotta let the kid play
Tend to agree. Will be interesting to see how he adapts to a full season in RF.
Marte probably has better underlying physical tools than Stewart. However, if Sal sticks to his off-season physical remake regimen and heck-for-leather attitude, he may have more upside than Marte. Also, I am not sure we know the ceiling yet on Hector Rodriguez and many other guys on down the line.
I agree that whether it is Marte or Hinds, who this weekend at least looked like an MLB guy just getting his spring work in at AAA, or someone else, there comes a time that letting a high ceiling guy play at MLB is the only way to get answers.
Just my opinion, but there seems to be some issue with Marte that’s impacting his playing time beyond just matchups. His documented less than optimal effort in spring training may be a factor. I think Tito is sending a message. At the Milwaukee game a week ago, it was hard to ignore Noelvi’s body language—not sure if it was ‘too cool for school’ or lack of interest but regardless it was bare minimum energy. Not that his attitude was bad, he was smiling and joking with the guys, just not what you typically see from a professional.
Still, I’m a big believer in his raw talent, which is top 4 on the team among position players. Let’s hope this doesn’t spiral to the point it changes his career trajectory.
There is iron in your words, and yes, Marte has talent. But that has to eventually show up on the field of play.
If it doesn’t actually show up, then maybe he does not have all that talent. Just sayin’.
And yes, give him time. It’s still early in the season. Let’s see what things are like in 2-3 weeks.
My concern moving forward is the pitching in general. While I agree we have good depth and quality starters and relievers it seems the Reds have no plan on extending starters beyond 5-6 innings. With the schedule and number of innings that will need to be covered late in the game moving forward I can see a scenario where they essentially run out of arms after playing X amount of days in a row. I hope I’m wrong but after three games it’s my biggest concern.
Fun with small sample sizes, through three games, Sal Stewart has a 490 OPS+, lol
Is that good?
Stephenson did a great job blocking pitches yesterday!
this series showed me 2 things
not sure we are quite deep enough to win the division
but if we can sneak in to the wild card again, we have enough to be competitive against top tier teams in a 3 game series.
@Rednat, we’re deep enough, but we’re not top heavy enough.
Adding Suarez helped, but we really needed one more bat at a minimum on the offensive side, and an end of the game option out of the pen.
Right now we need to “hope” for some major improvements to make up the difference. Thankfully McLain is showing all of the signs that he’s returning to his preinjury form.
As long as Brewers are in our division, winning the division is a tall task. We started 2-1 and of course Brewers started 3-0. But I do think we have a chance to lead the division at various times during the season. So far I like SP and RP. Santillan worries me the most. His velo is down and he loses strike zone quite often
I’m with MBS – they need one more bat. It may (should) happen at the deadline, and it should be better than the Andujar pickup last season, which was very good.
Fewer “ifs” than the past few seasons – barring a cascade of injuries, the callup pitchers they use should be very good (think Petty/Aguiar for spot starts, Nicolas and another for relief), and there should be positive regression to the mean from EDLC, Steer, McLain, and even Friedl with some time off.
As for items beyond their control, the Bucs will certainly be improved but still lagging, the Cards really seem down for a while, and the Cubs and Brewers each have flaws. The Central may be best in aggregate, but nobody seems headed to 95+ wins unlike the other two divisions. It’s there to be won.
Brewers seem to far exceed pre-season expectations every year. I fully expect them to get clost to 95 wins.
Allowing Mr. Hinds more at bats with the big league team does provide insight into whether he should be at that level or not, but some of you think after ten plate appearances a player should be shuttled out and another brought in. Keep in mind this ignores the complexities of modern roster management (things such as options are real). I would have opted to move Benson off the roster altogether last year as he failed in the spotlight both defensively and at the dish. Alas he remains and probably has to perform or move on. Unfortunately the Reds of last year and appear this year (until they demonstrate otherwise) to not be collectively an offensive jugernaut. This explains why it is difficult to give “experimental” (you might think of it as developmental) abats to some as it’s difficult to carry a weak performer or at least one who is not supremely talented in fielding their position. So it’s an inherent struggle with roster management. However I trust in the field management as well as upper management in the Reds organization.
If Steer or Marte don’t hit, Hinds will likely get his chance.
Reds had 167 HRs last year. With addition of Geno, I can see total HRs in the 200s. Geno:35, Steer:25, EDLC: 25, Friedl:15. That’s 100 right there. 20 each for MM, Sal, and Stephenson? That would be 160 right there.
Terrific start to the year. I’m surprised there isn’t more comment here about Lowder: what a great return to pitching! If he pitches like that and is just our 4th or 5th starter most of the time, I think we’re in for a good year.
I think the offense will be „good enough”. I’m afraid we’re going to need a better 8th inning option. And maybe a better 9th inning option, too. Go Reds!
Agreed Eric. Lowder is somehow underrated these days. He is looking great. And the Reds failed to address the back end of the bullpen this offseason.
Was at the game, Lowder looked great. Only giving up 3 hits, yes one of those was a homerun to a very good player, he seemed composed and picked right up with his 2024 performances in the big leagues. First few innings he really was pumping in strikes. Like Abbott, I like his moxie. He’s going to be fun to watch. He’s a smart pitcher.
I do wonder how the innings limit will work this season with Lowder, Burns and Williamson.
Won the game against a left-heavy team without using Ashcraft or Moll. Very nice.
The Reds should lean hard on those two tonight. Like, six-out Ashcraft save kind of hard. Pittsburgh’s top 7 vs RH will have Oneil, Brandon Lowe, O’Hearn, Reynolds and Horwitz – 4 lefties and a switch. They should have their RH platoon bats in for the next two games. That’ll be a better matchup for the Reds RH arms who could use a rest day today anyway.
If Burns only goes like 3 innings (is he on a pitch count, do we know?) Moll should still be first out of the pen. Force their hand. Make them pinch-hit, or not.
This series is big. We need to bury these guys as deep as possible. I think the Pirates are still a year away, but if they make it to June above .500, watch out.